Treatment - Womb (uterus) cancer

Treatment for womb cancer

Womb cancer is usually treatable when it’s found early.

The treatment you have for womb cancer will depend on:

• the size of the cancer
• where it is
• if it has spread
• your general health

It will usually include surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. It may also include treatment with targeted medicines to treat the cancer.

The specialist care team looking after you will:

• explain the treatments, benefits and side effects
• work with you to create a treatment plan that’s best for you
• help you manage any side effects, including any changes to your diet
• talk to you about the impact your treatment may have on your fertility

You'll have regular check-ups during and after any treatments. You may also have more tests and scans.

If you have any symptoms or side effects that you are worried about, talk to your specialists. You do not need to wait for your next check-up.

Surgery

Surgery is often the main treatment for womb cancer. Especially if the cancer is found early.

Different surgeries involve removing:

• your womb and cervix (hysterectomy)
• your womb, ovaries, and fallopian tubes if cancer has spread there
• lymph nodes around your womb or in your pelvis
• the upper part of the vagina that connects to the cervix
• your bladder or rectum if cancer has returned or spread there

Recovery from surgery can take a long time. Your specialist team looking after you will talk to you about all the benefits and side effects.

If the cancer has spread to other parts of your body, you may need to have a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to remove as much of the cancer as possible.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays of radiation to kill cancer cells.

You may have radiotherapy for womb cancer:

• as the main treatment if you cannot have surgery
• if the cancer is large or has spread
• after surgery to help stop the cancer coming back, sometimes with chemotherapy (chemoradiotherapy)

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is medicine that kills cancer cells.

You may have chemotherapy for womb cancer:

• on its own, or with radiotherapy (chemoradiotherapy), as the main treatment for womb cancer if you cannot have surgery
• after surgery (usually with radiotherapy) to help stop the cancer coming back
• to help slow the cancer down and ease symptoms if it has spread to other parts of your body

Hormone therapy

You may have hormone therapy to ease symptoms or shrink and control the cancer if it has spread outside your womb to other parts in your body.

This treatment is suitable if you’re not well enough to have surgery or radiotherapy.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy medicines help your immune system to find and kill cancer cells.

This treatment may be suitable if you have advanced womb cancer or if womb cancer has come back after treatment.

Care after your treatment

The clinical nurse specialist or another member of your specialist team will be able to give you information on follow-up care after treatment.

It may also help to get support from family, friends or a support organisation, if you get anxious before or between appointments.

Macmillan Cancer Support has a free helpline that's open every day from 8am to 8pm.

They're there to listen if you have anything you want to talk about.

Call 0808 808 0000.