Overview
In many cases, surgery is the only treatment needed for uterine cancer. You will usually have your uterus and cervix removed (total hysterectomy) as well as your ovaries and fallopian tubes (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy).
If the cancer has spread, you may also have radiation therapy, chemotherapy or hormone therapy.
Cancer of the uterus is often diagnosed early, before it has spread. In many cases, surgery will be the only treatment needed. If cancer has spread beyond the uterus, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or hormone therapy may also be used.
How cancer treatment affects fertility
If you have not yet been through menopause, having a hysterectomy or radiation therapy for cancer of the uterus will mean you won’t be able to become pregnant. If having children is important to you, discuss the options with your doctor before starting treatment and ask to see a fertility specialist. It may be helpful to talk with a psychologist or counsellor if possible changes to fertility are worrying you.
A small number of women with early-stage, low-grade cancer of the uterus choose to wait until after they have had children to have a hysterectomy. These women may be offered hormone therapy and carefully monitored while waiting to have surgery.
Treatment options
Surgery
Surgery is the most common treatment for cancer of the uterus. You will usually have your uterus and cervix removed and sometimes your ovaries and fallopian tubes as well.Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is commonly used as an additional treatment after surgery to reduce the chance of the disease coming back.Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy may be used for more aggressive types of uterine cancer. It may also be used used if the cancer has spread beyond the uterus, or if the cancer comes back after surgery or radiation.Other treatments
In some cases, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy or palliative treatment may also be used.Find support services
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