The short answer
Uterine cancer is staged from I to IV based on how far it has spread from the lining of the uterus into the muscle, the cervix, nearby organs, or distant sites. Most cases are found while still localized to the uterus, according to SEER.
Uterine cancer is staged from I to IV.
Stage I is confined to the uterus; stage IV has spread to distant sites or nearby organs.
SEER data show most uterine cancers (67%) are found while still localized to the uterus.
Staging considers how deeply the cancer has grown and whether it has spread.
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The simple version
This page explains the stages of uterine cancer, how doctors find the stage, and why it matters for treatment.
Uterine cancer is staged from I to IV. The stage tells how far the cancer has grown beyond the lining where it started. SEER data show about two in three uterine cancers (67%) are found while still localized to the uterus.
What the stages mean
- Stage I — cancer is only in the uterus. Stage IA means it is in the lining or less than halfway into the muscle wall. Stage IB means it has grown halfway or more into the muscle.
- Stage II — cancer has spread into the connective tissue of the cervix but not outside the uterus.
- Stage III — cancer has spread beyond the uterus and cervix but not beyond the pelvis. It may have reached the outer layer of the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, ligaments, vagina, or lymph nodes in the pelvis or around the aorta.
- Stage IV — cancer has spread beyond the pelvis. Stage IVA means it has reached the bladder or bowel wall. Stage IVB means it has spread to other parts of the body beyond the pelvis.
SEER: 67% of uterine cancers are diagnosed while localized to the uterus.
How the stage is found
NCI says staging involves testing to learn whether cancer cells have spread within the uterus or elsewhere. A hysterectomy is typically done, and tissue samples from the area around the uterus are checked under a microscope for cancer.
Grade adds more detail
Doctors also grade the cancer. NCI describes grade 1 and 2 tumors as lower risk, because they typically do not spread. Grade 3 tumors are higher risk and often spread to other parts of the body.
Why the stage matters
NCI lists the stage of the cancer, your overall health, and your preferences among the factors used to choose treatment. Treatment options NCI describes for endometrial cancer include:
- Hysterectomy, which NCI calls the most common treatment.
- Removal of lymph nodes from the pelvic area, which are then checked for cancer.
- Radiation therapy, from outside the body or placed near the cancer.
- Chemotherapy and hormone therapy.
- Bevacizumab, a targeted drug NCI says is used for stage III, stage IV and recurrent endometrial cancer.
Ask your team which of these apply to your stage and risk level.
Why early detection changes the outlook
Stage matters enormously for outlook. People whose uterine cancer is localized to the uterus have about a 95% chance of being alive five years later, on NCI's SEER figures (2016-2022). For cancer that has spread regionally the figure is about 70%, and for distant spread it is about 20%. If you notice unusual vaginal bleeding, tell your doctor promptly.
What to ask your team
Ask what stage your cancer is, and how doctors determined it. Ask whether it is confined to the uterus or has grown further. Ask whether you are considered lower risk or higher risk for your stage, and what that means for treatment. And ask what your options are if surgery is not right for you.
Sources
Opened on 2026-10-02:
Common questions
How is uterine cancer staged?
It uses stages I to IV, based on how far the cancer has grown from the lining into the uterine muscle, the cervix, nearby tissue, or distant sites.
Why is it often found early?
SEER data show 67% of uterine cancers are diagnosed while localized to the uterus, and about 95% of people with localized disease are alive five years later.
How is the stage determined?
NCI says staging usually involves a hysterectomy, with tissue samples from the area around the uterus checked under a microscope.
Why does the stage matter?
Stage is one of the factors NCI lists for choosing treatment, along with your overall health and preferences. It also relates to the outlook.
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Last updated: 2026-08-18Next planned review: 2027-07-07
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Cancer Explained does not originate medical claims. Every page restates guidance already published by the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the USPSTF and the FDA, in plain language, with the source cited so you can check the original yourself. AI does the translating and organizing; automated checks test claims, citations, clarity and safety before anything publishes, and this is translation and navigation, not clinical judgment. Nothing here is personal medical advice, and no page can account for your particular situation.
Editorial status: Source checked — This page was written with AI assistance and then compared with the sources listed on it, looking for statements those sources do not back up. That check is not a sentence-by-sentence record and can miss errors. It is not a medical review, and it does not confirm the page is complete or right for your situation.
Human medical review: not completed. Pages here are not signed off by a clinician before they publish. That is not an oversight we are quietly working around: we restate published guidance and cite it, so the authority belongs to the source rather than to us, and every page names where its claims come from — you can verify us instead of trusting us. Where a volunteer clinician has reviewed a page, their name and credentials appear on it; where no name appears, no clinician has checked it. We are glad to have reviewers and are recruiting them, and we do not hold pages back waiting for one. Use this site to understand your situation and to ask better questions of the people treating you.
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