Surgery is the most common treatment for women with uterine cancer. You and
your surgeon can talk about the types of surgery (hysterectomy) and which may be
right for you.
The surgeon usually removes the uterus, cervix, and nearby tissues. The
nearby tissues may include:
Ovaries
Fallopian tubes
Nearby lymph nodes
Part of the vagina
The time it takes to heal after surgery is different for each woman. After a
hysterectomy, most women go home in a couple days, but some women leave the
hospital the same day. You'll probably return to your normal activities within 4
to 8 weeks after surgery.
You may have pain or discomfort for the first few days. Medicine can help
control your pain. Before surgery, you should discuss the plan for pain relief
with your doctor or nurse. After surgery, your doctor can adjust the plan if you
need more pain control.
It's common to feel tired or weak for a while. You may have nausea and
vomiting. Some women are constipated after surgery or lose control of their
bladder. These effects are usually temporary.
If you haven't gone through menopause yet, you'll stop having menstrual
periods after surgery, and you won't be able to become pregnant. Also, you may
have hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and night sweats. These symptoms are caused
by the sudden loss of female hormones. Talk with your doctor or nurse about your
symptoms so that you can develop a treatment plan together. There are drugs and
lifestyle changes that can help, and most symptoms go away or lessen with time.
Surgery to remove lymph nodes may cause lymphedema (swelling) in one or both
legs. Your health care team can tell you how to prevent or relieve lymphedema.
For some women, a hysterectomy can affect sexual intimacy. You may have
feelings of loss that make intimacy difficult. Sharing these feelings with your
partner may be helpful. Sometimes couples talk with a counselor to help them
express their concerns.
You may want to ask your doctor these questions before having surgery:
What type of surgery do you recommend for me? Why?
Will lymph nodes and other tissues be removed? Why?
How will I feel after surgery? If I have pain, how can it be controlled?
How long will I be in the hospital?
When will I be able to return to normal activities?
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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