Uterine Carcinoma

Uterine carcinoma is a malignant cancer of the body of the uterus that usually develops from the lining of the uterus. Approximately 12,000 women in Germany develop the disease every year. The average age is 68 years, with occurrence before the age of 40 or menopause being very rare.

As with many other types of cancer, the actual causes are not known. However, the formation of uterine carcinoma is stimulated by oestrogens.

DIAGNOSIS

In some cases, abnormalities are found on ultrasound scans carried out during screening examinations which need to be explored further. This is done by means of a hysteroscopy/uterus endoscopy with subsequent curettage/scrape. The tissue is examined histologically. In addition, computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdominal cavity is often performed to visualise possibly enlarged lymph nodes or metastases in the liver or lungs. If there are any abnormalities, an X-ray of the lungs is also taken. By performing a cystoscopy or rectoscopy, we can see whether the tumour has affected the bladder or the bowel.

TREATMENT

In most cases, uterine carcinoma can be operated on. In addition to the uterus, the ovaries and fallopian tubes should also be removed, as metastases often form there.

Following the operation and histological examination, radiotherapy is sometimes required and, in rare cases, chemotherapy. If the hormone receptor is positive, anti-hormonal therapy is also used. In the weekly tumour meeting, the attending physicians evaluate the histological results and develop a treatment plan. This is precisely tailored to the characteristics of the tumour and accordingly offers the greatest possible prospects of success.

Very rarely, uterine carcinoma affects younger women who still want to have children. In these cases, we can usually initially preserve the uterus through a combination of curettage and hormone therapy. However, the risk of a relapse is then significantly higher than with surgery. In such cases, we recommend a follow-up curettage after three months. After pregnancy and completed family planning, surgery should be performed in any case.

During an inpatient stay at Havelhöhe, we combine conventional medical therapies with integrative treatments that help you to strengthen your self-healing powers, activate the immune system and mobilise your strengths. Nutritional counselling is also important and very helpful to help women lose weight and reduce the body's production of oestrogen.

In many cases, integrative therapies can also significantly reduce the side effects of cancer therapy. These include movement and body therapies, e.g. eurythmy therapy and rhythmical massage therapy, as well as painting and music therapy. Additional support is provided by our anthroposophic care therapies, which promote regeneration.

You also have the option of taking advantage of psycho-oncological counselling. You can discuss possible fears there as well as the effects of the disease on your family situation or perspectives for the time after treatment.

PROSPECTS

If patients notice early symptoms, such as bleeding disorders, and have them investigated immediately, there is a good prognosis for the treatment of uterine carcinoma. The muscular body of the uterus protects against rapid metastatic spread to the abdominal cavity, so that the disease can be completely cured by surgery and possibly subsequent treatments.

DEALING WITH FATIGUE (CANCER-RELATED FATIGUE, CRF)

Read more about this subject here.