The uterus has an inner lining called the endometrium, which thickens during pregnancy or sheds and becomes the menstrual flow. Most endometrial carcinomas are cancers of the cells in the endometrium, and nearly all cancers of the uterus start in the endometrium. Treatment depends on the advancement of the cancer and if other areas are affected.
Hysterectomy
The National Cancer Institute indicates a hysterectomy as the most common treatment for endometrial cancer. A hysterectomy involves the surgical removal of the uterus, with or without other tissues or organs. The physician performs additional surgery if the cancer has affected other areas than the uterus. In a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, the fallopian tubes and ovaries are removed along with the uterus. Lymph nodes in the area are removed during the surgery as well as nearby tissue.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy kills cancer cells or keeps them from growing by using high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation. Radiation treatments are administered either internally or externally and depend on the type and extent of the cancer being treated. Women who are considered being a high risk for a recurrence of cancer are treated with radiation therapy after a hysterectomy. The Mayo Clinic recommends radiation therapy if the cancer was aggressive and had spread into any of the surrounding tissues or involved any blood vessels.
Hormone Therapy
According to the National Cancer Institute, some hormones cause the growth of certain cancers. Hormone therapy reduces the production of hormones or blocks them from working if tests show that the cancer cells have places where the hormones can attach. The hormones used in treating endometrial cancer are given at a much higher dose than in hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women.
Women with early stage endometrial cancer usually choose hormone therapy and not a hysterectomy if children are desired. However, hormone therapy as the only treatment includes the risk of the cancer returning.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs that stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from dividing. Chemotherapy drugs often are used in combination to increase their efficacy. Generally, women with advanced endometrial cancer are offered chemotherapy as part of the treatment regimen, the Mayo Clinic notes.
