Treatment for uterine cancer is based on the type of uterine cancer you have and its stage, your overall health and treatment preferences. This may involve surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapies.
Surgery is often the primary form of treatment, where the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries are removed as well as pelvic lymph nodes (hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy).
- Surgery – involves removing the uterus and cervix (total hysterectomy), alongside the fallopian tubes and ovaries (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy). If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other nearby structures, they may also need to be removed
- Radiation therapy – uses high-energy particles to target and destroy cancer cells through external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and in some cases vaginal brachytherapy. Radiation is commonly used after surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer returning. It may also be used as the primary treatment for women who are unable to undergo surgery
- Targeted therapies – focuses specifically on treating the uterine cancer through targeting cancer cells, and not healthy cells. Targeted therapies may be used for advanced uterine cancers, those that are high-risk or cancers that have returned after treatment
- Immunotherapy – uses your immune system to slow the growth of cancer cells and destroy existing cancer cells. You may receive immunotherapy if your uterine cancer is advanced or has returned
- Chemotherapy – involves the use of anti-cancer drugs which are taken orally (by mouth) or injected into the body. Chemotherapy is commonly used for high grade uterine cancers that grow and spread quickly, when uterine cancer has returned, and when surgery isn’t a treatment option for cancers that have spread beyond the uterus
- Hormone therapy – uses hormones or drugs to prevent the oestrogen hormone from assisting in the growth of cancer cells in the uterus. Hormone therapy is most often used alongside chemotherapy to treat advanced uterine cancer or if the cancer has returned