If uterine cancer spreads

Cancer cells can spread from the uterus to other parts of the body. This spread is called metastasis.

Understanding how a type of cancer usually grows and spreads helps your healthcare team plan your treatment and future care. If uterine cancer spreads, it can spread to the following:

  • middle layer of the wall of the uterus (called the myometrium)
  • outer layer of the uterus (called the perimetrium)
  • cervix
  • tissues around the uterus
  • vagina
  • fallopian tubes
  • ovaries
  • lymph nodes in the pelvis
  • bladder
  • rectum
  • lymph nodes around the aorta (called para-arotic lymph nodes)
  • lymph nodes above the collarbone
  • abdominal cavity
  • peritoneal cavity
  • omentum
  • bones
  • brain
  • liver
  • lungs

Expert review and references