What Are the Treatments for Cancer of the Uterus Lining?

Uterine cancer, also known as endometrial cancer, is a kind of cancer marked by the uncontrollable division and growth of the cells of the endometrium (lining of the uterus). Endometrial cancer can develop at any age; however, women attaining menopause are often considered to be at an elevated risk. According to the American Cancer Society, uterine cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting the female reproductive organs in America, with nearly 43,000 new cases being diagnosed annually. Excessive vaginal bleeding after menopause or during periods is an early symptom.

Treatments for Endometrial Cancer

• There is no treatment that can completely cure endometrial cancer. Doctors try to restrain the proliferation of the malignant cells by applying methods such as surgery, radiation and chemoembolization. Hysterectomy is one of the most common surgical processes, in which the entire uterus is removed in hopes of stopping the spread of cancer cells. In extreme cases, the Fallopian tubes and the ovaries are also surgically removed along with the uterus.

  Individuals with high cancer recurrence risk are generally advised to undergo chemoembolization and radiation after the surgery. Chemoembolization, commonly known as chemotherapy, is a treatment form in which anti-cancer medications such as cisplatin and paclitaxel (Taxol), among others, are used to destroy remaining cancer cells and keep them from spreading to other parts of the body. Radiotherapy involves exposing the affected parts of the uterus to high-energy light rays (frequently X-rays) to damage the malignant cells.

Time Frame of Treatments

• The time in which the above-mentioned treatments are administered varies based on the cancer stage. Generally chemoembolization (chemotherapy) is administered periodically over three to five months, while radiation therapy is given regularly for about one to two months.

Success Rates

• According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for uterine cancer patients is about 83 percent. However, this percentage rises to 95 percent if the cancer is diagnosed in its early stages.

Side Effects

• According to the American Cancer Society, side effects are frequently experienced by patients undergoing treatments for uterine cancer. Side effects related to hysterectomy include extreme pain in the lower abdominal region and during urination, bleeding and infection. Radiation and chemoembolization also produce side effects such as nausea and vomiting, mouth and vaginal sores, loss of appetite and hair loss.

Considerations

• Despite the fact that surgery is the only method to remove the cancer cells, undergoing a hysterectomy is often a difficult choice for women suffering from uterine cancer as they cannot become pregnant after the surgical removal of the uterus.