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Though most cases of endometrial cancer are not preventable, women can reduce the likelihood of developing this disease by avoiding known risk factors, such as obesity and closely monitoring diabetes. Using oral contraceptives (birth control pills) also may help decrease the risk of the disease. Women who remain on birth control pills for a long time have the lowest risk. The protection agains endometrial cancer continues for at least 10 years after stopping oral contraceptives, according to the American Cancer Society. In addition women should obtain proper treatment of any precancerous endometrial disorders and discuss the use of hormone replacement therapy with their physicians.

If endometrial cancer is diagnosed, a cancer care team will help plan and implement treatment for the patient. For endometrial cancer, the team may include a surgeon, medical oncologist and a gynecologist who specializes in oncology. Treatment is based on a variety of factors, including the patient’s age and health status as well as the stage of the cancer. Patients may choose to get a second opinion about their condition prior to beginning treatment. The basic types of treatment for endometrial cancer include:

• Surgery. Complete abdominal hysterectomy (the removal of the entire uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries through an abdominal incision) is the primary surgical treatment for endometrial cancer. This surgery requires general or regional anesthesia, and typically requires a three- to five-day hospitalization. Complete recovery generally takes approximately four to six weeks.  All hysterectomies result in infertility. Other surgeries may include:
  
  
• Radical hysterectomy.  The removal of the entire uterus as well as surrounding tissues and part of the vagina. The average hospital stay following this procedure is approximately seven days, with a recovery period of one to two months. 
  
  
• Pelvic and paraaortic lymph node dissection. The removal of some lymph nodes in the pelvis and near the aorta (the primary artery that transports blood from the heart). This procedure is used to determine whether or not the cancer has spread (metastasized).
  
  
• Laparoscopic lymph node sampling. The removal of lymph nodes using laparoscopy, which allows the physician to view the interior of the pelvis and abdomen through a tube that is inserted into a small incision. This procedure is often performed as part of a complete abdominal hysterectomy. Laparoscopy is being studied to determine if it is effective as standard treatment for endometrial cancer. Early research suggests that women who underwent laparoscopic surgery have the same cure rate as those who received abdominal surgery. However, long-term studies are needed to fully evaluate its effectiveness.
  
  
• Radiation therapy. This type of treatment destroys or shrinks cancer cells with high-energy radiation. Types of radiation therapy include:
  
  
• Brachytherapy (also called internal radiation therapy). Radioactive pellets are inserted into the vagina using a special applicator. This type of therapy is typically performed four to six weeks after a hysterectomy. It is used in cases where the top third of the vagina (the vaginal cuff) requires radiation treatment. Patients may require several treatments, and the radiation has minimal effect on surrounding structures, such as the rectum or bladder.
  
  Also, if cancer cells are found in fluid sampled during surgery, physicians may introduce a radioactive solution through a catheter into the pelvic and abdominal cavities after the surgery. This solution should not be used in conjunction with external beam radiation therapy.
  
  
• External beam radiation therapy. This more common form of therapy concentrates highly focused radioactive beams from a machine outside the body on a targeted area. The skin that covers the treatment area is marked with permanent ink or injected dye (much like a tattoo). A custom-made mold of the pelvis and lower back helps ensure that the patient is placed in the same position during each treatment. External beam radiation therapy, which typically requires four to five weeks of five-day per week treatments, may be combined with brachytherapy in some instances.
  
  
• Chemotherapy. Often called “chemo,” this treatment uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. These drugs are typically administered either intravenously or orally. After the drugs enter the patient’s bloodstream, they begin to spread throughout the body to kill cancer cells. This makes chemotherapy potentially useful in treating cancer that has spread beyond the lining of the uterus. In certain cases, combination chemotherapy drugs may be more effective in treating cancer than a single drug alone.
  
  
• Hormone therapy. This form of treatment slows the progression of cancer cells with drugs such as progesterone and hormone-blocking drugs. These drugs are usually taken in pill form and may be taken for several years. 
  
  Hormone therapy also may use surgery to block organs that produce hormones. In women, the ovaries may be destroyed or rendered inactive by radiation. These procedures may slow the growth of endometrial cancer by reducing or eliminating the production of hormones.
  
  
• Clinical trials. Patients may choose to participate in clinical trials or studies involving promising new or experimental treatment methods. The patient's oncologist can best determine if a patient is eligible for aclinical trial and provide information about the study. 

Following treatment for endometrial cancer, patientswill be scheduled for follow-up visits every three to six months (per their physician’s instructions) for the first three years. Approximately 75 percent of recurrences are detected during this time. After three years, the likelihood of recurrence is reduced, and follow-up visits are typically scheduled semi-annually.