The treatment initially addresses surgical removal of the tumor followed by Radiation therapy, hormone therapy and/or chemotherapy in patients with metastatic disease (in whom the disease could recur).
Surgery, the most common treatment undertaken for endometrial cancer, can help to cure the disease. Most doctors recommend either the surgical removal of the uterus alone (hysterectomy) or, more likely a more radical surgical removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries (hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy). Lymph nodes in the area should also be removed during surgery along with other tissue samples.
Radiation Therapy Radiation employs high-energy x-rays to disintegrate tumors and annihilate cancer cells. This treatment can be employed before or after surgery. Even for those patients who are unable to undergo surgery, radiation helps to destroy cancer cells.
After radiation, patients may complain of the following side-effects, itching and dryness.
- Burning sensation in the vagina
- Tiredness
- Frequent urination accompanied with pain while passing urine
- Loss of hair
- Lack of appetite
Hormone Therapy Labeled as a systemic treatment for the treatment of metastatic endometrial cancer, this therapy influences all the cells in the body by aiming to bring equilibrium in estrogen levels and retard the growth of the tumor.
This treatment is beneficial to patients who are unable to undergo surgery. Patients could experience the following side-effects.
- Increased appetite
- Retention of body fluids
- Increase in weight
- Alterations in menstrual cycle
Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is a form of treatment that employs a combination of drugs to retard the growth of tumor and put an end to cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be employed even after the surgery, especially to treat metastatic endometrial cancer and offset its recurrence.
Side effects of these drugs may be severe and include the following:
- Tiredness
- Loss of hair
- Infection
- Fever
- Poor count of blood cells
- Vomiting sensation
