ENDOMETRIAL CANCER DIAGNOSIS

If your doctor suspects you have endometrial cancer, she'll do a pap smear (take a sample of cells from your cervix to be inspected for abnormalities). If this is negative, she'll probably also do a biopsy of your uterine lining, removing a sample of tissue that will be examined for cancerous cells.

If cancer is detected, your doctor will then determine how far it has spread. There are four stages: stage I means the cancer is confined to the uterus. In stage II, it has spread to the cervix. In stage III, it has spread to other reproductive organs. In stage IV, it's spread to elsewhere in the body. Endometrial cancer is usually diagnosed in the first stage.