Treatment options for people with uterine cancer are surgery, radiation
therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy. You may receive more than one type
of treatment.
The treatment that's right for you depends mainly on the following:
Whether the tumor has invaded the muscle layer of the uterus
Whether the tumor has invaded tissues outside the uterus
Whether the tumor has spread to other parts of the body
The grade of the tumor
Your age and general health
You may have a team of specialists to help plan your treatment. Your doctor
may refer you to a specialist, or you may ask for a referral. Specialists who
treat uterine cancer include gynecologists, gynecologic oncologists (doctors who
specialize in treating female cancers), medical oncologists, and radiation
oncologists. Your health care team may also include an oncology nurse and a
registered dietitian.
Your health care team can describe your treatment choices, the expected
results of each, and the possible side effects. Because cancer therapy often
damages healthy cells and tissues, side effects are common. Before treatment
starts, ask your health care team about possible side effects and how treatment
may change your normal activities. You and your health care team can work
together to develop a treatment plan that meets your needs.
At any stage of disease, supportive care is available to control pain and
other symptoms, to relieve the side effects of treatment, and to ease emotional
concerns. Information about such care is available on NCI's Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/coping.
Also, NCI's Cancer Information Service can answer your questions about
supportive care. Call 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237). Or chat using LiveHelp,
NCI's instant messaging service, at http://www.cancer.gov/livehelp.
You may want to talk with your doctor about taking part in a clinical trial.
Clinical trials are research studies testing new treatments. They are an
important option for people with all stages of uterine cancer. See the Taking
Part in Cancer Research section.
You may want to ask your doctor these questions before you begin treatment:
What is the grade of the tumor? What is the stage of the disease? Has
the tumor invaded the muscle layer of the uterus or spread to other organs?
What are my treatment choices? Which do you suggest for me? Why?
What are the expected benefits of each kind of treatment?
What can I do to prepare for treatment?
Will I need to stay in the hospital? If so, for how long?
What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment? How can
side effects be managed?
What is the treatment likely to cost? Will my insurance cover it?
How will treatment affect my normal activities?
Would a research study (clinical trial) be a good choice for me?
Can you recommend other doctors who could give me a second opinion about
my treatment options?
Endometriosis is the growth of cells similar to those that form the inside of the uterus, but in a location outside of the uterus. Endometriosis implants are most commonly found on the ovaries, the Fallopian tubes, outer surfaces of the uterus or intestines, and on the surface lining of the pelvic cavity. They can also be found in the vagina, cervix, and bladder. Treatment of endometriosis can be with medication or surgery.
Cervical cancer is cancer of the entrance to the womb (uterus). Regular pelvic exams and Pap testing can detect precancerous changes in the cervix. Precancerous changes in the cervix may be treated with cryosurgery, cauterization, or laser surgery. The most common symptom of cancer of the cervix is abnormal bleeding.
Normal vaginal bleeding (menorrhea) occurs through the process of menstruation. Abnormal vaginal bleeding in women who are ovulating regularly most commonly involves excessive, frequent, irregular, or decreased bleeding. Causes of abnormal may arise from a variety of conditions.
Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that originate in the uterus and are usually round or semi-round in shape. The most common symptom of a uterine fibroid is abnormal vaginal bleeding. Other symptoms include pressure, pelvic pain, pressure on the bladder, or pain during a bowel movement. Treatment options vary from surgery to medication.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), also known by the name Stein-Leventhal syndrome, is a hormonal problem that causes women to have a variety of symptoms including irregular or no menstrual periods, acne, obesity, and excess hair growth. Treatment of PCOS depends partially on the woman's stage of life and the symptoms of PCOS.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Benign uterine growths are tissue enlargements of the female womb (uterus). Three types of benign uterine growths are uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, and uterine polyps. Symptoms include: abdominal pressure, pelvic pain, and pain during intercourse. Diagnosis and treatment of benign uterine growths depends upon the type of growth.
Menstruation (menstrual cycle) is also referred to as a "period." When a woman menstruates, the lining of the uterus is shed. This shedding of the uterine linking is the menstrual blood flow. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days. There can be problems with a woman's period, including heavy bleeding, pain, or skipped periods. Causes of these problems may be amenorrhea (lack fo a period), menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea), or abnormal vaginal or uterine bleeding. There are a variety of situations in which a girl or woman should see a doctor about her menstrual cycle.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
Women's health is an important topic area to guide a woman through the stages of her life, as well as knowing the conditions and diseases that may occur. Educating yourself so that the transitions into different phases of life is key to a healthy, happy, and productive life.
Most often, caregivers take care of other adults who are ill or disabled. Less often, caregivers are grandparents raising their grandchildren. The majority of caregivers are middle-aged women. Caregiving can be very stressful, so it's important to recognize when it's putting to much strain on you and to take steps to prevent/relieve stress.
Endometrial cancer, or uterine cancer, affects the endometrium of the uterus. It's the most common invasive cancer of the female reproductive system. Risk factors include smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, taking estrogen-only hormone therapy, early menstruation, late menopause, and never being pregnant.
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