Before we move on to endometrial cancer chemotherapy, we must understand what endometrial cancer is and what part of population is affected by it. A type of uterine cancer that affects the endometrium or the uterus lining is called as endometrial cancer. Although the treatment of endometrial cancer could involve surgical removal of organs such as ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes and cervix, it could also be treated with the use of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. In fact, cytotoxic chemotherapy is recommended as frontline treatment for a large number of women with recurrent cancer. Taxane or platinum based drugs are also used as single agent trials. Single agent trials may indicate a reasonable response. However, studies suggest that combination chemotherapy has fetches better response than the former. In United States, amongst the other cancers in women, endometrial cancer accounts for approximately 6 percent. Post menopausal women are the ones who are most prone to this type of cancer.

Endometrial Cancer Chemotherapy and Other Treatment Options

Endometrial cancer can be classified into three types, namely low-risk endometrial cancer, intermediate-risk endometrial cancer and high-risk endometrial cancer. Determining the treatment option depends on which category or group the cancer can be classified into.

• In case of low-risk endometrial cancer, the cancer only affects the inner lining of the uterus mildly. Women suffering from cancer are usually required to undergo a surgery called hysterectomy for the removal of uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and cervix.
• In case of intermediate-risk endometrial cancer, the cancer deeply spreads into the uterus lining. Surgery is the favorable option to treat such cancer. Other than the removal of cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, the lymph nodes surrounding the uterus may also be required to be removed during the surgery.
• In case of high-risk endometrial cancer, the cancer is spread deeply into cervix, ovaries, vagina, fallopian tubes, bowel, bladder and lymph nodes. It could also have possibly reached the bones and liver. This type of cancer first requires a surgery and then a postoperative therapy is carried out to further improve the condition of the patient. In case of high-risk cancer is where endometrial cancer chemotherapy is considered to be a useful option for treatment. If the cancer is of high risk and has not spread anywhere other than in the uterus, radiation therapy is what is recommended after the surgery. And if the cancer is of high risk and has spread into other parts, chemotherapy treatment is what is recommended after the surgery. Chemotherapy treatment may be followed by radiation therapy depending on the treatment response.

Chemotherapy is a treatment in which anti-cancer drugs are administered to treat cancer. What these anti-cancer drugs do is stop the growth and spread of the cancerous cells or slow down the process. It is not necessary that surgery completely removes cancer from the body and has high chances of coming back. Therefore, chemotherapy is practiced on the patient to further control the growth of cancerous cells and providing a good chance for the patient to lead a relatively normal and good life. Chemotherapy drugs increase the chances of cure by eliminating the cancer cells. Endometrial cancer treatment with chemotherapy involves the use of two or more chemotherapy drugs. A combination of drugs is prescribed to the patient depending on the effectiveness as it may vary from case to case. These drugs are administered through a schedule. Chemotherapy regimen is what these schedules are called and are given in different cycles. The chemotherapy cycles are given at different intervals and do not have a standard duration for all endometrial cancer patients. The forms of chemotherapy, the chemotherapy cycles, the regime, the dosage and the drugs, all vary from one patient to the other. This variation is based on a variety of factors such as the general health of a patient, response from the treatment, side effects etc.

Endometrial Cancer Chemotherapy Side Effects

It isn’t necessary that all the patients undergoing endometrial cancer chemotherapy would develop the side effects given below. However, many of the given side effects are common and one or more could be found in the patients undergoing the chemotherapy.

• Low count of WBC (white blood cells) and RBC (red blood cells)
• Tiredness
• Vomiting / Nausea
• Hair loss
• Diarrhea
• Tingling sensation and numbness in toes and fingers

Other side effects may resemble menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, night sweats etc. If the patient develops severe side effects from endometrial cancer chemotherapy then the doctor may change the dosage and may also prescribe new chemotherapy drugs with relatively less side effects. Also read treatment for uterine cancer for further information.