Endometrial Cancer Information
Endometrial Cancer Information – A Starting Point
After a diagnosis of endometrial cancer, also known as uterine cancer, sorting through all the information available may be overwhelming. One of our preliminary goals at Florida Hospital is to help patients replace confusion and fear with knowledge and hope. To this end, we present the following endometrial cancer information.
Endometrial cancer affects the lining of the uterus. Several risk factors have been found to increase a woman’s odds of developing endometrial cancer, including obesity, extended use of tamoxifen or estrogen, and genetics, to some extent.
Signs and symptoms of uterine cancer include prolonged periods or bleeding between periods, vaginal bleeding or spotting after menopause, watery pink or white discharge, pelvic pain, pain during intercourse and dramatic weight loss.
After diagnosis, the next step is to determine whether the cancer has spread beyond the endometrium. Endometrial cancer is categorized into four stages:
- Stage I – cancer is found only in the uterus
- Stage II – cancer has spread from the uterus to the cervix but no further
- Stage III – cancer has spread outside the uterus and may have spread to the lymph nodes, ovaries, fallopian tubes and vagina
- Stage IV – cancer has spread into the bladder or rectum and possibly to other body parts outside the pelvis
A recommendation for endometrial cancer treatment is dependent on the patient’s age and health, the location and size of the cancer, and the stage of the cancer.
Endometrial Cancer Treatment – Robotic Surgery Offers Numerous Benefits
Endometrial cancer treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or a combination of treatments. All forms of treatment have associated side effects, so it is essential to prepare yourself with as much endometrial cancer information as possible and discuss any questions or concerns you have with your treatment team.
The most common treatment for endometrial cancer is a total hysterectomy which involves the removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and the pelvic and aortic lymph nodes. While very rare, a radical hysterectomy may be required if the endometrial cancer has spread to the cervix. A radical hysterectomy involves the removal of the uterus, cervix, top part of the vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, lymph nodes, lymph channels, and tissue in the pelvic cavity that surrounds the cervix.
Surgeons at Florida Hospital Cancer Institute were the first in Central Florida to use the da Vinci® Robotic Surgical System to perform highly precise, minimally invasive hysterectomies for the treatment of endometrial cancer. The potential benefits of robotic surgery are numerous and include shorter hospital stays, less risk of infection, less pain and scarring, less blood loss and faster recovery than traditional open surgery.
For more endometrial cancer information or to discuss this revolutionary endometrial cancer treatment, contact our caring professionals at Florida Hospital.