Coping with fear

It’s normal to feel afraid. Learning more about cancer and your treatment options can help you feel less afraid. This also helps you work with your healthcare team to make the best choices for your treatment.

Working with your healthcare team

Your healthcare team may include any or all of these people:

• Gynecologic oncologist.  This is a doctor who treats cancer that starts in the ovaries, uterus, cervix, vagina, or vulva.

• Medical oncologist.  This is a doctor who treats cancer with chemotherapy and other medicines.

• Radiation oncologist.  This is a doctor who uses radiation to treat cancer.

Nurses, dietitians, social workers, and other healthcare providers will also be part of your team. Your treatment team members will answer any questions you may have. They’ll help you through each of the steps you’ll take before, during, and after treatment. Your team will talk with you about what tests you need and the results of those tests. They’ll guide you in making treatment decisions and help prepare you and your loved ones for what’s ahead.

Learning about treatment options 

To decide the best course of treatment for you, your healthcare team needs to know as much as they can about your cancer. This may include getting scans and tests and working with more than one healthcare provider.

Your treatment options might include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or hormone therapy. You may have one or more of these. You may decide that you want to get a second opinion to help you choose the treatment that's best for you. A clinical trial may also be a good option. This is something you can discuss with your treatment team.

Ask your treatment team where you can go to learn more about uterine sarcoma. Find out which websites can be trusted for current, accurate information.

Getting support

Coping with cancer can be very stressful. Talk with your healthcare team about seeing a counselor. They can refer you to someone who can help. You can also join support groups to talk with other people coping with cancer. Ask your team about local or online support groups.