How Is Endometrial Cancer Treated?

The stage of your endometrial cancer and your overall health will determine the method your doctor recommends for treating your illness. Surgery is the main type of treatment for endometrial cancer, but a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and/or hormonal treatments may be used in certain situations.

Your doctor will work with you to choose the best treatment for your endometrial cancer based on the following:

• Your age, overall health, and medical history
• Extent of the disease
• Grade and stage of the cancer
• Your tolerance of specific medicines, procedures, and therapies
• Expectations for the course of the disease
• Your opinions and preferences
  

All treatments have benefits and risks. You and your doctor should carefully balance the potential benefits of any cancer treatment with its potential risks.

After the endometrial cancer is diagnosed and staged, your physician will recommend a treatment plan.

Treatment may include:

• Surgery - Surgery to remove the entire uterus (hysterectomy) or the surgical removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries (hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) is the main treatment for endometrial cancer.
• Radiation therapy - Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Both internal and external radiation therapies are used to treat endometrial cancer.
• Hormone therapy - Hormones are chemicals that circulate in the bloodstream and control the actions of certain organs, such as the ovaries. Hormonal therapy prevents cancer cells from getting or using the hormones they need to grow. The most common hormone treatments for endometrial cancer are Provera^® (medroxyprogesterone acetate) and Megace^® (megestrol acetate). These drugs slow the growth of endometrial cancer cells. Tamoxifen is sometimes used to treat advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer.
• Chemotherapy - Chemotherapy drugs kill cancerous cells. In most cases, chemotherapy works by destroying the cancer cells and preventing the cells from growing. Different types of chemotherapy drugs work in different ways. Combinations of chemotherapy drugs are often used to treat endometrial cancer. Some of these drugs are Adriamycin^® (doxorubicin), Platinol^® (cisplatin), and Taxol^® (paclitaxel).
  

This content has been reviewed and approved by Myo Thant, MD.