A tumor in the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is the most common type of cancer in women. The uterus is a hollow organ in the lower abdomen. It is where a fetus develops in most pregnancies. Endometrial cancer can spread to other parts of the body. But it is less likely to do so than cancer that begins in the muscle of the uterus, which is called sarcoma.
If you have endometrial cancer, your doctor will order tests to check for cancer cells in the blood, lymph nodes and other parts of your body. If your tests show that you have endometrial cancer, your health care team will discuss treatment options with you.
Your health care team will decide what treatments to use, based on the type of endometrial cancer you have and its stage. Your options may include surgery, radiation therapy and medicines to prevent the cancer from growing or spreading. You will need regular follow-up visits to make sure the cancer does not return or spread to other areas of your body.
When a gynecologic oncologist treats endometrial cancer, she is careful to remove all the tissue from the affected area. She also might recommend a procedure called dilation and curettage, or D&C, which is done in a day surgery clinic under anaesthetic. During D&C, a sample of the lining of your uterus is scraped and sent for laboratory testing to see if there are cancer cells.
Surgery is often the main treatment for endometrial cancer. This includes removing the uterus, cervix and fallopian tubes (ovariectomy) and sometimes the ovaries, as well as any extra pelvic structures such as lymph nodes (lymphadenectomy). Your doctor might suggest surgery through a large abdominal incision or using minimally invasive techniques such as laparoscopic or robotic surgery.
Radiation therapy uses X-rays, gamma rays and charged particles to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. You might need radiation alone or in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy.
Medicines to control the cancer can include drugs that block hormone production, such as menopausal agents or progestins, or medicines that boost your immune system, such as anti-inflammatory or immunotherapy medications. You may be able to take part in a clinical trial of a new treatment for your recurrent endometrial cancer.
You can help protect yourself from endometrial cancer by using hormonal birth control, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly. You should also get a yearly pelvic exam to look for signs of abnormal vaginal bleeding. If you have a family history of endometrial cancer, you might want to consider genetic counseling.
