Uterus Tumors

Conventional open surgery for uterine tumors involves a large incision (wound) to do this surgery. Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy is performed via small wounds which are tolerated much well by the patients. Laparoscopic or Laproscopic cancer surgery has several advantages over conventional open surgery with same cure rate. Only surgery is curative in most of the cancers. Additional therapies (chemotherapy & radiotherapy) are mostly supportive. But, many patients and their relatives try to avoid surgery for the fear of the immense trauma for their loved ones, resulting in patient getting wrong or less effective treatment. With laparoscopy the trauma is much less and makes the treatment more acceptable. The Team MACS precisely addresses all these issues and works relentlessly for a better life.

comparing the wounds - open surgery vs laparoscopic surgery
Dr. Sandeep Nayak

DR. SANDEEP NAYAK

MBBS, MRCSEd, DNB (Gen Surg),
MNAMS (Gen Surg), DNB (Surgical Oncology),

Fellowship in Laparoscopic and Robotic Onco-Surgery.
Dr Nayak is one of the leading senior Surgical Oncologists (cancer surgeon) of Bangalore. He is one of the pioneers of Laproscopic (laparoscopic) cancer treatment (surgery). He is the Director of Surgical Oncology at Fortis Hospital, Bangalore.

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The Advantages Of Robotic & Laparoscopic Cancer Surgery Include

What Is Cancer Of Uterus ?

The uterus or womb is muscular organ located in the lower part of women’s abdomen (tummy). Uterus has three parts; roof (fundus), body and lower part (cervix). Inner lining of uterus is called endometrium and this is surrounded by muscle layers.

Fibroids are the most common tumors of uterus. These are non-cancerous tumors arising from muscle layer and need surgery only is there are symptoms.

Cancer can arise from any layer of the uterus (endometrium or muscle). Cancers of endometrium (inner lining) occur in the fundus and body of uterus. These are usually low grade cancers with very good cure rate (low grade endometroid carcinoma). Higher grade cancers can occur in some cases. Rarely cancer can arise from the muscle of body of womb (sarcoma).

Symptoms And Diagnosis

Fibroid can cause irregular bleeding, pain, etc. Endometrial cancers is more common among the women who have gone through their menopause. The patients usually come with bleeding from vagina, particularly if through the menopause. If they haven’t yet been through the menopause, heavy bleeding during period or bleeding between periods would be suspicious. As bleeding is seen early in endometrial cancer, most of the cases are diagnosed early. Symptoms like weight loss, urinary symptoms, etc are seen only when the disease is advanced. Endometrial cancer is diagnosed by an endometrial biopsy.

The cancer of muscles of body of womb (sarcomas) can produce the above symptoms. Added to this the uterus usually grows large and produces pain in the lower part of belly. This can also lead to constipation.

Ultrasound and other scans can give an idea about the origin of the disease and can guide in performing biopsy when needed.

Staging & Treatment

Most of the cancers of uterus can be staged accurately after surgical removal of tumor, though CT or MRI or PET scan can give a fair idea about the stage. The most commonly followed staging system for these tumors is proposed by FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics).

Stage I, II & III

Stage I endometrial cancer is contained within the womb or uterus. Stage II cancer is when it has involved the cervix of the uterus. In stage III cancer has spread to the tubes or ovary or to the tissue besides uterus (parametrium) or to the lymph nodes, but has not spread to distant organs.

Only treatment that can cure endometrial cancer is surgery. Total hysterectomy with lymph node dissection [removes the uterus along with the tubes and ovary, along with removal of pelvic (and some para-aortic) lymph nodes.] In high grade cases omentum (large apron-like fold of visceral peritoneum that hangs down from the stomach) is also removed to give better cure. Conventional open surgery involves a large incision (wound) to do this surgery. Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy is performed via small wounds which are tolerated much well by the patients. Sarcomas of uterus are also treated the same way. Further treatment like chemotherapy or radiotherapy is planned based on the results of microscopic examination of the tissues removed.

Stage IV

Stage IV endometrial cancer has spread to urinary bladder in front or rectum (back passage) behind or has spread to far away organs like live or lung. Treatment is mainly chemotherapy or radiotherapy. These cases cannot be cured. Surgery is reserved for those cases where the bleeding is life threatening.

Recurrent cancer

Cancer that comes back after treatment is called recurrent cancer. The treatment depends on where the disease has recurred and what was done for the original cancer.