The good news is that the five-year survival rate for endometrial cancer is 80%. However, initial treatment can have more than one outcome:

• Treatment response: This indicates that the treatment has been effective. A complete treatment response means there is no evidence of disease, as shown by normal imaging (such as CT scans) and physical exams. Remission can last for months or years, and some patients may never experience a recurrence after the first treatment.
• Stable disease: This means that the cancer, or any remaining cancer tissue, is still present, often smaller than before treatment. Follow-up scans and tests show that it is not growing over time.
• Disease progression: This means that the cancer is growing. If progression occurs during or shortly after treatment, the healthcare team may adjust the treatment plan. If progression occurs after a period of remission, it is referred to as a recurrence.

What Happens If Endometrial Cancer Comes Back?

When cancer returns after a period of remission, it is considered a recurrence.

Patients with endometrial cancer can experience one recurrence or multiple recurrences. For those who have experienced a recurrence, it may be helpful to think of endometrial cancer as a chronic disease that will need to be managed.

Treatment options for recurrence may include:

• use of chemotherapy drugs
• use of other drugs like immunotherapy
• surgery
• radiation (if localized)

Some considerations regarding treatment of recurrence include:

• Length of time from the finish of the first treatment series to recurrence (also called progression-free survival).
• Patient factors- overall health, personal values and choices
• Consideration of side effects, such as neuropathy (damage to the nerves that causes numbness, tingling, or pain) is important when choosing chemotherapy drugs.
• Clinical trials
• Availability and/or cost of treatments offered.

Surgery for recurrent endometrial cancer may be an option if it has been a long time since completing chemotherapy and the new disease is only in one (or limited) area.