Cancer of the womb (endometrial cancer) is one of the cancers which can occur in the female reproductive system. As well as the womb these include cancer of the ovary, cancer of the cervix (the entrance to the womb) and cancer of the vulva (the area around the opening of the vagina). Cancers of the female reproductive system are also called gynaecological cancers.

Cancer of the womb makes up about 3 in every 100 cancers affecting women. In England and Wales and about 3,900 women will develop the condition each year. Overall the risk is that about 1 in 75 women will develop an endometrial cancer sometime during their life.

Cancer of the womb is very uncommon in women who have not yet gone through the change of life (the menopause). Fewer than 5 out of every 100 women with endometrial cancer are still having periods.

The commonest symptom of endometrial cancer is bleeding from the vagina after the periods have stopped. About 95 out of every 100 women with cancer of the lining of the womb first see their GP because of bleeding after the menopause. Because of this the Department of Health has given guidelines to family doctors (GPs) suggesting they should arrange an urgent appointment with a specialist in diseases of the female reproductive system (a gynaecologist) for any woman who has one or more of the following problems:

• you have gone through the change of life (menopause) and have bleeding from the vagina more than once, or have had heavy bleeding at least once when you are taking HRT and are over the age of 55
• you have unexpected bleeding for more than four weeks after stopping HRT
• your GP finds a lump in your pelvis (the lower part of your abdomen) - unless your GP is sure it is a lump called a fibroid in the womb, fibroids are not cancer and do not need an urgent referral).

Some women do not need an urgent referral (that is, being seen by a specialist within two weeks) but should see a specialist within 4 to 6 weeks if they experience bleeding after they have gone through the menopause and they are not taking HRT.

All these problems can have other causes apart from cancer but the important thing is that if you develop any of these problems you should see your GP who can discuss them with you and, if they think it is necessary, arrange an appointment with a specialist to be on the safe side.