Supportive care helps people meet the physical, practical, emotional and spiritual challenges of uterine cancer. It is an important part of cancer care. There are many programs and services available to help meet the needs and improve the quality of life of people living with cancer and their loved ones, especially after treatment has ended.
Recovering from uterine cancer and adjusting to life after treatment is different for each woman, depending on the extent of the disease, the type of treatment and many other factors. The end of cancer treatment may bring mixed emotions. Even though treatment has ended, there may be other issues to deal with, such as coping with long-term side effects. A woman who has been treated for uterine cancer may have the following concerns.
Self-esteem and body image
How a person feels about or sees themselves is called self-esteem. Body image is a person's perception of their own body. Uterine cancer and its treatments can affect a woman's self-esteem and body image.
Women may feel differently about their bodies and their sexuality, especially after having a hysterectomy or pelvic exenteration. They may feel less like a woman or less feminine because they no longer have a uterus. They may also feel uncomfortable around others if they have an ostomy. These feelings may be a real concern or cause distress for some women.
Sexuality
Many women continue to have strong, supportive relationships and satisfying sex lives after uterine cancer. However, sexuality may be a concern for some women. There are ways to manage sexual problems that may occur because of uterine cancer treatment.
Some of the side effects of cancer treatment that can make sex painful or difficult include:
Some women may lose interest in sex. It is common to have a decreased interest in sex around the time of diagnosis and treatment.
The first attempts at being intimate with a partner may be disappointing. It may take time for the couple to feel comfortable with each other again. Some women and their partners may need counselling to help them cope with these feelings and the effects of cancer treatments on their ability to have sex.
Lymphedema
Lymphedema is the swelling that occurs when lymph fluid collects in part of the body. Women who have lymph nodes removed from the pelvis may notice some swelling of the legs after surgery. This is due to an interruption to the lymph system that causes pooling of lymph fluid.
Ostomy care
An ostomy connects an internal cavity to an opening (stoma) on the abdomen. Women who have a pelvic exenteration will have the bladder, rectum or both removed. A urostomy allows urine to pass out of the body and a colostomy allows stool to pass out of the body. Women who have the bladder and rectum removed will have 2 ostomies.
Many women can adapt to and live normally with an ostomy, although they have to learn new skills and how to care for it. Specially trained healthcare professionals (called enterostomal therapists) teach people how to care for their ostomies.
See a list of questions to ask your doctor about supportive care after treatment.