Uterine Cancer

Treatment & Support

You are more than just your cancer. We want you to thrive.

If you’ve been diagnosed with uterine cancer, Siteman is here to help. Our WashU Medicine physicians will make a customized plan to treat your cancer based on your age, your lifestyle, and your goals. Uterine cancer is very treatable, with effective treatments available even for more advanced stages.

What Are My Treatment Options For My Uterine Cancer?

Surgery is the most common treatment for uterine cancer. Patients with advanced cancer may also receive a combination of drug therapy and radiation therapy.

WashU Medicine clinical trials at Siteman are also an option. Patients who join trials can get new treatments that have not yet been released on the market. Your team of WashU Medicine physicians at Siteman will let you know if you are a good fit for any clinical trials.

Surgical Treatments

Surgical treatment of uterine cancer involves removing the uterus. This procedure is called hysterectomy.

We know surgery can be scary. Our doctors perform many hysterectomies every year – they are experienced, skilled, and ready to help you. 

At Siteman, we  are able to offer minimally-invasive hysterectomies for many of our patients. One such treatment option is a robotic-assisted hysterectomy, which involves making several small incisions and using robotic arms to remove the uterus. 

Robotic surgeries have many benefits. They:

• Help prevent complications during and after the procedure
• Lower the risk of infection
• Require less time being sedated
• Have a faster recovery time

Another treatment option is the traditional hysterectomy with a larger incision. Traditional hysterectomies at Siteman are also safe, effective procedures for uterine cancer. Your team will choose the type of surgery that is right for you and your cancer.

Drug Therapy Treatments 

Drug therapy uses medication to kill cancer cells or stop them from spreading. Here are four types of drug therapy used for treating uterine cancer:

• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses medication to kill cancer cells.. Patients with uterine cancer take chemotherapy drugs through an IV. 
• Hormone therapy: Hormone therapy uses the hormone progesterone to stop endometrial cancer cells from growing and spreading. Some patients use hormone therapy to delay surgery long enough to have children. You can take progesterone in pill-form or as an injection.
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is a new form of cancer treatment that uses your own immune system to attack cancer cells. The immunotherapy drugs used for uterine cancer are called checkpoint inhibitors. They help your white blood cells recognize cancer cells as a threat. You take them through an IV.
• Targeted therapy: Targeted therapy uses medications that change how cancer cells work, stopping them from growing and multiplying. This can help if your cancer is more advanced. The medicine keeps uterine tumors from growing new blood vessels. You can take this medication in pill-formor through an IV.  

Radiation Therapy Treatments

Radiation therapy is used to:

• Keep cancer from coming back after a hysterectomy (recurrence).
• Treat uterine cancer when surgery is not possible.

At Siteman, many people with uterine cancer follow a treatment plan that combines two types of radiation: intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and brachytherapy.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a highly-precise form of radiation therapy that covers the tumor with radiation while protecting nearby tissues.

Brachytherapy uses a small applicator inserted through the vagina to deliver radiation directly to the tumor.  Siteman Cancer Center has one of the largest brachytherapy centers in the United States. 

Fertility Preservation

Undergoing treatment for uterine cancer can impact the ability to conceive. For younger patients who want to get pregnant, Siteman has treatment and services that can support family planning.  

Hormone therapy can delay the need for surgery to remove your uterus. Parenthood through surrogacy can be another option to explore. 

Siteman partners with WashU Medicine’s Fertility and Reproductive Medicine Center to help patients pursue parenthood.