My aunt is 58. Can endometrial cancer spread during surgery?

Question

Hello doctor,

My aunt is 58 years old and was recently diagnosed with early-stage endometrial cancer after evaluation for abnormal bleeding. Her biopsy showed grade 1 endometrioid carcinoma, and doctors recommended a total hysterectomy with the removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Her hemoglobin is 11.2 g/dL, and her ultrasound did not show obvious ovarian involvement. However, our family is worried about whether the cancer could spread to the ovaries during surgery or if removing the ovaries is mainly done to prevent future risk. Please tell me,

Is it possible for endometrial cancer to spread to the ovaries during surgery?
Does it usually spread before surgery if it happens?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

I wish your aunt a speedy recovery. I completely understand and appreciate the amount of fear and worry you are feeling after her cancer diagnosis. However, the reassuring thing is that it is still in stage 1, which means the cancer is only inside the uterus. In this stage, the treatment is surgery where the uterus is removed, and the right and left ovaries are also removed to reduce the chance of cancer developing in the ovaries later on. This surgery is known as a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO). an incision in the lower abdomen.

Here, the doctors will remove the uterus, cervix, both fallopian tubes, and both ovaries. During the surgery itself, the tumor does not spread outside; the cancer cells do not move from the endometrium to the ovaries or anywhere else during the operation. The ovaries are removed only as a preventive measure to lower the risk of future ovarian cancer. After the surgery, since it is stage one, there is typically no spread of cancer cells anywhere else.

The cervix is also removed, and the patient is then followed up regularly. The operation is relatively simple, safe, and should not be very frightening, and it can eliminate the cancer. Therefore, I recommend that she undergo the full surgery, including the removal of the ovaries and the cervix.

I hope this information helps you.

Feel free to ask further queries.

Thank you.