What next steps are there for endometrial cancer?
My mom underwent four rounds of chemo and is undergoing radiation for recurrent endometrial cancer. It spread near iliac artery near the bladder and pelvis region. The CT scan after the chemo showed the hypo dense oval lymph nodes along both the external iliac arteries measuring 2.8 x 0.9cms on the right and 2.2 x 1.1cm on the left. Will radiation shrink the nodes? What is the next step to take after radiation? Please help as the doctors are not telling me how good or bad it is.
Expert Answer
Yes, radiation will shrink the nodes. Depending on how well she responds to the radiation, the next steps may be continued CT scans for monitoring or she may have the option of undergoing more chemotherapy. I would recommend asking the doctor for more specific information. Ask what stage her cancer is and what the prognosis is. Staging is used to determine how far advanced the cancer is and to measure progress of the disease. Uterine cancer is classified as Stages I, II, III, and IV. Request a consultation with the radiation oncologist in addition to the medical oncologist. If you are still unable to obtain the information you are seeking after meeting with the radiation oncologist, I would recommend a second opinion from a radiation oncologist from a different practice.