Advanced womb cancer
Sometimes cancer is advanced when it is first diagnosed. Or the cancer has come back and spread after treatment for the original cancer.
Cancers that have spread to another part of the body are called:
secondary cancer
metastases
metastatic cancer
Unfortunately, advanced cancer can’t usually be cured. But treatment might control it, help symptoms, and improve your quality of life for some time.
Read more about secondary cancer
Womb cancer can spread from where it started in the womb to other organs further away in the body. Some of the womb cancer cells may have travelled through the or bloodstream and lodged in another part of the body. They have then started to grow there.
Womb cancer most often spreads to the:
lungs
bones
liver
brain
There is treatment available if your womb cancer can't be cured. This treatment might not get rid of the cancer altogether, but it might be able to shrink it, slow down the growth and control your symptoms.
Sometimes the cancer keeps coming back in the or tummy (abdomen) despite all the treatment you have had. This is called recurrent cancer.
Locally advanced womb cancer means the cancer has spread outside the womb, but is still within the . This is usually stage 3 to 4A womb cancer. The cancer hasn’t spread to lymph nodes or other organs further away.
Symptoms of advanced cancer may include:
tummy (abdominal) pain
a swollen tummy
bloating
a change in bowel or bladder habits
a new cough
If you have any of these symptoms, you must get them checked by your GP. But remember, they can all be caused by other conditions. Most people with these symptoms don’t have womb cancer.
Finding out that you can’t be cured is distressing and can be a shock. It’s common to feel uncertain and anxious. It's normal to not be able to think about anything else.
Lots of information and support is available to you, your family and friends. Some people find it helpful to find out more about their cancer and the treatments they might have. Many people find that knowing more about their situation can make it easier to cope.
Talk to your doctor or specialist nurse to understand:
what your diagnosis means
what is likely to happen
what treatment is available
how treatment can help you
what the side effects of the treatment are
Many people want to know what the outlook is and how their cancer will develop. This is different for each person. Your cancer specialist has all the information about you and your cancer. They're the best person to discuss this with.
You can also talk to your specialist nurse.
Last reviewed: 22 Apr 2024
Next review due: 22 Apr 2027
A team of health professionals decides what treatment you might need. They also decide what treatment options you have.
Chemotherapy uses anti cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. The drugs circulate throughout the body in the bloodstream.
Not everyone with advanced womb cancer can have surgery. Your doctor will only recommend surgery if they think that you are fit enough to make a good recovery afterwards.
Unfortunately, advanced womb cancer can't usually be cured, but there are a number of ways to control symptoms.
Coping with womb cancer can be difficult. There is help and support available.
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