Patients from 105+ countries have trusted us
Join hundreds of happy patients who choose the right treatment and care.
Get A Quote
Endometrial cancer starts when cells in the lining of the uterus—the endometrium—begin to grow out of control. The uterus itself is that hollow, pear-shaped organ in your pelvis where a baby grows during pregnancy.
People sometimes call endometrial cancer “uterine cancer,” but not all cancers in the uterus are the same. There’s another type called uterine sarcoma, though that one’s pretty rare compared to endometrial cancer.
The good news is, doctors usually catch endometrial cancer early because it tends to show signs—most often, unusual vaginal bleeding. When they spot it early, surgery to remove the uterus almost always gets rid of the cancer.
What Is Endometrial Cancer?
Endometrial cancer is typically described as tumors that generate and develop in cancer cell lines situated in the inner walls of the uterus, known as the endometrium. The cervix, which is at the bottom of your uterus, contains cervix-cancers (Cervical-Carcinomas). Endometrial carcinomas and uterine sarcomas are two different types of cancers. Uterine sarcomas occur within the muscular walls of the uterus.
There are approximately 66,200 new incidences of endometrial carcinoma diagnosed in the United States each year, or 3.4% of all newly diagnosed cancers.
Endometrial cancer isn’t just one thing—it actually comes in a few different types, depending on what the cancer cells look like and how they act.
Adenocarcinoma
This is by far the most common kind of endometrial cancer. About 80-90% of cases fall into this category. It starts in the glandular cells of the endometrium. Some cases are pretty slow-growing, but others can get aggressive, depending on the exact subtype.
Uterine Carcinosarcoma
Now, this one’s rare and a lot more aggressive. Uterine carcinosarcoma has a mix of two kinds of cells—both epithelial (carcinomatous) and connective tissue (sarcomatous). It tends to act much more aggressively than the others, so doctors usually go for more intensive treatment.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma isn’t something you see often in the endometrium. It starts in the flat squamous cells found in the outer layer. Most of the time, it shows up alongside adenocarcinoma, and together they form what’s called adenosquamous carcinoma.
Small Cell Carcinoma
Tiny, tightly packed cancer cells—this is small cell carcinoma. It’s extremely rare and, honestly, very aggressive. It spreads fast, and because of that, the outlook isn’t usually great.
Transitional Carcinoma
This type is also pretty rare. Transitional carcinoma, or urothelial-like carcinoma, looks a lot like the transitional cells you’d find in the bladder. It’s another aggressive one and often gets diagnosed late, so treatment usually means a mix of surgery, radiation, and chemo.
Surgical Options for Treatment
Removal of cancer from the uterus, called endometrium, is the most common option for treating endometrial cancer. The type of surgery will depend on how extensive or advanced the cancer is.
Hysterectomy: A common procedure for endometrial cancer is to remove the entire uterus through an abdominal incision. A total abdominal hysterectomy removes not only the uterus, but also the cervix, and may include part of the vagina as well. In some cases (advanced or recurrent disease), a radical hysterectomy may be recommended which removes some of the surrounding tissue.
Lymph Node Removal: During surgery, lymph nodes in your pelvis and abdomen may be removed and examined for signs of cancer spread (metastasis). This process, called lymphadenectomy, helps to determine the stage of cancer, plan further treatment and understand what is happening in your body.
Oophorectomy: Removal of one or both ovaries is performed with hysterectomy in borderline and advanced cases to decrease the chance of cancer spreading and/or to manage hormone levels.
Radiation therapy
High-energy rays are used in radiation therapy to destroy or slow down the growth of cancerous cells. It is often used along with surgery but can also be a primary treatment option if surgery cannot be performed.
External Beam Radiation (EBRT): EBRT delivers targeted radiation from outside of the body to the pelvic area and is frequently used after surgical removal of a tumour to destroy any remaining cancerous cells or reduce the size of a tumour prior to surgery.
Brachytherapy: Also called Internal radiation therapy, Brachytherapy delivers a high dosage of radiation directly to a tumour by inserting a radioactive source within or immediately adjacent to the tumour. Brachytherapy provides maximized dosages of radiation concentrated in the malignancy while limiting exposure to adjacent powered tissue.
Hormone Treatment
Hormones that contribute to the development of endometrial cancer may be either blocked or lowered through ET. ET is typically used for'tumours that have oestrogen and/or progesterone hormone receptors, i.e. tumours that are MDR positive.
Progestins (example - megestrol - Megace) are synthetic forms of the hormone progesterone, that can slow or stop the growth of cancerous cells by blocking the effects of oestrogen.
Oestrogen Receptor Modulators (ERM) block the binding of oestrogen to theoestrogen receptors on cancerous cells, thereby slowing the growth of hormone-sensitive tumours.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy employs medications to eradicate cancer cells from all parts of the body. It is usually utilised for advanced forms of the illness or endometrial cancer that has progressed outside of the pelvis.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is a type of treatment that uses drugs that act on the unique characteristics of the cancer cells (such as their genetic mutations) while leaving normal cells unaffected.
Monoclonal Antibodies are drugs that bind to certain proteins found on the surface of some cancer cells and facilitate their destruction through the immune system.
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors are drugs that inhibit the enzymes responsible for causing cancer cells to grow and spread.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy works by allowing your body’s immune system to detect and eliminate cancer cells. Some advanced or recurret endometrial cancers are treated with immunotherapy. The drugs prevent the body from damaging the proteins that would stop the body’s immune cells from attacking the cancer cells. They increase the immune system’s natural ability to attack the cancer.
Palliative care
Palliative care steps in when you’re facing a tough illness, like cancer, and just want to feel better. It’s not just about treating the disease—it’s about easing pain and handling those symptoms that make life harder. You get a whole team behind you: doctors, nurses, and other pros who know how to help. Their focus? Making things better for you and your family, plain and simple.
These specialists don’t work in a bubble. They talk with you, your family, and everyone involved in your care, making sure you’re as comfortable as possible. They don’t replace your usual cancer treatment—they add another layer of support. So, while you’re going through chemo, surgery, or radiation, palliative care runs alongside, helping you cope.
When you mix palliative care with the right treatments, it’s not just about feeling better. People often find that they live longer, too.
Depending on the type of treatment, the patient's condition, and the hospital's location, the typical cost of endometrial cancer treatment in India starts at about 4,500 USD and can reach 12,000 USD or more.
Prices for Different Types of Endometrial Cancer Treatment in India
|
Treatment Type |
Approximate Cost (USD) |
|
Surgery |
$2,700 – $8,100 |
|
Chemotherapy |
$675 – $2,700 |
|
Radiation Therapy |
$1,350 – $4,050 |
|
Hormone Therapy |
$675 – $3,375 |
|
Immunotherapy |
$1,350 – $4,050 |
Endometrial Cancer Treatment Cost in Different Cities in India
|
City |
Approximate Cost (USD) |
|
Delhi |
$6,000 – $8,000 |
|
Mumbai |
$6,000 – $8,000 |
|
Bangalore |
$6,000 – $8,000 |
|
Chennai |
$6,000 – $8,000 |
|
Hyderabad |
$6,000 – $8,000 |
|
Kolkata |
$6,000 – $8,000 |
|
Ahmedabad |
$5,400 – $7,200 |
|
Pune |
$5,400 – $7,200 |
The symptoms of endometrial cancer may be variable, though may include:
Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding: This is the most universal symptom of all and is prevalent especially in inter-periodal bleeding or postmenopausal bleeding. It may also bring about irregularly long or heavy periods.
Pelvic Pain: If one has persistent pain or discomfort in the pelvic region, but the pains are not connected with menstruation, it may indicate endometrial cancer.
Abnormal Vaginal Discharge: An abnormal vaginal discharge occurring as a result of water, pink color, and blood and does not include menstruation as a reason.
Painful Intercourse: The symptom of endometrial carcinoma could be painful or uncomfortable intercourse.
Unexplained Weight Loss: Considerable, unexplainable weight loss may at times be related to endometrial cancer.
Difficulty or Frequent Urination: This may result as a consequence of cancer spreading, which may put pressure on the bladder hence causing urinary symptoms.
Other conditions can also be related to these symptoms and it is best to consult some of the best endometrial cancer doctors in India and get the right diagnosis of the condition.
Endometrial cancer, as most of the cancers, may cause numerous complications, particularly when it is not diagnosed and treated in its early stages. Certain complication cases are:
Spread of Cancer (Metastasis): Endometrial cancer may propagate to other body parts like the bladder, rectum and other far-off locations like the lungs or liver. This may make the treatment complicated and less likely to achieve success.
Lymphedema: In the event of surgery, lymph nodes are removed and there is a chance of incurring lymphedema which is swelling as a result of fluid accumulation in the lymphatic system. This may result in discomfort and restriction of movement.
Infection: Surgery and other interventions may cause infections to the surgical site especially during the surgical procedures. This risk has to be addressed by proper care and monitoring.
Bowel or Bladder Dysfunction: Sometimes surgery and radiation therapy can influence the functionality of the bowel or bladder, causing such complications as incontinence, urinary frequency, or a bowel issue.
Sexual Dysfunction: There is the possibility of a change in sexual function or libido as a result of treatments, in particular, the removal of reproductive organs.
Emotional and Psychological Impact: The diagnosis and treatment of cancer can seriously affect both the emotional and psychological aspects of a person such as anxiety, depression, and body image.
Recurrence: Endometrial cancer may recur even following treatment despite successful treatment. The fundamental need is to have continuous monitoring and follow-ups to take care of and spot any possible recurrence at the earliest.
Join hundreds of happy patients who choose the right treatment and care.
Get A Quote