When is chemotherapy recommended for womb cancer?

The decision depends on the cancer's stage, cell type, grade and laboratory features, as well as whether lymph nodes or tissue outside the womb are involved. After surgery, chemotherapy may treat cells that cannot be seen on scans. For a higher-risk cancer, it may be combined with radiotherapy to reduce the chance of cancer remaining in the pelvis or elsewhere. If surgery is not suitable, or cancer has returned or spread, medicines may aim to control it and relieve symptoms.

Your general health, kidney and liver function, other medicines and ability to recover between treatments also matter. The plan may involve chemotherapy alone or alongside another systemic treatment. The recommendation is based on the whole pathology and imaging picture, not on bleeding symptoms by themselves.

Ask whether chemotherapy is intended to remove remaining risk after surgery, shrink disease before another treatment, or control cancer that cannot be removed. Ask how it fits with radiotherapy or other medicines, how it will be given, and how your team will monitor blood counts and organ function.

Share your full medicine list and mention diabetes, heart or kidney problems, previous treatment, allergies, mobility concerns and pregnancy plans. Plan help with transport and daily tasks if fatigue, nausea or infection risk affects your routine.

Contact your oncology team urgently for fever or chills, repeated vomiting, severe diarrhoea, new heavy vaginal bleeding, unusual bruising, inability to drink, or pain that is worsening. Seek emergency help for severe breathlessness, collapse, confusion, sudden weakness or heavy bleeding. Prompt advice helps the team assess complications and provide treatment early.

What features of my womb cancer make chemotherapy advisable? Is it planned before or after surgery? Will radiotherapy or another medicine be included? Which symptoms should lead to a same-day call?