Uterine Cancer

Your Winship care team draws on Emory's vast resources in surgical oncology, radiation therapy and medical oncology, to provide the newest, most effective practices and treatments for uterine cancer and other gynecologic cancers.

The benefits of our multidisciplinary and highly experienced teams include:

• Access to doctors and surgeons who rank among the top cancer experts in the world.
• Review of patient cases by a multidisciplinary team of experts.
• Coordinated scheduling for appointments among various specialties.
• Access to a nurse navigator to assist you throughout the treatment process.
• Access to support programs and groups for you and your caregivers.
• Availability of new treatment options within our clinical trials program.

Request an Appointment

If you have been diagnosed with uterine cancer, we are ready to help you. To request an appointment with our gynecologic cancer team, please contact us at (404) 778-3401. Winship experts are available to provide a second opinion.

We understand that this is a very stressful time. We welcome your questions and requests for help. Learn what to expect on your first visit.

The doctor may also conduct a variety of other exams and tests in order to better understand the patient's problem. Some of these exams include:

Pelvic Exam: a physician examines a woman's vagina, uterus, bladder, and rectum feeling for lumps and abnormal changes in shape or size.

Pap Test: a doctor swabs the cervix and upper vagina to collect cells that are examined in a laboratory to determine if any of the cells are abnormal.

Transvaginal Ultrasound: a doctor uses an instrument that is inserted into the vagina and emits sound waves. A pattern of echoes that results from the sound waves helps doctors to create pictures of the endometrium. This can help doctors to decide further courses of action.

Biopsy: a doctor removes a sample of tissue from the uterine lining so that it can be examined and tested for abnormal cells in a laboratory. A pathologist examines this tissue to check for cancer cells.

Most women are treated with surgery, some with radiation therapy, some with chemotherapy, and a few women are treated with hormonal therapy. Some patients have a combination of therapies.

Surgery

• Simple Hysterectomy - removes the uterus and cervix; results in infertility.
• Radical Hysterectomy - the uterus, cervix, tissue surrounding the cervix (parametria), and the upper vagina; results in infertility.
• Salpingo-ophorectomy - removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries may also be recommended; results in infertility and menopause if both ovaries and fallopian tubes are removed.
• Lymph Node Dissection - depending on the stage of your cancer, you may also need to have lymph nodes removed from the pelvis.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy alone is used to treat uterine cancers if a women is not able to safely undergo surgery. Radiation therapy is also used after surgery to decrease the chances the cancer may recur in the future. External and internal radiation are used to treat uterine cancer.

Chemotherapy

Several different drugs may also be used to treat primary or recurrent uterine cancer.

Targeted therapies

Winship's most promising research in treating uterine cancer is in personalized medicine and targeted therapies. In personalized medicine, researchers identify unique characteristics of tumors that make them vulnerable to known drugs so therapy can be tailored to an individual's cancer. In targeted therapies, investigators look for new drugs that more selectively target cancer cells with fewer side effects.

Hormonal therapy

Hormonal therapy is often used in women with early stage uterine cancer who still desire fertility, in women who are not able to undergo surgery or radiation for uterine cancer treatment, or in advanced staged or recurrence uterine cancer. This is not the same has hormone therapy given for symptoms of menopause.

Reproductive Health Care

Some patients with uterine cancer may be candidates for preserving their fertility, the ability to get pregnant or maintain a pregnancy. Our cancer team works closely with the Emory Reproductive Center to support patients when their fertility may be impacted by cancer treatment. Ask your doctor if this is an option with your cancer diagnosis and to be referred to a fertility specialist.

Supportive Oncology Care

In addition to delivering the highest quality medical care, we recognize the importance of the psychological and emotional aspects of living with a cancer diagnosis and of dealing with treatment. Our supportive oncology team addresses these issues in a timely manner with additional support from counselors, nurse navigators, dietitians, social service professionals, and additional specialists trained in the management of cancer symptoms, such as pain or nausea.