Experts in Uterine Sarcoma Care
If you have uterine sarcoma, your outcomes are likely to be better if a gynecologic oncologist treats you from the beginning. Fred Hutch Cancer Center has more gynecologic oncologists than any other medical center or clinic in the Pacific Northwest. Your Fred Hutch gynecologic oncologist and pathologist specialize in finding out the stage and specific features of your disease. They will design a custom treatment plan to get the best possible outcome for you. We integrate supportive care services into your cancer treatment.
Our uterine sarcoma experts provide all standard therapies for this disease. We know how to choose the right ones for you and how to deliver them to give you the best chance at a full recovery. Our physicians and researchers also do clinical trials (also called clinical studies). Through these trials, we are able to offer you therapies that aren’t offered everywhere.
Where you are treated matters. Coming to Fred Hutch after a uterine sarcoma diagnosis means you are now at the center of one of the most experienced, research-driven, comprehensive cancer care centers in the country.
Understanding the Uterus
The uterus is pear shaped with the narrow end pointing down. This narrow lower end, which extends into the vagina, is the cervix. The wider upper part is the body of the uterus.
There are three layers to the body of the uterus:
- Endometrium, the inner lining
- Myometrium, a thick layer of muscle
- Serosa, the outer covering, or membrane
Connective tissue called stroma supports the other uterine tissues.
About Uterine Sarcoma
Most cancer in the uterus — more than 95% — starts in the endometrium. This is called endometrial cancer or endometrial carcinoma.
Only about 3% of uterine cancers are uterine sarcoma. “Sarcoma” is the term for cancer that starts not in a body lining but in one of the body’s other tissues, like muscle, bone, fat or fibrous tissue. Other less common uterine cancers are uterine papillary serous carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma and carcinosarcoma (also called malignant mixed mesodermal tumors or malignant mixed mullerian tumors).
Although the cervix is part of the uterus, cancer that starts in the cervix is referred to as cervical cancer.
Types of Uterine Sarcoma
Uterine sarcoma is a rare type of cancer. The three main types of uterine sarcoma are:
- Uterine leiomyosarcoma, the most common type, which starts in the muscle
- Endometrial stromal sarcoma, a rare type, which starts in the connective tissue that supports the endometrium (endometrial stroma)
- Undifferentiated sarcoma, a rare type, which is similar to endometrial stromal sarcoma but more aggressive, meaning it grows and spreads more quickly
Why Choose Fred Hutch for Uterine Sarcoma Care
At Fred Hutch we combine compassionate care with innovative research to address the impact of cancer and infectious disease. We’re driven by the urgency of our patients, the hope of our community and our passion for discovery to pursue scientific breakthroughs and healthier lives for every person.
Your primary care provider is a good place to start if you have questions or concerns about your risk for getting cancer. They can also help with any symptoms that might be from cancer or another condition. Before you visit your provider, write down your questions. Bring the list to your appointment.
If you’re concerned about risk, here are some questions you may want to ask:
- Do I have any risk factors for cancer?
- Is there any reason to think I’m at higher risk than the average person?
- If I am at higher risk, what does this mean for me? Do I need any tests or procedures to check for cancer even if I feel fine?
- Is there anything I can do to lower my risk?
If you have symptoms that concern you, here are some questions to ask:
- What could be causing my symptoms?
- Do these symptoms mean I might have a serious condition?
- How can we find out the cause? Do I need any tests?
- What should I do if my symptoms don’t get better or if I get new symptoms?
Uterine sarcoma starts when cells in the uterus, usually in the muscle layer, grow out of control. Normally, cells in the body grow and multiply to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells get old or damaged, they die and are replaced. Sometimes, this normal process breaks down. Abnormal or damaged cells grow and multiply when they shouldn’t, forming tumors. Some tumors are cancer, and others are benign (noncancerous).
Uterine sarcoma spreads by growing into, or invading, nearby tissues. If the cancer cells invade nearby lymph nodes or blood vessels, they can travel through the lymph or blood to distant regions in the body. Then they can form new tumors in these places.
The exact cause of uterine sarcoma is not known. But certain factors are linked to increased risk. Risk factors for uterine sarcoma include:
- Having had radiation therapy to your pelvis in the past, such as for cervical cancer treatment
- Having had the eye cancer (congenital retinoblastoma) as a child
- Having a family history of kidney cancer (which could be linked to a syndrome called hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer)
These factors increase your risk for uterine sarcoma:
- Having had radiation therapy to your pelvic area before. Radiation therapy can damage the DNA in cells in ways that can lead to cancer. Some people who have had pelvic radiation develop uterine sarcoma years or decades later.
- Being African American. African American women are about twice as likely to get uterine sarcoma as are women of European or Asian descent. Physicians do not yet know why the risk is different between these groups of women.
- Being older. Risk for uterine sarcoma goes up as you age.
The Fred Hutch patient and family education team works with other Fred Hutch experts to create reliable resources and select materials from trusted cancer organizations. Find a resource.
