What is uterine cancer?

A woman has a uterus or womb at the top of the vagina, it comprises a cervix (neck) and body or corpus and has a fallopian tube arising from each side at the top, it is these specialized structures that carry the fertilised ovum from the ovary to the uterus where development of the child occurs. After puberty the uterus goes through approximately monthly cycles in which the lining of the uterus is stimulated to grow by oestrogen originating in the ovary.After ovulation, a second hormone called progesterone is also secreted causing the lining of the uterus to stop growing. If this does not occur and pregnancy is not established, the hormonal stimulation stops and the lining of the uterus is partly shed at menstruation. This cyclical process continues until ovarian function declines and ceases at the menopause, however the lining of the uterus remains capable of responding to stimulation with oestrogen or oestrogen like substances.