How many times for endometrial cancer chemotherapy?

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on September 07, 2024
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Post-surgical treatment for endometrial cancer often requires adjunct therapies, commonly including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The frequency of chemotherapy primarily depends on whether the pathological results of the endometrial cancer reveal high-risk factors. If no high-risk factors are present, regular observation and follow-ups are generally advised. However, if high-risk factors are present, such as lymph node metastasis or local infiltration, this condition requires 4-6 cycles of chemotherapy after surgery, supplemented by radiotherapy. Thus, for endometrial cancer, if high-risk factors exist, chemotherapy is needed for 4-6 cycles; if no high-risk factors are present, chemotherapy is generally unnecessary, and regular follow-ups suffice.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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How is endometrial cancer staged?

Endometrial cancer is a common gynecological malignancy in women. Based on surgical and pathological results, endometrial cancer can be divided into four stages. Stage I is the mildest form of endometrial cancer, where the cancer is confined only within the endometrium and does not extend beyond the uterine serosa. Generally, stage 1a is when the cancer is less than half the width of the muscle, while stage 1b is when the cancer infiltrates more than half the width of the muscle. Stage II means the cancer has locally spread but only involves the cervix, without causing cervical stromal infiltration. Stage III involves local spread to the serosa and lymph nodes. Stage IV involves distant metastasis, such as to the liver and bones.

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Written by Xu Xiao Ming
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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How is endometrial cancer diagnosed?

If it concerns endometrial cancer, postmenopausal vaginal bleeding and menstrual disorders during the menopausal transition should prompt an exclusion of endometrial cancer. The most common and valuable method for diagnosing endometrial cancer is through pathological examination results, especially via fractional curettage. The advantage of fractional curettage is that it can differentiate between endometrial cancer and cervical adenocarcinoma, and it can clarify whether the cervical canal is involved, providing a basis for formulating treatment plans. In addition, endometrial cancer can also be assessed using a B-mode ultrasound, but this is only used to provide reference values for clinical diagnosis and management. Another method is hysteroscopy, which allows direct observation of the uterine cavity and cervical canal for any lesions, and tissue can also be collected for biopsy, which is also a very good method.

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Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Is a thick endometrium the same as cancer?

Endometrial thickening is not necessarily cancerous. Causes of endometrial thickening generally include irregular hyperplasia or endometrial polyps, both of which can lead to thickening of the endometrium, but this is not necessarily indicative of cancer. Whether it is endometrial cancer is usually determined if patients with endometrial thickening do not show clear improvement after treatment with medication. Typically, a curettage procedure is performed to collect tissue for pathological examination. If the pathology report indicates endometrial cancer or precancerous lesions, then it will be reported. Therefore, endometrial thickening is not necessarily indicative of endometrial cancer, and it can occur with conditions like endometrial polyps or irregular endometrial hyperplasia. Treatment at this stage should be based on the pathological results. Thus, while endometrial thickening should be taken seriously, it is not necessarily cancerous.

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Written by Xu Xiao Ming
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Endometrial cancer requires chemotherapy.

If endometrial cancer has high-risk factors, chemotherapy is needed after surgery if these high-risk factors are found in the pathological staging. If it's early-stage endometrial cancer without these high-risk factors, chemotherapy might not be necessary after surgery because chemotherapy also serves to prevent recurrence and metastasis. Therefore, it is advised that patients with high-risk factors in endometrial cancer undergo chemotherapy. Although chemotherapy may have significant side effects, it can improve the survival time and quality of life for cancer patients. The decision to proceed with chemotherapy should be based on the postoperative pathological staging, biopsy results, and the presence or absence of factors like lymph node metastasis.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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What should not be eaten with endometrial cancer?

When suffering from endometrial cancer, it's important to pay attention to your diet. Avoid eating foods that cause flare-ups, such as seafood, lamb, dog meat, oysters, and other sea products. Additionally, refrain from consuming high-fat, high-cholesterol foods like fatty meats, cream, and animal fats. Also, avoid eating foods that contain estrogen, such as longan, durian, red dates, and honey. It is also advisable to avoid irritating foods such as chili peppers, and other stimulants like pepper powder and white liquor, as these can affect the body's immunity and exacerbate the condition.