How effective is hormone therapy for womb cancer?

Womb cancer, also called endometrial cancer, is assessed by examining tumour tissue. Hormone receptor results, cell type, grade, stage and whether the cancer has spread help the team decide if hormone therapy is reasonable. It may be used when disease has returned or spread, or when a person needs a treatment approach tailored to their circumstances.

Medicines may be tablets or other forms. Possible effects include fluid retention, appetite or weight changes, mood changes and menstrual or vaginal changes. The expected benefit must be balanced with other treatments and with your medical history.

Ask what the pathology report says about hormone receptors and how the proposed treatment fits the overall plan. Tell the team about blood-clot history, liver problems, diabetes, other medicines and any new bleeding. Keep appointments for examinations and scans. Report side effects early so the team can decide whether symptom support or a treatment change is needed.

Get urgent help for sudden chest pain, breathlessness, coughing blood, or a painful swollen leg. Contact your cancer team quickly for heavy vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, fever or a sudden change in your condition. These symptoms require assessment and should not be interpreted as proof that treatment has failed.

Are my tumour cells hormone responsive? What is the treatment trying to achieve? How will we judge whether it is helping? Which side effects need same-day advice, and what monitoring is planned?