Endometrial Cancer Treatment Program

Overview

The experienced doctors at the Center for Gynecologic Oncology provide multidisciplinary care for women with any stage of endometrial cancer.

Innovative Approaches

We treat thousands of women with gynecologic cancers each year. Studies show that such high-volume experience results in improved patient outcomes. Among the approaches offered here are:

• Advanced diagnostics through imaging and pathology
• Intraoperative radiation therapy
• Robotic-assisted and minimally invasive surgeries
• Advanced radiation therapy techniques, some offered at only a few other centers nationwide
• Access to leading-edge therapies through clinical trials conducted with hospitals in the Harvard system and nationally with the Gynecologic Oncology Group

Expertise in Diagnosing and Staging Cancers

Our pathologists are sub-specialized in identifying gynecologic cancers. This expertise leads to more accurate diagnosis and staging, forming the basis for your treatment.

Our gynecologic cancer pathologists are internationally recognized and consulted on the diagnosis of endometrial cancer. They participate in tumor board meetings, sharing information about each patient’s unique cancer with the entire treatment team to help guide care planning.

Our skilled radiologists employ the most advanced imaging methods and perform image-guided interventional procedures such as CT-guided biopsy.

Advancing Care by Improving Medicine

Determining the right approach to treating your cancer depends on a detailed pathology report and your doctor’s ability to balance benefits and side effects based on your overall health and genetic markers of your disease. Patients treated here have the advantage of knowing that:

• Their medical oncologist has a history of caring for women with the same type of disease
• The resources of a major medical center are available to help them with any side effects that may arise

Your medical oncologist may recommend traditional or novel approaches to treating your disease such as:

• Hormone therapy
• New combinations of chemotherapies
• Biologic treatments
• Clinical Trials

Excellence in Surgical Care

Our gynecologic cancer surgeons are highly experienced in the treatment of gynecologic cancers and are recognized leaders in their fields. Research has shown that surgeons performing higher volumes of particular procedures can often offer patients better outcomes, such as shorter hospital stays and fewer complications. We offer the latest surgical innovations with emphasis on minimally invasive procedures. These include:

• Robotic-assisted and laparoscopic hysterectomy with surgical staging for patients with endometrial cancer; studies have shown this approach results in a quicker recovery and less postoperative discomfort
• Comprehensive lymph node dissection to identify microscopic spread of cancer that otherwise might escape detection by imaging tests
• Cytoreductive surgery techniques for women with advanced disease, which can result in a better long-term outcome

Learn about Mass General's Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Center.

Surgical Outcomes for the Ovaries & Uterus

The Center for Outcomes & Patient Safety in Surgery (COMPASS) ensures that data related to obstetric care and treatment of conditions of the ovaries & uterus is transparent and accessible for patients as they make important health decisions. 

In this video, learn about performance data for Mass General obstetric and gynecologic care.

Multidisciplinary Patient Care

Your personalized treatment plan will be developed by experts from an array of gynecologic cancer specialties. Depending on the stage and other characteristics of your cancer, this treatment plan may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of these therapies.

The specialists involved in your care may include:

• Medical Oncologists to prescribe the most effective chemotherapy treatments and discuss available clinical trials
• Radiation Oncologists who specialize in delivering the highest therapeutic dose while protecting healthy tissue
• Surgical Oncologists experienced in the latest minimally-invasive gynecologic surgery approaches
• Oncology nurses and nurse practitioners who specialize in cancer care
• Pathologists specializing in gynecologic cancers who provide a precise diagnosis of your cancer
• Radiologists specializing in gynecologic malignancies that help guide the selection of appropriate imaging tests and provide accurate interpretation
• Oncology psychiatrists and social workers experienced in helping with the cognitive side effects of cancer and treatment, as well the emotional and spiritual aspects of the cancer experience
• A nutritionist to help you with questions about diet and nutrition during treatment
• Palliative care providers to improve quality of life

Pioneering Radiation Therapies

We offer a full spectrum of radiation therapy treatments including some approaches available at just a few other medical centers in the United States:

• Proton beam therapy for some women with endometrial and vulvar tumors
• Intraoperative radiation therapy
• Intensity modulated radiation therapy
• Outpatient high-dose rate brachytherapy

Learn about our gynecologic radiation oncology program.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies of new drugs, new combinations of drugs or already approved drugs being studied to treat patients in new/different ways. They may include new drug doses or new ways (schedules) to give the drugs. Clinical trials are run under strict guidelines. Their purpose is to help find out whether new cancer treatments are safe and effective or better than the standard (current) treatment. At Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, there are several clinical trials open for the treatment of endometrial cancer that use the latest in cancer treatments.

Cancer is increasingly becoming a disease in which the genetic make-up of each individual cancer drives therapy. The Center for Gynecologic Oncology also has access to clinical trials involving these targeted therapy approaches.

Find listings of our current Clinical Trials for Endometrial Cancer.

Find listings for our current Targeted Therapy Trials for Endometrial Cancer.