ON THIS PAGE: You will learn about the different types of treatments doctors use for people with uterine cancer. Use the menu to see other pages.
This section explains the types of treatments, also known as therapies, that are the standard of care for uterine cancer. “Standard of care” means the best treatments known. Information in this section is based on medical standards of care for uterine cancer in the United States. Treatment options can vary from one place to another.
Clinical trials may also be an option for you, which is something you can discuss with your doctor. A clinical trial is a research study that tests a new approach to treatment. Learn more about clinical trials in the About Clinical Trials and Latest Research sections of this guide.
How uterine cancer is treated
In cancer care, different types of doctors who specialize in cancer, called oncologists, often work together to create a patient’s overall treatment plan. This is called a multidisciplinary team. Your cancer care team should include a gynecologic oncologist, which is a doctor who specializes in the cancers of the female reproductive system, and may include other types of oncologists, such as a radiation oncologist. In addition to physicians, cancer care teams often include other health care professionals, such as physician assistants, nurse practitioners, oncology nurses, social workers, pharmacists, counselors, dietitians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and others. Learn more about the clinicians who provide cancer care.
Treatment options and recommendations depend on several factors, including the type and stage of cancer, possible side effects, your overall health, your age, and your personal preferences. This includes whether or how treatment will affect your ability to have children, called fertility. Uterine cancer is treated by 1 or a combination of treatments, including surgery, radiation therapy, and/or cancer medications. Combinations of these cancer treatments are often recommended, but they depend on the stage and characteristics of the cancer.
Take time to learn about all of your treatment options and be sure to ask questions about things that are unclear. Talk with your doctor about the goals of each treatment and what you can expect while receiving the treatment. These types of conversations are called “shared decision-making.” Shared decision-making is when you and your doctors work together to choose treatments that fit the goals of your care. Shared decision-making is important for uterine cancer because there are different treatment options. Learn more about making treatment decisions.
The common types of treatments used for uterine cancer are described below. Your care plan also includes treatment for symptoms and side effects, an important part of cancer care.
Concerns about sexual health and having children
Patients may have concerns about if or how their uterine cancer treatment may affect their sexual health and fertility. These topics should be discussed with the health care team before treatment begins. Premenopausal patients who are still potentially able to get pregnant and want to preserve their fertility should talk with their oncologist and/or a reproductive endocrinologist (REI), also called a fertility specialist, before treatment begins. During these conversations, ask what options for fertility preservation are covered by your health insurance. There may also be charitable funds available to provide assistance with these costs.
Surgery
Surgery is the removal of the tumor and some surrounding healthy tissue, called a margin, during an operation. It is typically the first treatment used for uterine cancer. A surgical gynecologic oncologist is a doctor who specializes in treating gynecologic cancer using surgery. Before surgery, talk with your health care team about the possible side effects from the specific surgery you will have (see “Side effects of surgery,” below). Learn more about the basics of cancer surgery.
Common surgical procedures for uterine cancer include:
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Hysterectomy. Depending on the extent of the cancer, the surgeon will perform either a simple hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and cervix) or a radical hysterectomy (removal of the uterus, cervix, the upper part of the vagina, and nearby tissues). For patients who have been through menopause, the surgeon will typically also perform a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which is the removal of both fallopian tubes and ovaries.
A hysterectomy may be performed either by abdominal incision, by laparoscopy or robotically, which uses several small incisions, or vaginally. A hysterectomy is usually performed by a gynecologic surgeon, which is a surgeon who specializes in surgery of the female reproductive system. In robotic-assisted surgery, a camera and instruments are inserted through small, keyhole-sized incisions. The surgeon directs the robotic instruments to remove the uterus, cervix, and surrounding tissue. If the patient has no cancer remaining in the tissue removed during a hysterectomy, additional treatment may not be needed. However, regular screening and testing to check for a return of the cancer is recommended.
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Lymph node removal. At the same time as a hysterectomy, the surgeon may remove lymph nodes near the tumor to determine if the cancer has spread beyond the uterus. This may be done through a procedure called a sentinel lymph node biopsy or lymphadenectomy. A sentinel lymph node biopsy might involve an injection of dye into the uterus during the hysterectomy and removal of the few lymph nodes where dye collects. This procedure has become more common in uterine cancer than lymphadenectomy. A lymphadenectomy, or lymph node dissection, is a surgical procedure in which a group of lymph nodes is removed.
Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of the different surgical approaches and which approach might be best for you.
Side effects of surgery
After surgery, the most common short-term side effects include pain and tiredness. If a patient is experiencing pain, their doctor will prescribe medications to relieve the pain. Other immediate side effects may include nausea and vomiting as well as difficulty emptying the bladder and having bowel movements. After surgery, the patient's diet may be restricted to liquids, followed by a gradual return to solid foods.
If the ovaries are removed, this ends the body's production of sex hormones, resulting in early menopause (if the patient has not already gone through menopause). While removal of the ovaries substantially reduces the sex hormones that are produced by the body, the adrenal glands and fat tissues will still provide some hormones. Soon after removing the ovaries, the patient is likely to experience menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Talk with your doctor about ways to relieve and manage these menopausal symptoms.
If a lymphadenectomy is done, some people may experience swelling in their legs, which is a side effect called lymphedema. Lymphedema can also be a long-term side effect of the procedure.
After a hysterectomy, pregnancy is no longer possible. For this reason, premenopausal patients who wish to preserve their fertility and have children in the future should talk with their doctor about all their options before any treatment begins. Sometimes, fertility preservation is possible and might include less extensive surgery followed by hormone therapy (see below). Your doctor can talk with you about the potential risks and benefits of this approach and can provide information to help you make an informed decision.
Before any operation for uterine cancer, you are also encouraged to talk with your doctor about sexual and emotional side effects, including ways to address these issues before and after cancer treatment.
The treatment options after surgery for endometrial cancer depend on the stage and grade of the cancer. For people who have had surgery and have grade 1 or 2 cancer that either has not spread to the myometrium or more than halfway through the myometrium, additional treatment may be avoided.
When considering your options for treatment after surgery, talk with your doctor about how each treatment will affect you. It’s important to weigh the benefits of treatment to possibly keep the cancer from returning with the risks of the treatment. The risks of treatment may include the short- and long-term side effects and a possible decrease in your quality of life. What you consider a decrease in quality of life is very personal. This is why it is important to talk with your doctor about possible side effects, how long they will last, and how they might affect you now and in the future. Learn more about the general side effects of surgery.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays or other particles to destroy cancer cells. A doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer is called a radiation oncologist. A radiation therapy regimen, or schedule, usually consists of a specific number of treatments given over a set period of time.
Radiation therapy can be delivered externally or internally. External-beam radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to deliver radiation to the pelvic region or the area designated by your radiation oncologist. Radiation can also be delivered internally. This form of radiation is called brachytherapy. External-beam radiation therapy can be given alone or in combination with brachytherapy. For some people, brachytherapy alone will be recommended. The most common type of radiation treatment is external-beam radiation therapy.
Some people with uterine cancer need surgery (see above) and radiation therapy. The radiation therapy is most often given after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. Radiation therapy is occasionally given before surgery to shrink the tumor. If a person cannot have surgery, the doctor may recommend radiation therapy instead.
Options for giving radiation therapy to treat uterine cancer may include radiation therapy directed towards the whole pelvis and/or applied only to the vaginal cavity, often called vaginal brachytherapy. A number of factors play into decisions about what type of radiation is best, but some patients with low-risk disease may be able to undergo vaginal brachytherapy instead of radiation to the pelvis.
For some patients, radiation therapy to the pelvis may be the best option to help prevent a return of the cancer. These patients include those with a grade 3 cancer that has spread through half or more of the myometrium; those with a cancer of any grade that has spread to tissue in the cervix; and those with a cancer that has spread outside the uterus to nearby tissue or organs. In these situations, the patient may need only radiation therapy after surgery, only chemotherapy, or a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Your doctor will be able to advise you on what treatment options are right for you.
Radiation therapy to the pelvis may also be considered for some people with grade 1 or 2 cancer that has spread through half or more of the thickness of the myometrium, depending on factors such as age and whether the cancer has spread to blood or lymphatic vessels.
Side effects from radiation therapy will depend on the extent of radiation therapy given and may include fatigue, skin reactions, changes in urinary frequency, and loose bowel movements. Most side effects go away soon after treatment is finished, but long-term side effects are possible. Talk with your radiation oncologist about what you can expect and how side effects will be managed.
Researchers are always looking for new ways to improve radiation therapy to reduce its side effects and improve its effectiveness.
Learn more about the basics of radiation therapy. For more information on radiation therapy for gynecologic cancers, see the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology's pamphlet, Radiation Therapy for Gynecologic Cancers (PDF; please note that this link takes you to a separate, independent website).
Therapies using medication
The treatment plan may include medications to destroy cancer cells. Medication may be given through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body. When a drug is given this way, it is called systemic therapy.
This treatment is generally prescribed by a medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with medication. It may also be prescribed by a gynecologic medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating cancers of the female reproductive system with medication.
Medications are often given through an intravenous (IV) tube placed into a vein using a needle or as a pill or capsule that is swallowed (orally). If you are given oral medications to take at home, be sure to ask your health care team about how to safely store and handle them.
The types of medications used for uterine cancer include:
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Chemotherapy
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Hormone therapy
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Targeted therapy
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Immunotherapy
Each of these types of therapies is discussed below in more detail. A person may receive 1 type of medication at a time or a combination of medications given at the same time. They can also be given as part of a treatment plan that includes surgery and/or radiation therapy.
The medications used to treat cancer are continually being evaluated. Talking with your doctor is often the best way to learn about the medications prescribed for you, their purpose, and their potential side effects or interactions with other medications. It is also important to let your doctor know if you are taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medications or supplements. Herbs, supplements, and other drugs can interact with cancer medications, causing unwanted side effects or reduced effectiveness. Learn more about your prescriptions by using searchable drug databases.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells, usually by keeping the cancer cells from growing, dividing, and making more cells. When recommended for endometrial cancer, chemotherapy usually is given after surgery. Chemotherapy is also considered if the endometrial cancer returns after the initial treatment, called a recurrence (see below).
A chemotherapy regimen, or schedule, usually consists of a specific number of cycles given over a set period of time. A patient may receive 1 drug at a time or a combination of different drugs given at the same time.
The goal of chemotherapy is to destroy cancer remaining after surgery or to shrink the cancer and slow the tumor's growth if it comes back or has spread to other parts of the body. Although chemotherapy can be given orally, most drugs used to treat uterine cancer are given by IV. IV chemotherapy is either injected directly into a vein or through a catheter, which is a thin tube inserted into a vein.
The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the individual, the type of chemotherapy, and the dose used, but they can include fatigue, risk of infection, nausea and vomiting, hair loss, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. These side effects usually go away after treatment is finished. There have also been advances in chemotherapy during the last 10 years that include the development of new drugs for the prevention and treatment of side effects, such as antiemetics for nausea and vomiting and growth factors to prevent low white blood cell counts and reduce the risk of infection.
Other potential side effects of chemotherapy for uterine cancer include the inability to become pregnant in the future (infertility) and experiencing early menopause, if the patient has not already had a hysterectomy (see “Surgery,” above). Talk with your doctor before treatment starts if you want to preserve your fertility. Rarely, some drugs cause some hearing loss. Others may cause kidney damage. Patients may be given extra fluid intravenously to protect their kidneys. Talk with your doctor about what side effects you may experience with chemotherapy and how they can be prevented or managed.
Learn more about the basics of chemotherapy.
Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy is used to slow the growth of certain types of uterine cancer cells that have receptors to the hormones on them. These tumors are generally adenocarcinoma and are grade 1 or 2.
Hormone therapy for uterine cancer often involves a high dose of the sex hormone progesterone given in pill form. Other hormone therapies include hormone-expressing intrauterine devices (IUDs) and aromatase inhibitors (AIs), such as anastrozole (Arimidex), letrozole (Femara), and exemestane (Aromasin), which are often used for the treatment of breast cancer. An AI is a drug that reduces the amount of the hormone estrogen in a person's body by stopping tissues and organs other than the ovaries from producing it. Hormone therapy may also be used for people who cannot have surgery or radiation therapy, or it can be used in combination with other types of treatment. Learn more about the basics of hormone therapy.
Side effects of hormone therapy may include fluid retention, increase in appetite, insomnia, muscle aches, and weight gain. Most side effects are manageable with the help of your health care team. Talk with your doctor about what you can expect.
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy is a treatment that targets the cancer’s specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival. This type of treatment blocks the growth and spread of cancer cells and limits damage to healthy cells.
Not all tumors have the same targets. To find the most effective treatment, your doctor may run tests to identify the genes, proteins, and other factors in your tumor. This helps doctors better match each patient with the most effective treatment whenever possible. In addition, research studies continue to find out more about specific molecular targets and new treatments directed at them. Learn more about the basics of targeted treatments.
Targeted therapy for uterine cancer is available in clinical trials and, in some instances, as part of standard-of-care treatment plans. Targeted therapy for uterine cancer includes:
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Anti-angiogenesis therapy. Anti-angiogenesis therapy is focused on stopping angiogenesis, which is the process of making new blood vessels. Because a tumor needs the nutrients delivered by blood vessels to grow and spread, the goal of anti-angiogenesis therapies is to “starve” the tumor. Bevacizumab (Avastin) is a type of anti-angiogenesis therapy that may be used to treat uterine cancer.
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Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors. In endometrial cancer, mutations in a pathway called mTOR are commonly found. People with advanced or recurrent uterine cancer may be treated with a drug that blocks this pathway, such as everolimus (Afinitor). Other drugs that target this pathway are being studied, such as ridaforolimus and temsirolimus (Torisel), a targeted therapy approved to treat a type of kidney cancer called renal cell carcinoma.
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Targeted therapy to treat a rare type of uterine cancer. Uterine serous carcinoma is a rare but aggressive type of endometrial cancer. About 30% of these tumors express the HER2 gene. In a phase II clinical trial, researchers found that trastuzumab (Herceptin) combined with a combination of chemotherapy was effective in treating these kinds of tumors. Trastuzumab is a HER2 targeted therapy mostly used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer.
Different targeted therapies have different side effects. Talk with your doctor about these possible side effects and how they can be managed.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy uses the body's natural defenses to fight cancer by improving your immune system’s ability to attack cancer cells.
Uterine cancers with mismatch repair defects (dMMR; see Introduction) are more sensitive to immunotherapy. The immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is approved to treat tumors that have either high microsatellite instability (MSI-high) or dMMR, regardless of the tumor's location in the body. Pembrolizumab can be used to treat uterine tumors with dMMR if other previous treatments have not worked.
A combination of lenvatinib (Lenvima), a targeted therapy drug, and pembrolizumab is also approved to treat advanced endometrial cancer. This combination can be used to treat disease that is not MSI-high or dMMR, has not been controlled by systemic therapy, and cannot be cured with surgery or radiation therapy. Lenvatinib may cause high blood pressure, among other side effects, and requires close monitoring to reduce and manage side effects.
In 2021, the FDA approved the immunotherapy drug dostarlimab (Jemperli) to treat recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer with dMMR that has progressed either while on or after completing platinum-containing chemotherapy. In 2023, the FDA also approved the use of dostarlimab to treat people with recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer that is dMMR or MSI-high in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel. Dostarlimab is given by vein every 3 weeks. Its most common side effects are fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation.
Different types of immunotherapy can cause different side effects. Common side effects include skin reactions, flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, and weight changes, among other possible side effects. Talk with your doctor about possible side effects for the immunotherapy recommended for you. Learn more about the basics of immunotherapy.
Physical, emotional, social, and financial effects of cancer
Cancer and its treatment cause physical symptoms and side effects, as well as emotional and social effects. Managing all of these effects is called palliative and supportive care. It is an important part of your care that is included along with treatments intended to slow, stop, or eliminate the cancer. Cancer treatment can also have financial side effects. You can bring financial concerns up with your multidisciplinary team, which may have social workers or financial counselors available to help.
Palliative and supportive care focuses on improving how you feel during treatment by managing symptoms and supporting patients and their families with other, non-medical needs. Any person, regardless of age or type and stage of cancer, may receive this type of care, and it often works best when it is started right after a cancer diagnosis. People who receive palliative and supportive care along with treatment for the cancer often have less severe symptoms, better quality of life, and report that they are more satisfied with treatment.
Palliative treatments vary widely and often include medication, nutritional changes, relaxation techniques, emotional and spiritual support, and other therapies. You may also receive palliative treatments, such as chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy, to improve symptoms.
Before treatment begins, talk with your doctor about the goals of each treatment in the recommended treatment plan. You should also talk about the possible side effects of the specific treatment plan and palliative and supportive care options. Many patients also benefit from talking with a social worker and participating in support groups. Ask your doctor about these resources, too.
Cancer care is often expensive, and navigating health insurance can be difficult. Ask your doctor or another member of your health care team about talking with a financial navigator or counselor who may be able to help with your financial concerns.
During treatment, your health care team may ask you to answer questions about your symptoms and side effects and to describe each problem. Be sure to tell the health care team if you are experiencing a problem. This helps the health care team treat any symptoms and side effects as quickly as possible. It can also help prevent more serious problems in the future.
Learn more about the importance of tracking side effects in another part of this guide. Learn more about palliative and supportive care in a separate section of this website.
Metastatic uterine cancer
If cancer spreads to a part of the body that is different from where it started, doctors call it metastatic cancer or stage IV cancer. If this happens, it is a good idea to talk with doctors who have experience in treating it. Doctors can have different opinions about the best standard treatment plan. Clinical trials might also be an option. Learn more about getting a second opinion before starting treatment, so you are comfortable with your chosen treatment plan.
Your treatment plan may include radiation therapy, especially for recurrent cancer in the pelvis, or surgery. Hormone therapy may be used for cancer that has spread to distant parts of the body. A cancer that is high grade or that does not respond to hormone therapy is treated with chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy. People with stage IV uterine cancer have many standard-of-care treatment options. They are also encouraged to consider participating in clinical trials. Palliative and supportive care will also be important to help relieve symptoms and side effects.
For many people, a diagnosis of metastatic cancer is very stressful and difficult. You and your family are encouraged to talk about how you feel with doctors, nurses, social workers, or other members of your health care team. It may be helpful to talk with other patients, such as through a support group or other peer support program.
Remission and the chance of recurrence
A remission is when cancer cannot be detected in the body and there are no symptoms. This may also be called having “no evidence of disease” or NED.
A remission may be temporary or permanent. This uncertainty causes many people to worry that the cancer will come back. While many remissions are permanent, it is important to talk with your doctor about the possibility of the cancer returning.
If the cancer returns after the original treatment, it is called recurrent cancer. It may come back in the same place (called a local recurrence), nearby (regional recurrence), or in another place (distant recurrence). Understanding your risk of recurrence and the treatment options may help you feel more prepared if the cancer does return. A key goal of follow-up care is to watch for a recurrence and to manage possible late effects and long-term side effects from treatment. Learn more about coping with the fear of recurrence.
Some symptoms of recurrent cancer are similar to those experienced when the disease was first diagnosed:
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Vaginal bleeding or discharge
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Pain in the pelvic area, abdomen, or back of the legs
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Difficulty or pain when urinating
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Weight loss
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Persistent cough/shortness of breath
If a recurrence happens, a new cycle of testing will begin to learn as much as possible about it. After this testing is done, you and your doctor will talk about the treatment options. Often, the treatment plan will include the treatments described above, such as hormone therapy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, but they may be used in a different combination or given at a different pace. Sometimes, surgery is suggested when a cancer recurrence is small or confined. Your doctor may suggest clinical trials that are studying new ways to treat recurrent uterine cancer. Whichever treatment plan you choose, palliative and supportive care will be important for relieving symptoms and side effects.
People with recurrent cancer sometimes experience emotions such as disbelief or fear. You are encouraged to talk with your health care team about these feelings and ask about support services to help you cope. Learn more about dealing with cancer recurrence.
If treatment does not work
Recovery from uterine cancer is not always possible. If the cancer cannot be cured or controlled, the disease may be called advanced or terminal.
This diagnosis is stressful, and for some people, advanced cancer may be difficult to discuss. However, it is important to have open and honest conversations with your health care team to express your feelings, preferences, and concerns. The health care team has special skills, experience, and knowledge to support patients and their families and is there to help. Making sure a person is physically comfortable, free from pain, and emotionally supported is extremely important.
Planning for your future care and putting your wishes in writing is important, especially at this stage of disease. Then, your health care team and loved ones will know what you want, even if you are unable to make these decisions. Learn more about putting your health care wishes in writing.
People who have advanced cancer and who are expected to live less than 6 months may want to consider hospice care. Hospice care is designed to provide the best possible quality of life for people who are near the end of life. You and your family are encouraged to talk with your doctor or a member of your palliative care team about hospice care options, which include hospice care at home, a special hospice center, or other health care locations. Nursing care and special equipment can make staying at home a workable option for many families. Learn more about advanced cancer care planning.
After the death of a loved one, many people need support to help cope with the loss. Learn more about grief and loss.
The next section in this guide is About Clinical Trials. It offers more information about research studies that are focused on finding better ways to care for people with uterine cancer. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.