Risk Management & Treatment > Cancer Treatment > By Cancer Type > Endometrial > Stages and standard therapy
Stages and treatment of endometrial cancer
Treatment for endometrial cancer depends on the of the cancer. Treatment often includes a combination of surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy. People with advanced cancers ( 3 or 4) may also benefit from or . Clinical trials may be available for any of cancer.
Stages of cancer
The of a cancer refers to whether it has spread beyond the uterus, and if it has, the location in the body where it has spread. Measuring the of endometrial cancer helps doctors decide how to treat it.
- 1 is confined to the uterus
- 2 has spred to the cervix
- Stages 3 and 4 the cancer has spread to the and beyond
Doctors may order additional tests such as chest XRAYS, chest, pelvic and abdominal CT, or PET scans to learn if the cancer has spread beyond the uterus.
Types of treatment
Most endometrial cancer is treated with a combination of one or more of the following treatments:
Surgery
During surgery, the uterus and cervix (hysterectomy), and often both ovaries and (salpingo-oophorectomy) are removed. Surgery may also include removal of to check for cancer cells. Sparing the ovaries may be safe for some I, premenopausal patients.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses powerful energy beams, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells. Your doctor may recommend radiation therapy to reduce your risk of endometrial cancer coming back after surgery (also known as recurrence). Sometimes, radiation therapy is recommended before surgery or instead of surgery. There are two types of radiation therapies used to treat endometrial cancer:
- External beam radiation is delived from a machine outside your body. During external beam radiation, patients lie on a table while a machine directs radiation to specific points on the body.
- Internal radiation (brachytherapy) involves placing radiation in smalll seeds, wires or a cylinder inside the vagina for a short period of time.
Chemotherapy
Treatment for endometrial cancer usually includes a combination of chemotherapy drugs. The most common chemotherapy agents used to treat endometrial cancer include:
- Carboplatin
- Paclitaxel (Taxol)
These two agents are often used together. In some cases, a known as Herceptin (trastuzumab) may be added. These medications are typically given through the IV or a port as an outpatient.
Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy used to treat endometrial cancer includes:
- Oral progesterone
- Intrauterine device that releases progesterone
- Tamoxifen
- Megestrol acetate
Treatment for 1 endometrial cancer
For patients with I endometrial cancer, treament usually includes:
- Surgery: during surgery, the uterus and cervix, and often both ovaries and are removed. Surgery may also include removal of to check for cancer cells. Sparing the ovaries may be safe for some premenopausal patients.
- Radiation or chemotherapy: after surgery, some patients may be recommended to undergo additional treatment with radiation or chemotherapy.
- Hormone therapy may be given to patients who have additional medical problems which prevent surgery.
Treatment for 2 endometrial cancer
For patients with II endometrial cancer, treatment typically includes:
- Surgery: during surgery, the uterus and cervix, and both ovaries and are removed. Surgery often includes removal of .
- Radiation: after surgery, most patients will need radiation.
- Chemotherapy may be given to some patients
Treatment for 3 and 4 endometrial cancer
- Surgery may be performed first to remove the uterus and cervix (hysterectomy), and ovaries (salpingo-oophorectomy), and . However, in some cases, the cancer cannot be removed with surgery.
- Chemotherapy will be given to most patients.
- Radiation may have benefit for some patients with advanced cancer.
- Tumor testing can help guide decisions about and .
The following organizations offer peer support services for people with or at high risk for endometrial cancer:
- FORCE peer support
- Our Message Boards allow people to connect with others who share their situation. Once you register, you can post on the Diagnosed With Cancer board to connect with other people who have been diagnosed.
- Peer Navigation Program will match you with a volunteer who shares your mutation and situation.
- Private Facebook Group.
- Virtual and in-person support meetings.
- Join a Zoom community group meeting.
- SHARE is a nonprofit that provides support and information for women with breast, ovarian or endometrial cancer.
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ECANA is an online resource for Black people with endometrial cancer.
updated: 08/28/2022