Cancer occurs when cells in an area of the body grow abnormally. The endometrium is the lining layer of the uterine cavity where most uterine cancers begin because of cancerous changes in the lining. In the most common type of uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, cells in the endometrial lining grow out of control, may invade the muscle of the uterus and sometimes spreads outside of the uterus (ovaries, lymph nodes, abdomen).
Uterine sarcomas are a type of uterine cancer in which malignant cells form in the muscle of the uterus (leiomyoscarcoma) or in the network of support cells in the uterine lining (stromal sarcomas and carcinosarcomas). Only about 5% of uterine cancers are uterine sarcomas, but they tend to have more aggressive clinical behavior and can spread quickly.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy for endometrial cancer is usually given intravenously (injected into a vein). You may be treated in the doctor’s office or the outpatient part of a hospital.
Some types of endometrial cancer need hormones to grow. In these cases, hormone therapy is a treatment option. Hormone therapy removes female hormones or blocks their action as a way of preventing endometrial cancer cells from getting or using the hormones they may need to grow. It is usually taken as a pill, but can be given as a shot.
Once You Have Been Treated, Then What?
The frequency of exams, imaging, and blood tests varies due to many factors, but typically you will be followed every 3 to 6 months for the first 2 years with at least an examination of the vagina and rectal examination to hope to detect recurrences early at the most curable stage.
If your cancer recurs, there are several options for treatment. These include repeat surgery, re-treatment with the same chemotherapy given initially, treatment with a different type of agent(chemotherapy, hormonal or targeted therapy)and sometimes radiation.
