“For uterine cancer is radiation required even after removing the uterus?”
My mother was diagnosed with uterine cancer and we immediately got her operated for removal of her uterus. However, the doctors say that she will also have to undergo chemotherapy sessions. I want a second opinion.
7 Answers
Sometimes it depends on the specific situation please discuss this with her doctors.
Depending on the stage of the cancer (when they removed the uterus, pathologist will give a report of her cancer: either early stage or advanced stage). In advanced stage, you will need chemotherapy treatment.
Sometimes yes
For example : nodes +
Margins +
Invasion of Cervix or deep muscle invasion. High grade tumor histology etc
For example : nodes +
Margins +
Invasion of Cervix or deep muscle invasion. High grade tumor histology etc
Depending on what stage and cell type of tumor, depth of tumor involvement of wall of uterus, any lymph node involvement or distant disease. Should ask the doctor what reasons she needs chemotherapy.
Depending on the stage of disease, radiation therapy may be administered after hysterectomy. This is not uncommon.
The answer to your question depends greatly on what features the cancer had when they examined it after surgery. For endometrioid, small, grade 1 tumors that do not invade more than 1/2 of the uterine muscle, sometimes there is no further treatment needed. For more advanced stages, or if the tumor was clear cell or papillary serous, the adjuvant treatment may include radiation with or without chemotherapy.
An additional treatment after surgery, such as chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, is recommended based on the final pathology report, which reflects the tumor size, depth of invasion into the uterine muscle, tumor grade (grade 3 is most aggressive), and status of the regional lymph nodes. An additional treatment after surgery is intended to prevent local and systemic tumor recurrence.
