Endometrial (Uterine) Cancer: Medications

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Medications

Medications, such as chemotherapy, may be given after surgery for endometrial cancer, depending on the stage and grade of the cancer and the risk for the cancer to spread (metastasis) or recur. Progestin hormone therapy may be used if your cancer has recurred or spread or you are unable to have surgery or radiation therapy.

Medication Choices

Medication treatment for endometrial cancer may include hormone therapy or chemotherapy.¹³

Progestin hormone therapy. Examples include:

• Hydroxyprogesterone (Delalutin).
• Megestrol (Megace).
• Medroxyprogesterone (Provera).

Chemotherapy, used alone or in combination. Examples include:

• Doxorubicin.
• Cisplatin.
• Paclitaxel.
• Carboplatin.
• Topotecan.

Treatment can often cause nausea and vomiting. Your doctor may prescribe medicines to control nausea and vomiting. These medicines may include:

• Serotonin antagonists, such as ondansetron (Zofran), granisetron (Kytril), or dolasetron (Anzemet). These medications more effectively prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy when they are combined with corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone.
• Aprepitant (Emend), which is used in combination with ondansetron and dexamethasone as part of a 3-day program.
• Phenothiazines, such as Compazine and Phenergan.
• Metoclopramide (Reglan).

Cancer: Controlling nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy

What To Think About

A premenopausal woman whose cancer is in a very early stage and is slow-growing (low-grade) may be a candidate for progestin hormone therapy rather than hysterectomy and thus may be able to retain her uterus for childbearing.⁹

There is limited information on the effectiveness of progestin therapy compared to other treatments, so currently it is not considered a standard treatment.

One study has shown that chemotherapy may work better than radiation against stage 3 and stage 4 endometrial cancer. Chemotherapy can have severe side effects.¹⁰

Last updated:	November 27, 2006
Author:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Reviewed By:	Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine, Ross Berkowitz, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC