A womb cancer diagnosis can bring lots of unfamiliar terms—this glossary is here to help make sense of them.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZA
Abdomen:
The area between the lower ribs and the pelvis. Womb cancer can spread within the abdomen in more advanced stages.
Adjuvant treatment:
Treatment given after surgery for womb cancer to reduce the risk of the cancer returning. This may include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.
Advanced cancer:
Womb cancer that may not be curable, but where treatment can sometimes slow its growth, control symptoms, or shrink the cancer.
B
Biomarkers:
Measurable substances in the body or tumour (such as genetic changes) that help doctors understand the type of womb cancer and choose the most effective treatment.
Biopsy:
A procedure to remove a small sample of tissue, often from the lining of the womb (endometrium), so it can be examined under a microscope to diagnose cancer.
Bladder:
The organ that collects and stores urine. The bladder sits close to the womb and can be affected by surgery or radiotherapy for womb cancer.
Bowel:
The large intestine (colon). The bowel is close to the womb and may be affected by advanced cancer or pelvic radiotherapy.
Brachytherapy:
A type of internal radiotherapy used in womb cancer, where a radioactive source is placed inside the vagina to treat the vaginal vault and reduce recurrence risk.
C
Cervix:
The lower, narrow part of the womb at the top of the vagina. Spread of womb cancer to the cervix affects staging.
Chemoradiation:
Chemotherapy given at the same time as radiotherapy. This may be used in some higher-risk or advanced womb cancers.
Chemotherapy:
Drug treatment used to kill cancer cells or stop them growing. It is most often used for advanced, high-risk, or recurrent womb cancer.
Clinical trial:
A carefully controlled research study that tests new treatments or new combinations of treatments for womb cancer to improve outcomes and safety.
D
Dyspareunia:
Pain during or after sex, which may occur after treatment for womb cancer, particularly following radiotherapy or menopause.
Dysuria:
Pain or discomfort when passing urine, which can occur after pelvic surgery or radiotherapy.
E
Endometrial cancer:
Cancer that begins in the endometrium, the lining of the womb. This is the most common type of womb cancer.
Endometrial hyperplasia:
Endometrial hyperplasia is a thickening of the womb lining that is not cancer, but can sometimes develop into womb cancer.
Endometrium:
The inner lining of the womb where most womb cancers develop.
External beam radiotherapy:
Radiotherapy delivered from a machine outside the body, often used after surgery for womb cancer to reduce the risk of recurrence.
F
Failed Minimal access surgery:
When planned laparoscopic/robotic surgery is not safe or feasible to continue and so is converted to open surgery.
Fallopian tubes:
The tubes that connect the womb to the ovaries. They are usually removed during surgery for womb cancer.
Fertility:
The ability to become pregnant. Treatment for womb cancer often affects fertility, although fertility-sparing treatment may be possible in selected cases.
Fundus:
The upper part of the womb. Tumours in this area are common in endometrial cancer.
G
Gene:
A section of DNA that carries instructions for how cells work. Changes in certain genes can influence how womb cancer behaves and responds to treatment.
Genomics:
The study of all of a person’s genes (DNA) and how changes in them affect health and disease.
Grade:
Describes how abnormal womb cancer cells look under the microscope and how quickly they are likely to grow.
- Grade 1: Slow growing, cells look more like normal cells
- Grade 2: Moderate growth
- Grade 3: Faster growing, more abnormal cells
Grade is different from stage.
H
Hot flush:
A sudden feeling of heat with sweating and flushing, often caused by menopause or treatments that affect hormone levels in womb cancer patients.
Hysterectomy:
Surgery to remove the womb.
- Total hysterectomy: Removal of the womb and cervix
- Radical hysterectomy: Removal of the womb, cervix, surrounding tissues, and part of the vagina (used less commonly in womb cancer)
Hysteroscopy:
A procedure that allows doctors to look inside the womb using a thin camera. It is commonly used to investigate abnormal bleeding and take biopsies.
I
Immunotherapy:
Treatment that helps the immune system recognise and attack womb cancer cells. It is particularly effective in cancers with certain genetic features, such as MMR deficiency, and is often given through clinical trials or for advanced disease.
Incontinence:
Loss of bladder or bowel control, which may occur after surgery or radiotherapy for womb cancer.
Internal radiotherapy:
Another name for brachytherapy.
Interval Debulking Surgery:
Surgery performed after neoadjuvant chemotherapy when initial primary surgery isn’t feasible or where surgery may be safer and with reduced surgical morbidity if performed after initial chemotherapy; used in selected advanced endometrial cancers.
K
Kegel exercises:
Exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which can help with bladder, bowel, and sexual function after treatment.
L
Laparoscopy:
Minimally invasive (“keyhole”) surgery using small cuts in the abdomen. This is commonly used for womb cancer surgery.
Libido:
Sexual desire, which may change after menopause or cancer treatment.
Lymph nodes:
Small glands that filter harmful cells. Womb cancer can spread to nearby pelvic or para-aortic lymph nodes.
Lymphadenectomy:
Surgery to remove pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes for staging/clearance
Lymphatic drainage:
A specialist massage technique used to help manage lymphoedema after lymph node removal or radiotherapy.
Lymphatic system:
A network of vessels and nodes that are part of the immune system and a common pathway for cancer spread.
Lymphoedema:
Chronic swelling caused by damage to the lymphatic system, which can occur after lymph node removal or radiotherapy for womb cancer.
Lynch syndrome:
An inherited condition caused by changes in genes involved in DNA mismatch repair. People with Lynch syndrome have a higher risk of developing certain cancers, including womb (uterine/endometrial) and bowel cancer. Testing for Lynch syndrome may be recommended if MMR deficiency is found.
M
Menopause:
The time when periods stop due to reduced hormone levels. Menopause may occur naturally or be caused suddenly by surgery or treatment for womb cancer.
Menstrual cycle:
The monthly hormonal cycle that prepares the womb for pregnancy. Abnormal bleeding is a common symptom of womb cancer.
Metastases:
Womb cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, such as lymph nodes, lungs, liver, or bones.
MMR (Mismatch Repair):
A system that repairs DNA damage.
- MMR-deficient (dMMR) womb cancers have many DNA errors and often respond very well to immunotherapy.
- MMR-proficient (pMMR) womb cancers have fewer DNA errors and are less likely to respond to immunotherapy.
MMR testing is now routine in womb cancer
Mutation (gene):
A change in DNA. Some mutations help doctors predict behaviour and tailor treatment in womb cancer.
Myometrium:
The muscle layer of the womb. How deeply cancer has grown into the myometrium helps determine stage and risk.
N
Neoadjuvant Therapy:
Treatment given before the main treatment (usually surgery) to shrink or downstage disease (eg. chemotherapy) in order to make the surgery safer.
Night sweats:
Heavy sweating during sleep, often related to menopause or treatment-related hormonal changes.
O
Oestrogen:
A female hormone that can stimulate the growth of many womb cancers.
Oophorectomy:
Surgery to remove the ovaries. This is usually done during womb cancer surgery to reduce hormone stimulation and future risk.
Ovarian transposition:
A procedure to move the ovaries out of the pelvis to reduce radiation exposure in selected younger patients.
Ovaries:
Organs that produce eggs and hormones. They are commonly removed during womb cancer surgery.
Ovulation:
The release of an egg during the menstrual cycle.
P
Para-aortic nodes:
Lymph nodes along the body’s main blood vessel at the back of the abdomen.
Patient-Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU):
A follow-up approach where patients contact their clinical team if they develop symptoms or concerns, rather than attending routine appointments.
Pelvic floor muscles:
Muscles that support pelvic organs and help control bladder and bowel function.
Pelvis:
The bony structure at the lower abdomen where the womb, bladder, and bowel sit.
Perimenopause:
The transitional time before menopause, when hormone levels fluctuate.
Peritoneum:
The lining of the abdominal cavity. Womb cancer can spread to the peritoneum in advanced disease.
POLE mutation:
A genetic change found in a small number of womb cancers.
- POLE-mutated cancers often behave less aggressively, even if high grade, allowing treatment to be tailored and sometimes reduced.
Postcoital bleeding:
Bleeding after sex, which can be a symptom of gynaecological cancers.
Progesterone:
A hormone that counterbalances oestrogen and can be used in fertility-sparing or palliative treatment of some womb cancers.
Progestogen:
A group of hormones that includes progesterone and similar synthetic drugs used in treatment.
Prolapse:
A condition where one or more pelvic organs (such as the womb, bladder, or bowel) slip down from their normal position and bulge into the vagina
Psychosexual therapy:
Therapy to help individuals or couples manage sexual difficulties after cancer treatment.
R
Radiotherapy:
Treatment using high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells. In womb cancer it may be:
- External beam radiotherapy
- Brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy)
Rectum:
The final part of the large intestine, close to the womb and vagina.
Recurrent cancer:
Womb cancer that returns after treatment, either in the pelvis or elsewhere in the body.
Risk factor:
Something that increases the likelihood of developing womb cancer, such as obesity, hormone imbalance, or certain genetic conditions.
S
Sentinel Lymph node biopsy:
A method used to stage nodes while avoiding full node clearance. A dye is injected around the cervix to identify the first lymph node that drains the womb.
Small intestine:
Part of the digestive system that may be affected in advanced abdominal disease.
Stage:
Describes how far womb cancer has spread at diagnosis.
- Stage I: Confined to the womb
- Stage II: Spread to the cervix
- Stage III: Spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes
- Stage IV: Spread to distant organs
T
Targeted therapy:
Drugs that target specific features of womb cancer cells, sometimes used alongside immunotherapy or chemotherapy.
Total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAH-BSO):
The most common operation for womb cancer, involving removal of the womb, cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.
Transvaginal ultrasound:
An ultrasound scan using a probe in the vagina to assess the womb and endometrial thickness.
Tumour:
An abnormal growth of cells. In womb cancer, tumours arise most often from the endometrium.
U
Urge incontinence:
A sudden, strong need to pass urine, which may occur after pelvic treatments.
Urethra:
The tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body.
Urogenital atrophy:
Thinning and dryness of the vagina, urethra, and bladder due to low oestrogen, commonly after menopause or treatment.
Uterine sarcoma:
A rare and different type of womb cancer arising from the muscle or connective tissue, not the lining.
Uterus (Womb):
The organ where a baby develops during pregnancy and where endometrial cancer begins.
V
Vagina:
The canal connecting the vulva to the cervix; may be affected by surgery or radiotherapy.
Vaginal atrophy:
Thinning and dryness of the vaginal tissues, often due to menopause or treatment.
Vaginal dilator:
A device used to help prevent or treat vaginal narrowing after radiotherapy.
Vaginal stenosis:
Shortening or narrowing of the vagina, a common side effect of pelvic radiotherapy.
Vaginal vault:
The top of the vagina, especially after hysterectomy; a common site for local recurrence.
Vulva:
The external genital area.
