Endometrial Cancer Survival Rates
Endometrial Cancer Survival Rates
Endometrial cancer begins when cells in the lining of the uterus grow too fast and form a tumor or abnormal growth. This page explains how many people are diagnosed with endometrial cancer each year and what survival statistics look like.
For many people, one of the first questions after an endometrial cancer diagnosis is "what is my prognosis?" or "what are my chances of survival?" It is important to remember that every person is different, and researchers are always studying new treatments. Statistics describe groups of people. They cannot predict what will happen for any one individual.
It is also important to remember that these statistics tell us about groups of people, not individuals. Statistics can be hard to understand. Always talk to your doctor about your specific diagnosis and what these statistics mean for you.
Some people may choose not to read about statistics after a diagnosis. If you would prefer to skip this section, consider reading another part of this guide.
How common is endometrial cancer?
Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system and the fourth most common cancer overall in women in the United States. It is estimated that approximately 67,000 new cases of uterine cancer (the vast majority of which are endometrial cancer) are diagnosed in the United States each year, and about 13,000 women die from this disease each year.
Endometrial cancer is primarily a disease of postmenopausal women. The average age at diagnosis is the early-to-mid 60s. However, about 25% of cases occur in premenopausal women, and about 5% occur in women under 40.
Rates of endometrial cancer have been rising in recent decades, in part because of increasing rates of obesity. At the same time, survival rates for high-grade endometrial cancers have not improved as quickly as for low-grade cancers, highlighting the need for continued research and new treatments.
What is the survival rate for endometrial cancer?
Researchers use a statistic called the relative survival rate to understand how long most people live after a specific cancer diagnosis. This number compares people with the disease to people without it.
As an example: imagine two groups of 100 people. Group A does not have cancer. Group B does. After 5 years, 90 people in Group A are still alive. In Group B, 65 people are still alive. The 5-year relative survival rate would be about 72% — because 65 is 72% of 90.
Overall, the 5-year relative survival rate for endometrial cancer in the United States is approximately 81%, but survival varies significantly by stage and tumor type:
Localized disease (cancer is confined to the uterus): approximately 95% 5-year survival.
Regional disease (cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or organs): approximately 70% 5-year survival.
Distant disease (cancer has spread to distant parts of the body): approximately 20% 5-year survival.
Survival also varies significantly by tumor type. Low-grade endometrioid cancers diagnosed at an early stage have an excellent prognosis. High-grade tumors, including serous carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma, and carcinosarcoma, have a much worse prognosis, particularly at advanced stages.
It is also important to remember that relative survival rates reflect data collected over the past several years. These numbers may not include the most recent advances in treatment, including immunotherapy. New therapies continue to improve outcomes for many patients. Always talk to your doctor about what these statistics mean for your specific situation.
Is endometrial cancer curable?
When endometrial cancer is caught at an early stage, particularly low-grade cancers confined to the uterus, it is highly curable. Surgery alone is often sufficient treatment for early-stage, low-grade disease. Even in cases requiring additional treatment, many women achieve long-term remission. Researchers continue to develop new treatments that improve survival and quality of life for patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer.
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