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Surgery is the most common treatment for uterine cancer. During the procedure, surgeons will make a small incision in the abdomen and take out the patient's uterus. This is known as a hysterectomy. The patient might also undergo a salpingo-oophorectomy, which involves the removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries. It might also be necessary to remove nearby lymph nodes so doctors can test them for the presence of cancer. This will reveal whether the cancer has spread.
Radiation therapy involves the use of high energy rays to eliminate the cancer. Two forms of radiation therapy are used to treat uterine cancer. External radiation is an outpatient procedure. An external machine targets the radiation directly at the tumor. The patient typically receives this treatment 5 days a week for an extended period of time. Spreading out the treatments helps preserve the healthy cells. No radioactive substances go into the patient's body during this treatment.
During internal radiation therapy, the radioactive treatment is placed directly into the patient's body through the use of tubes that are put in place through the vagina. The patient will remain in the hospital for the duration of the treatment, which lasts a few days. During this time, the patient can only have limited visits from others to protect them from radiation exposure.
Hormonal therapy is an option for women who are not candidates for radiation therapy or surgery. It is also for women whose cancer has returned or spread to other areas of their body. Hormonal therapy consists of progesterone pills, which the patient takes to stop the cancer cells from growing. -
A doctor will recommend a particular treatment based on the stage of the uterine cancer, the size of the tumor, the rate in which the cancer is spreading and whether the woman's hormones are affecting the growth of the tumor. The woman's age and general health also are considered.
In most cases, the doctor will recommend a hysterectomy. By removing a woman's uterus, doctors can thoroughly examine it to see how much cancer is contained within the uterus. This will help them determine the stage of the disease. Surgeons will also check the pelvis and other nearby areas of the body to see if the cancer has spread.
Some women may need radiation therapy before the surgery to minimize the size of the tumor. They then might receive a second round of radiation therapy after the surgery to get rid of any remaining cancer. A small number of patients will only need hormonal therapy.
