Colon & Rectal Cancer Treatments
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Treatment
Endometrial cancer, sometimes referred to as uterine cancer, is a cancer of the uterus in biological women. Endometrial cancer is a fairly common form of cancer, and it’s also one of the most common to be diagnosed in the early stages. Because of this, most people with uterine cancer can pursue treatment options and receive treatment. Without treatment, however, endometrial cancer can be fatal. Here are some of the most common treatment options for endometrial cancer.
As with most forms of cancer, chemotherapy is the first treatment option for people with endometrial cancer. Chemotherapy uses special chemicals that target and kill cancer cells in the uterus. It’s often used in conjunction with radiation therapy and can be administered before or after any necessary surgeries.
Chemotherapy is also sometimes used after you are considered cancer free as a preventative treatment to keep cancer from returning.
Radiation therapy is another common treatment used to combat endometrial cancer. Radiation therapy uses beams of radiation to target and kill cancer cells in the uterus, much like chemotherapy. Radiation is effective before or after any necessary surgeries and is an effective treatment option during all stages of cancer.
One of the newer forms of treatment to help with endometrial cancer is hormone therapy. Cancer cells need certain hormones to help them grow and flourish. Hormone therapy keeps your body from producing these hormones in the hopes that cancer cells will start to die without them. It’s often used in conjunction with other treatments and is not a standalone treatment.
Immunotherapy is where you take special drugs and medicines that boost your immune system in the hopes that it can aid you in your fight against endometrial cancer. Immunotherapy is also necessary to boost your immune system since cancer can severely damage it. Therefore, immunotherapy helps treat your cancer as well as guard against potential infection that results from a compromised immune system. Immunotherapy medications include pembrolizumab and dostarlimab.
Endometrial cancer is often localized to the uterus and nearby fallopian tubes. Therefore, one of the highest recommended courses of treatment is to have surgery that removes these parts of the body. By removing the uterus, (having a hysterectomy) and fallopian tubes before your cancer has time to spread, you can often cure endometrial cancer.
The downside of having a hysterectomy is that you will be unable to become pregnant in the future. Additionally, while a hysterectomy is the most certain way to get rid of endometrial cancer, you should undergo chemotherapy and radiation following the surgery to ensure the cancer does not return. Chemotherapy and radiation will also take care of any cancer that the surgery may have missed.
Because of how dangerous endometrial cancer can be, it is important to watch out for dangerous signs and symptoms of the disease. This includes unexpected bleeding from the vagina, pain and/or mass in the pelvic area and others. If you catch endometrial cancer and begin treatment in time, your outlook is better than with many other forms of cancer.