Treatment options generally include hormone therapy and surgery. Endometrial hyperplasia, also a benign condition, is an increase in the number of cells lining the uterus. Heavy menstrual periods, bleeding between periods, and bleeding after menopause are common symptoms of hyperplasia. The treatment is usually hysterectomy or hormone therapy with progesterone, depending on the extent of the condition and whether a woman wants to have children. Malignant tumors are cancer.
Cancer cells can invade and damage tissues and organs near the tumor.
Also, cancer cells can break away from a malignant tumor and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system. The spread of cancer of the uterus begins in the endometrium. This type is called endometrial or uterine cancer. A different type of cancer, uterine sarcoma, develops in the uterine muscles. Cancer that begins in the cervix is called cervical cancer and will be reviewed separately.