Treatment for endometrial (uterine) cancer depends on various factors including the stage of the cancer, the patient's overall health, and personal preferences. Here are the common approaches:
- Surgery: This is the most common treatment for endometrial cancer. Typically, it involves a hysterectomy, where the uterus and cervix are removed. Depending on the spread and stage of the cancer, the surgeon might also remove the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and nearby lymph nodes.
- Radiation Therapy: This treatment uses high-energy rays to target and kill cancer cells. Radiation can be used before surgery to shrink the tumor or after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells. It can be delivered externally or internally (brachytherapy).
- Hormone Therapy: This involves using medications that affect hormone levels. Since some types of endometrial cancer are affected by hormones like estrogen, treatments that lower hormone levels or block their effects can help control the growth of cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy: This treatment uses drugs to kill cancer cells, usually administered through an IV. Chemotherapy might be recommended if the cancer is advanced or has spread outside the uterus.
- Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy uses drugs or other substances to precisely identify and attack cancer cells, usually by focusing on specific molecules involved in the growth, progression, and spread of cancer. This approach differs from traditional chemotherapy, which generally attacks all rapidly dividing cells, both cancerous and normal.
- Immunotherapy: This approach uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer. It’s generally used for cancers that have returned or spread and are not responding to other treatments.
The specific treatment plan often involves a combination of these methods and is tailored to the individual patient’s situation. Regular follow-up and monitoring by your GW Cancer Center multidisciplinary team are essential to assess the treatment's effectiveness and manage any side effects or complications.
