Uterine Cancer Treatment in Philippines

Surgery and histopathological staging forms the mainstay of management of endometrial or uterine cancers. Other treatment options, include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal therapy also play an important role.

• Surgery: Surgery involves the removal of uterus and cervix with or without the removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes. Adjacent lymph nodes may also be removed. Staging is also done during surgery in which few samples of tissue or fluid are taken and sent for examination.
• Radiotherapy: High energy radiations are used to destroy the cancer cells. Radiation may be given as external beam therapy in which radiation source is outside the body or as internal beam therapy where small source is placed inside the body near the cancer tissue. The decision to start radiotherapy depends on the extent of the cancer. Though, it is usually given in stage II, III and IV. It is treatment of choice in patients who are poor candidates for surgery.
• Chemotherapy: It is mainly used in the advanced stages of uterine cancer. Powerful drugs are used to kill the cancer cells.
• Hormonal therapy: It is also an option in uterine cancer, though it is mainly used in the advanced or metastatic stages of cancer.

Success of treatment in uterine or endometrial cancer depends on the stage and grade of the uterine cancer. Early stage of cancer has good response to surgery and chemotherapy. Survival rate with radiotherapy alone is 15-20% less than that with surgery.