Any medical diagnosis is usually accompanied by an entirely new vocabulary. Learning the “language” of endometrial cancer will help you to confidently participate in those all-important conversations with your treatment team. We’ve compiled a list of some common terms related to an endometrial cancer diagnosis and grouped them by the condition, tests and treatments, as well as medical professionals.
The Condition/Anatomy
Endometrial Cancer: Also called “endometrial carcinoma,” endometrial cancer starts in the cells of the inner lining of the uterus.
Lymph Nodes: Small structures in the lymph system that filter foreign substances and help fight infection.
Diagnosis
Grade: A measurement of how aggressive the cancer cells are. Grade 1 is low-grade and usually means the cancer grows slowly and is less likely to spread. Grade 3 is high-grade and usually means the cancer is growing more quickly.
Stage: A measurement from I to IV (1 to 4) of how large the tumor is and how far the cancer has spread. In general, the lower the number, the less the cancer has spread.
Tests and Treatments
Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy (BSO): Surgical removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Chemotherapy: Treatment with drugs that work by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.
Dilation & Curettage (D&C): A procedure, typically performed in an operating room, to scrape and remove tissue from the inner lining of the uterus.
Endometrial Biopsy: A procedure, typically performed in a doctor’s office, in which a sample of tissue is taken from the inner lining of the uterus (endometrium) for examination under a microscope.
External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT): A procedure that aims high-energy waves (radiation), much like x-rays, directly at the cancer site.
Hormonal Therapy: A method of treating cancer that blocks or removes hormones in the body. Also called endocrine therapy, hormonal therapy, or hormone treatment.
Immunotherapy: A type of treatment that helps your body’s own immune system to fight cancer.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): A scanning procedure using radio waves and a powerful magnet linked to a computer to create pictures of areas inside the body.
Radiation Therapy: A treatment using high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
Total Hysterectomy: Surgical removal of the uterus and cervix.
Vaginal Brachytherapy: A type of radiation therapy in which radioactive material sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters is placed directly into the vagina to kill cancer cells in that area. Also called implant radiation therapy, internal radiation therapy, or radiation brachytherapy.
Treatment Team
Gynecologic Oncologist: A surgeon who has advanced training and specializes in endometrial, cervical, ovarian, vulvar, and vaginal cancers.
Medical Oncologist: A physician who has advanced training and specializes in cancer. Medical oncologists are experts in prescribing anticancer drugs and other medical treatments for cancer.
Radiation Oncologist: A physician who has advanced training in giving radiation therapy to people to treat cancer.
Oncology Nurse Navigator: A clinically trained registered nurse who has advanced training and specializes in cancer.
