As endometrial cancer rates rise, it’s more important than ever that experts share information about symptoms and treatment options that all women should know. The most frequently diagnosed gynecologic cancer in the U.S., endometrial cancer arises in the lining of the uterus which holds a fetus during pregnancy and is normally shed each month in which pregnancy does not occur. Each year in the U.S., approximately 53,000 women are diagnosed with endometrial cancer, which occurs when certain changes happen in the cells of that lining, or endometrium. “Unfortunately, it’s one of the few cancers that are actually on the rise,” says Casey Cosgrove, MD, a gynecologic cancer specialist at The Ohio State University who emphasizes the importance of education in the effort to increase early detection of endometrial cancers. “By far, the most important symptom that we monitor is abnormal uterine or vaginal bleeding,” Cosgrove says. “Ninety percent of endometrial cancers are diagnosed because of abnormal bleeding patterns.” Along with the focus on early detection, Cosgrove and his colleagues are working to improve outcomes through research at the OSUCCC – James, where many patients are able to participate in clinical trials that can introduce new, effective treatments before they’re made available throughout the nation and world. “We’re looking for the best new ways to take care of these types of cancers,” Cosgrove says. “We’re also looking to see if we can better understand the biology of these tumors to inform our treatment decisions.”