Uterine Cancer Treatment

It is the most common and first treatment used for uterine cancer, where tumors and some surrounding healthy tissues are removed. Before the surgery, talk with your doctor about any possible side effects. There are two types of surgery for uterine cancer which include:

Hysterectomy

This is the most common surgical procedure to treat uterine cancer. Depending on the level of cancer, the surgeon will perform either a simple or radical hysterectomy. In simple hysterectomy, the removal of the uterus and cervix is performed, whereas in radical hysterectomy, the removal of the cervix, uterus, the upper part of the vagina, and nearby tissues is performed. You should go for regular screening and testing to check whether the cancer has returned after the procedure.

Removal of lymph nodes

During a hysterectomy, the surgeon can remove lymph nodes near the tumor to determine if cancer has spread beyond the uterus or not. This may be done through a lymph node biopsy or lymphadenectomy, in which a group of lymph nodes is removed.

In this therapy, x-rays are used to kill the cancerous cells. It is either given externally, where radiation is directed at cancer and surrounding tissue, or from inside the body, where radioactive material is put in thin tubes and placed near the cancer cells. It usually consists of a specific number of treatments given for a particular period.

Some women need both surgery and radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is most often given after surgery to destroy the remaining cancer cells. It is occasionally given before surgery to shrink the tumor. Radiation therapy is recommended for a few women if they cannot undergo surgery. 

For some women, radiation therapy is the best option to prevent the return of cancer. These include those with grade 3 cancers. It can also be considered for women with grades 1 or 2 depending on the age and whether the cancer has spread to the blood or lymphatic vessels.

Side effects will depend upon the extent of radiation given and may include fatigue, mild skin reactions, stomach upset, and bowel movements. However, the side effects will go away after the treatment is over.

This therapy is used to slow the growth of specific types of uterine cells. It usually involves the use of a high dose of the sex hormone progesterone in the form of a pill. This helps to shrink some cancers or control some symptoms. It can also be used for women who cannot have surgery or radiation therapy. It can also be used in combination with other types of treatment.

Side effects of hormone therapy may include fluid retention, insomnia, an increase in appetite, and weight gain. Talk with your doctor about the side effects and how to prevent them.

It is a type of therapy where the drug is injected into a vein to control cancer and relieve symptoms. It usually consists of a specific number of cycles given for a particular period. The goal of chemotherapy is to destroy cancers that are left after surgery or to shrink cancer and slow the growth of the tumor if it recurs.

The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the individual, and the type of chemotherapy done. They include fatigue, infection, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. These side effects go away once the treatment is done. 

Other potential side effects of chemotherapy include the inability to become pregnant and experiencing early menopause. Some drugs may cause hearing loss and kidney damage. Hence, patients can be given extra fluid to protect their kidneys. Talk with your doctor about the side effects and how they can be prevented.

It is also called biologic therapy, which is intended to boost natural defenses to fight cancer. It uses materials to restore immune system function. Different types of immunotherapies cause different side effects that include skin reactions, diarrhea, and weight changes.

Targeted therapy is a type of treatment where specific genes, proteins, or tissues are treated that contribute to cancer growth and survival. This treatment prevents the growth of cancerous cells and restricts the damage to healthy cells. Not all tumors have the same target for treatment.

Hence, doctors, run tests to identify the genes, proteins, and other factors in the tumor to better match each patient with an effective treatment. There can be different side effects for each treatment; hence, talk to your doctor to prevent or manage it.

To learn more, please visit the targeted therapy page.

During the early stage of uterine cancer, the cancer is localized and has not spread anywhere else in the body. Thus, to avoid further growth and spread of cancer cells, your doctor may suggest surgical removal of the cancer. 

Your surgeon may either use a laparoscopic technique or robotic surgery to remove the cancer cells from your uterus.

During stage 2 uterine cancer, there is a high probability for the cancer to spread to neighbouring structures in the pelvis.

Doctors use surgical intervention followed by radiation therapy to treat stage 2 uterine cancer. After the surgery, sometimes your doctor may couple chemotherapy with radiation therapy to prevent a relapse of cancer.

The treatment for stage III uterine cancer is similar to that for stage II uterine cancer. Based on the spread and severity of the cancer, the doctor may advise you on radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or sometimes both, to eliminate cancer cells after surgical removal of the cancer.

Sometimes, based on the severity of symptoms, your doctor may advise you on additional treatment.

During the 4th stage of uterine cancer, the cancerous cells begin to spread to other parts of the body, thereby, making it difficult for doctors to check cancer growth. 

Usually, doctors administer chemotherapy to shrink cancer, followed by surgery. 

Once the cancer cells are removed surgically, your doctor will advise you on a combination of chemotherapy with radiation therapy followed by hormone therapy.

Alternatively, your doctor may consider immunotherapy and targeted drug treatment in women in whom the doctors find it difficult to eliminate cancer cells.