Having womb cancer can affect your daily life during and after treatment.
Recovering from surgery
Surgery to treat womb cancer is a major operation. It can take up to 3 months to recover.
You'll need to take things very easy for at least 2 weeks. Get plenty of rest and try to avoid spending too long on your feet. It is good for you to be a little active and to increase this as you feel able to.
You can start to return to your normal activities in the following weeks. But be careful not to do too much too soon.
Your care team will let you know about anything you need to avoid while you recover.
For example:
- you'll need to take 1 to 3 months off work
- you might not be able to drive for around a month
- you need to avoid strenuous lifting or intense exercise for at least 3 months
A physiotherapist may design an exercise plan to help your recovery.
Follow-up appointments
Depending on the stage and treatment for your cancer you may need regular follow-up checks. These will gradually become less frequent over time.
These appointments are a chance to talk to your care team about any problems you're having.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if any of your symptoms return after treatment. Do not wait until your next appointment.
Outlook for womb cancer
The earlier womb cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the chance of it being cured.
Most womb cancers are diagnosed early on. But sometimes it's not recognised until it has already spread and a cure may not be possible.
Even after successful treatment, the cancer may come back within a few years.
If it does come back, treatment may focus on relieving symptoms. For example, chemotherapy can help keep cancer under control for years.
Around 7 out of 10 people with womb cancer live for at least 10 years after diagnosis.
Help and support
Dealing with cancer can be a huge challenge for you and your family and friends.
Talking to someone about your feelings or problems can help.
It may help to:
- talk to your care team or GP - they may be able to arrange for you to talk to a trained psychologist, psychotherapist or counsellor
- speak to your family and friends - be open about how you feel and what they can do to help
- get in touch with a support group or charity - many have local groups where you can meet other people
Living with cancer - help and support
Sex and fertility
Having treatment for womb cancer can affect your sex life and fertility.
Your sex life
You'll probably be told to avoid having sex for a few weeks after surgery, so you have time to heal properly.
But even after healing, it's normal to not feel like having sex right away. It takes many women much longer to feel ready.
This may be because surgery has triggered menopause. It may be due to tiredness or the stress of having been diagnosed and treated for cancer.
Talk about your feelings with your partner, or your GP or consultant. Do not pressure yourself into having sex too soon.
Fertility and pregnancy
For some women, treatment for womb cancer triggers an early menopause. This means they're no longer able to have children.
Talk to your care team about this if it's a concern for you. It may be possible to have treatment to preserve your reproductive tissues.
If you do lose your fertility, it's normal to experience a sense of loss or grief. Discuss your feelings with a partner, close friend or your specialist nurse.
If you had chemotherapy and you're able to have children, you'll be advised not to get pregnant for a couple of years. This is in case the cancer comes back and you need further treatment.
Bone health
For some women, treatment for womb cancer triggers an early menopause. After menopause women are more likely to develop osteoporosis, or weak bones that are at risk of fracture.
If you go through menopause early, especially as a result of cancer treatment, your risk of developing weak bones (osteoporosis) is higher.
It is important that you:
- have a calcium-enriched diet
- take vitamin D supplements
- have an X-ray of your bones (DEXA scan) to check their strength.
The DEXA scan will need to be repeated a few years later as osteoporosis develops over time.
There are medicines that can improve your bone strength if you develop osteoporosis. Your GP can discuss these with you.
Money and benefits
You may have to reduce your hours or stop working due to your cancer. This can have an impact on your finances and you may find it difficult to cope.
Find out as soon as possible what financial support is available to you.
Survivorship
There are community cancer support centres in most local communities. They provide support services for cancer patients, their families and carers.
They have a wide range of programmes and supports available including:
- counselling and psychological support
- manual lymphatic drainage
- physical activity programmes
- survivorship programmes
- complementary therapies
Find a cancer support centre near you
If your cancer cannot be cured
Sometimes treatment will not work to cure your cancer. Your team will focus on controlling your symptoms. This may involve the palliative care team in the hospital or at home.
The palliative care doctors and nurses are experts in controlling symptoms such as pain or nausea. Palliative care may begin a long time before end-of-life care.
Palliative care also includes psychological, social and spiritual support for you and your family.