Although it is not cancer, endometrial hyperplasia is considered to be a precancerous condition. Simple and complex hyperplasia without atypia are not considered to be at high risk for developing into cancer. However, if cellular atypia is present along with hyperplasia, these lesions are at higher risk for developing into cancer. 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 is called metastasis. A different type of cancer, uterine sarcoma, may develop in the uterine muscle or from the lining of the uterus. As uterine cancer grows, it may invade nearby organs.