Endometrial cancer, sometimes called uterine cancer, is defined as the growth of cancerous cells in the lining of the uterus, which is called the endometrium. In the United States, more than 43,000 women are estimated to be diagnosed with endometrial cancer in 2010, reports the National Cancer Institute. If endometrial cancer is caught early it can usually be cured. A variety of options are available for treating endometrial cancer.
Surgery
The most common option for treating endometrial cancer is surgery, reports the National Cancer Institute. A common procedure is a hysterectomy, in which surgeons remove the entire uterus and the cervix. In some cases, a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy may also be performed, in which both the ovaries and fallopian tubes are also removed. If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues, doctors may need to perform a radical hysterectomy, which includes removing part of the vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes and nearby lymph nodes. Doctors may also dissect nearby lymph nodes to search for signs that the cancer has spread, explains the Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Hormone Therapy
Another treatment for endometrial cancer is hormone therapy. Certain types of endometrial cancers or cancers that have spread to other parts of the body, require stimulation by hormones circulating in the blood to grow rapidly. Hormone therapy that either removes hormones or prevents them from activating cancer cells can help slow the growth of tumors, the National Cancer Institute explains. Hormone therapy is often given in conjunction with surgery or other types of therapy, especially when there are signs that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, reports the American Cancer Society.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is another option for treating endometrial cancer. Chemotherapy involves administering drugs that either kill cancer cells or stops them from reproducing, explains the National Cancer Institute. Similar to hormone therapy, chemotherapy is usually given jointly with other types of treatment, and helps prevent the recurrence of cancer or the spread of cancer to other parts of the body, notes the American Cancer Society.
Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy employs high energy radiation, such as x-rays, to kill cancer cells. This type of therapy is often administered after surgery to ensure that all cancer cells have been killed and cannot spread to other parts of the body, according to the National Cancer Institute. Radiation therapy can be given as internal radiation therapy, which involves a radioactive substance sealed inside a small container that is placed inside the body. Alternatively, external radiation therapy delivers radiation to the targeted area from a machine outside the body. For treating endometrial cancer, radiation is often targeted to the pelvis or abdomen, reports the American Cancer Society.
