Understanding Endometrial Cancer Risk: Factors Influencing Incidence and Mortality

Understanding Endometrial Cancer Risk: Factors Influencing Incidence and Mortality from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What are endometrial cancer risk factors for patients should know about? Expert Dr. Emily Hinchcliff from Northwestern Medicine discusses endometrial cancer risk factors, incidence and mortality rates, and patient advice to help guard against endometrial cancer.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…lifestyle modification is really important here. Obesity is a known risk factor for endometrial cancer. So working with your primary care physician to try to improve your health more generally, especially as it surrounds weight, is really important in terms of endometrial cancer prevention. I also think it’s important to know…that obesity and changing your obesity can impact your cancer’s response to certain therapies, especially with hormonal therapy.”

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Overcoming Barriers: Empowering Underrepresented Groups With Endometrial Cancer

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Overcoming Geographical Barriers in Endometrial Cancer Care

Transcript:

Lisa:

Dr. Hinchcliff, for patients wondering about their risk, what are risk factors for endometrial cancer, and what should patients be aware of?

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff:  

So I think that it’s really important to highlight that endometrial cancer is one of the few cancers that is actually increasing in both number and also mortality. The numbers from the American Cancer Society for 2024 are over 70,000 women, or around 70,000 women will be diagnosed, and around 13,000 women will die of their disease. And I think that unlike many cancers where we’re actually making progress, endometrial cancer, the incidence, how many people are getting it is rising. And it’s rising faster in non-white ethnicities and groups.

So as I think about risk factors, I think the important ones to highlight are certainly obesity. This I think is a large driver of why there is increasing incidence of endometrial cancer. This relates to kind of the hormonal regulation. Obesity results in increasing levels of estrogen that disproportionately affect the endometrium. And then similar to that, certain hormonal syndromes where women have irregular or infrequent periods like polycystic ovarian syndrome can also put them at higher risk. More globally, I think age, family history are also risk factors. And then as I mentioned, unfortunately, women who are non-white have a higher risk of endometrial cancer mortality, especially as relates to some of the higher risk endometrial cancer subtypes.

Lisa:

Do you have an activation tip for patients for that question?

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff: 

Yeah, so I think that lifestyle modification is really important here. Obesity is a known risk factor for endometrial cancer. So working with your primary care physician to try to improve your health more generally, especially as it surrounds weight, is really important in terms of endometrial cancer prevention. I also think it’s important to know, given that this is often a patient audience that I’m speaking to, that obesity and changing your obesity can impact your cancer’s response to certain therapies, especially with hormonal therapy. So for women who are diagnosed with early stage endometrial cancer, for example, who may desire fertility preservation or may want to know what they can do to impact their own cancer care, I think that’s a really important point.

I guess I can also just bring up a quick one-liner regarding the recent publication of studies surrounding hair product use. So this is a question that we have been getting asked a lot after the publication of both the study and then the big New York Times article, but there was an NIH study that showed a potential association between hair product chemical straightener use and uterine cancer, especially for those who identify as frequent users. I think that the important key point here is that around 60 percent of the women who reported using hair products self-identified as Black and tend to initiate use earlier, so this is another risk factor that may be important.

Yeah, we’re still learning a lot more about that. Right now, there’s an unclear association in terms of what we should be doing about it.


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Which Endometrial Cancer Clinical Trials Are Showing Promise?

Which Endometrial Cancer Clinical Trials Are Showing Promise? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

Which endometrial cancer clinical trials are showing encouraging results? Expert Dr. Emily Hinchcliff from Northwestern Medicine shares insight about novel therapies and combinations and advice for patients to be proactive in their care. 

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…understand what clinical trials are available to your physician and to you at the place that you are currently getting treated. And then also understand more globally what other clinical trials might be out there. And that’s a great question to ask your physician.”

See More from [ACT]IVATED Endometrial Cancer

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Understanding Endometrial Cancer Risk: Factors Influencing Incidence and Mortality

Understanding Endometrial Cancer Risk: Factors Influencing Incidence and Mortality

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Endometrial Cancer Care Disparities: The Impact of Rural Residence

Overcoming Geographical Barriers in Endometrial Cancer Care

Overcoming Geographical Barriers in Endometrial Cancer Care

Transcript:

Lisa:

What ongoing clinical trials are investigating novel therapies for advanced endometrial cancer? And can you provide some insights into any promising experimental treatments that have shown encouraging results in early phase trials?

Dr. Emily Hinchcliff

Absolutely. So I think that the use of immunotherapy in endometrial cancer has been a true game changer.  It has changed the landscape of how we think about treating this disease. I think the cutting edge now is to try and understand whether immunotherapy in combination with our more traditional chemotherapy, cytotoxic chemotherapies that basically kill cells rapidly dividing as compared to immunotherapy, which helps to kill cancer cells by using the immune system. So should we be using immunotherapy in addition to, or even instead of some of those traditional chemotherapy options? There are also many, many clinical trials that are investigating novel combinations and novel targeted agents, especially for the high-risk tumor subsets.

So endometrial cancer is a broad umbrella term for many different subtypes. And the higher risk subtypes often are those that are harder to treat with our standard therapies. And so many trials are specifically trying to target better options for these patients. I think that one trial that I will just highlight in addition to some of the immunotherapies are immune therapy combinations with what are called anti-angiogenics. So drugs that try to prevent the tumor from growing its own blood supply.

And then also immunotherapy in combination with another class of drugs called PARP inhibitors which are more commonly used in ovarian cancer but which in combination with immunotherapy may be a new avenue for effective treatment.

Lisa:

And do you have an activation tip for patients for that question?

 Dr. Emily Hinchcliff:  

Absolutely, so I think that my activation tip for patients surrounding novel therapies in endometrial cancer is to understand what clinical trials are available to your physician and to you at the place that you are currently getting treated. And then also understand more globally what other clinical trials might be out there.

And that’s a great question to ask your physician. I think that your physician can help you to decide is a standard of care therapy the right choice for you at this point in your treatment, in your cancer journey, or are you at a point where a clinical trial may be of benefit either because of the expected efficacy of the standard of care, or because of the potential benefits of that clinical trial, or even because of the side effect profiles of either of those options.


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What Endometrial Cancer Patients Should Know About Clinical Trials

What Endometrial Cancer Patients Should Know About Clinical Trials from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What do endometrial cancer patients need to know about clinical trials? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins explains the importance of clinical trial participation for all patients and shares advice for patients to improve their clinical trial access. 

Dr. Ebony Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…asking their provider, one, are clinicals trial offered at their institution. And second, if it’s not offered at the institution, do you think that, are there any other institutions that may offer trials for the patient?”

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What is the Role of Immunotherapy in Endometrial Cancer?

Transcript:

Mikki:

Dr. Hoskins, why is clinical trial participation so important in endometrial cancer? What advice do you have for patients considering a clinical trial?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

So I think clinical trial participation is important in endometrial cancer. Number one, the rate of Black women getting advanced and aggressive endometrial cancer is on the rise. The representation in these trials are different. What’s different is not only the patient, the tumor type is different. How do we know that these same patients that’s not in the trials are going to respond to this treatment? That’s what I always ask. I’m like, maybe they don’t respond as well, because that’s a different disease type, right?

So we recently looked at a trial where most of the patients had an endometrioid type of endometrial cancer, whereas I, in my practice, I see a lot of Black women who don’t have endometrioid type. They may have a serous type, which is a more aggressive type or a carcinosarcoma. So I don’t know if I can really apply that to this, to that the medication.

That’s all I have, but how do I know that she’s going to respond in the same way? So I think it’s definitely important. I recently had a patient that I referred to a clinical trial. And she really was struggling with whether she should do it or not. And one of the things that I said to her is, “I think it’s important. One, you’re going to have access to advanced treatment options that are not there now.” And I said, also I said, “Not that she has to take it for a whole group, but we need to have more information on the type of cancer you have.” And I was like, “And Black women are dying, and we need this information to know if this is the same.” And she instantly was like, “I’m going, I’m doing it.” And I mean, not that she has to take, but we need to know more. And I think it’s very important that we have patients with access to trials.

Mikki:

Yes. Do you have an activation tip for those patients that you see?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

I think asking their provider, one, are clinical trials offered at their institution. And second, if it’s not offered at the institution, do you think that, are there any other institutions that may offer trials for the patient? There are sometimes where patients don’t have the opportunity to travel elsewhere and need to be in their community for work, family, etcetera. So I understand the asking. 


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Endometrial Cancer Treatment Options for Patients to Consider

Endometrial Cancer Treatment Options for Patients to Consider from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What do endometrial cancer patients need to consider for treatment options? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins explains key factors that play into treatment decisions and recommended questions for patients to ask their doctor.

Dr. Ebony Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…asking the right questions in terms of “How effective is this treatment that you’re recommending? Do you think it’s worth the side effects? Is my quality of life going to be affected? Can I still travel?”

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Transcript:

Mikki:

Dr. Hoskins, how do you work with your patients to make treatment decisions and what increase in treatment options, what should endometrial cancer patients consider when deciding on treatment?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

So I think this is a good question. In terms of patients up front, I think we follow kind of certain guidelines, if you will and providing standard of care and the first frontline therapy is pretty standard, right? In terms of advanced treatment, when patients recur and we have to look at alternate treatment therapies, I always look at the patient, I always look at what their medical problems are or any side effects. And, of course, the data to see how well are they going to do what side effects and quality of life?

There are numerous factors that are not just something looking in a book and say, “Okay, I’ll take A,” right? Like I think we have to look at all of that and make a decision with our patients over undergoing the side effects, the efficacy, all of these things that are in mind when we talk to patients. So my activation tip for patients would be being involved in the decision-making, asking the right questions in terms of “How effective is this treatment that you’re recommending? Do you think it’s worth the side effects? Is my quality of life going to be affected? Can I still travel?” Those are questions like, we want to live, right? And I don’t think anybody wants to be stuck every three weeks getting treatment or…so those are questions to ask in terms of like, quality of life. And so those are questions that I would recommend you ask your doctor when you’re deciding what treatments. 


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Emerging Endometrial Cancer Treatments | Promising Data and Challenges

Emerging Endometrial Cancer Treatments | Promising Data and Challenges from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What is the latest in endometrial cancer treatment updates? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins shares updates from the RUBY study and one NRG study and provides advice for patients.

Dr. Ebony Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…if someone’s diagnosed with endometrial cancer, ‘Am I a candidate for a clinical trial to be a part of this new frontier, if you will, for endometrial cancer?’”

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What is the Role of Immunotherapy in Endometrial Cancer?

Transcript:

Mikki:

Dr. Hoskins, what endometrial cancer data and studies coming out of major medical conferences are you most excited about? And can you speak to those kinks and challenges or promises of emerging treatments?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

Well, Mikki, I’m very excited. The SGO 2023 in Tampa, Florida, we had new data that came out from one of the NRG studies as well as another study called the RUBY Study. And both were looking at up-front carboplatin (Paraplatin) and paclitaxel (Abraxane) with the addition of immunotherapy. And we saw improved progression-free survival. So that means when the disease is no longer there, how long are patients living without it recurring, and that has increased. So this is a big deal.

And then one of the studies showed again, the data is still maturing so it’s not completely out there yet. So we still have to wait on it, but there may be improved overall survival. And that’s kind of one of the study goals that we always want to do is improve overall survival. So I’m excited about that. There was also some new data looking at whether up-front patients with advanced endometrial cancer, whether they are treated with systemic chemotherapy versus systemic chemotherapy and radiation.

And this is a long ongoing survival data that said, patients basically did equally well with just chemotherapy alone without the addition of radiation. So that I think is very interesting, because we use radiation and chemotherapy in patients with advanced endometrial cancer. That certainly doesn’t mean that it’s not an option, just means that it may need to be more tailored and discussed and discussed with our radiation oncology colleagues.

In terms of what the challenges are, I think immunotherapy is a game changer. But it’s also what I use in terms of second-line treatment. So now I’m using it up front. What happens if a patient recurs while on it? What am I going to do now? That’s my question. What am I going to do next? And I’m not too worried because there are new treatment options that are out. Again, they are not necessarily standard now, but they’re ongoing in clinical trials. So I’m not too worried. But definitely some questions that cross my mind. My activation tip for this for patients is if someone’s diagnosed with endometrial cancer, “Am I a candidate for a clinical trial to be a part of this new frontier, if you will, for endometrial cancer?” 


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What Is the Role of Immunotherapy in Endometrial Cancer?

What is the Role of Immunotherapy in Endometrial Cancer? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What is the role of immunotherapy in endometrial cancer care? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins shares immunotherapy research updates from the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists and advice for patients.

Dr. Ebony Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…asking the question, if someone is being recommended to start chemotherapy which is typically carboplatin paclitaxel, asking, “Am I a candidate for immunotherapy?’”

Download Guide  |  Descargar Guía en Español

See More from [ACT]IVATED Endometrial Cancer

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Emerging Endometrial Cancer Treatments | Promising Data and Challenges

Transcript:

Mikki:

Dr. Hoskins, what is the role for immunotherapy for patients with advanced endometrial cancer?

Dr. Hoskins:

Well, I’m not sure if you have heard, Mikki, both this year at our 2023 Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, there are two research studies that show immunotherapy improved progression-free survival in patients with metastatic or advanced endometrial cancer. One of the studies even showed improvement in overall survival. And this data is still ongoing and collected and needs more maturity.

But this is a big deal that we can now offer not just chemotherapy but immunotherapy up front, meaning up front now to patients and improved progression-free survival and possibly overall survival. Again, the data is still maturing. So, to know that, but this is something that I didn’t offer one year ago to my patients, that now I can offer. So this is a big deal. If you haven’t figured that out, it’s a big deal.

So in terms of my activation tip for this question, I think asking the question, if someone is being recommended to start chemotherapy which is typically carboplatin paclitaxel (Paraplatin Abraxane), asking, “Am I a candidate for immunotherapy?’ May or may not be, but I think that’s the question. “Am I a candidate?” That’s what I would ask.


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What Treatment Options Are Available for Advanced Endometrial Cancer?

What Treatment Options Are Available for Advanced Endometrial Cancer? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What are the latest advanced endometrial cancer treatment options? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins shares updates about research advances and advice for newly diagnosed patients to be proactive in their care.

Dr. Ebony Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…if a patient is newly diagnosed with endometrial cancer, is going in, knowing that we have more molecular markers, ‘Hey, are you going to send my tumor for next-generation sequencing, or are you going to be looking at the tumor for more information about targets that we could use for treatment?’

Download Guide  |  Descargar Guía en Español

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How Can Endometrial Cancer Patients Advocate for Better Care

How Can Endometrial Cancer Patients Advocate for Better Care?

Transcript:

Mikki:

Okay. Dr. Hoskins, fortunately, the endometrial cancer arsenal keeps expanding. What promising treatments are available to patients facing advanced endometrial cancer diagnosis?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

So, in recent years, we’ve had more research dollars into endometrial cancer that wasn’t there, say even five to 10 years ago. Some of the promising treatments that are coming about, are treatments that look at the molecular markers, meaning when we look at the tumor, and determining what proteins that are upregulated or down, now we have treatments that can more target, if you will, the specific cancer. So I think, these are definitely promising.

Other promising things that are occurring is that we are having more clinical trials that are offered for patients with advanced endometrial cancer that I know in my earlier years in practice or even in training, that just were not there. So I think this is a good time in the advancement in terms of endometrial cancer.

So my activation tip for this would be if a patient is newly diagnosed with endometrial cancer, is going in, knowing that we have more molecular markers, “Hey, are you going to send my tumor for next-generation sequencing, or are you going to be looking at the tumor for more information about targets that we could use for treatment?”

So those are questions that as a patient you can ask, because now these treatments are covered, and the testing is covered. And so we’re in a different realm than we were say, even five to 10 years ago. 


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How Can Endometrial Cancer Patients Advocate for Better Care?

How Can Endometrial Cancer Patients Advocate for Better Care? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

How can endometrial cancer patients empower themselves for better care? Dr. Ebony Hoskins shares advice for patients who feel dismissed or unheard when seeing their care provider.

Dr. Ebony Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…seek alternate care or another opinion. I think it’s very important that patients have a doctor that they trust and feel like they can ask questions for. I don’t, I really don’t think it’s okay to be dismissed.”

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What Treatment Options Are Available for Advanced Endometrial Cancer?

Transcript:

Mikki:

Dr. Hoskins, what is your message to women who speak up and their concerns are dismissed and aren’t taken seriously?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

Well, Mikki, do you want to know my real answer? I don’t think you do. But I’m going to tell you anyway. So anytime I hear a patient that say they did not feel heard, I always say, “You understand that you can get a different provider, right?” So that also means that if a patient does not have the trust anytime you don’t have trust, you don’t have a relationship, and that it’s okay to find a different provider, or a doctor to make sure that you’re heard. And I have seen women who don’t have any type of gynecologic cancer who have come to my office for a second opinion. And when it, and I say, well, “Why are you here?” And they said, “Well, I was really looking for someone that looked like me that I could trust to tell me, because when I asked these questions, I was dismissed.”

And so I was happy to give the opinion, but really sad that this particular patient had to travel to see someone that they really didn’t need to see, to get an answer that she was actually looking for, and not looking for the wrong answer. She just wasn’t, her question wasn’t being answered. And so I think if you don’t have the trust, there are other providers in our communities and getting those names from either a primary care provider you know, and I always hit or miss on the online thing from family members, friends about doctors that they like or that have a good reputation in terms of listening to their patients.

Mikki:

I also have one patient, I mean not a patient. I have a connect that dealt with this, this right here. And she went to several doctors before she got her diagnosis and which means time had spanned in between that time and her trying to look and saying, “Hey, this is what’s wrong. This is what I’m feeling. I know it can’t be this.” And she’s just going from doctor to doctor. And in between that time she missed some care that she had needed in that time. So what would be your activation tip for someone like that?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins: 

I think, just like I said before, seek alternate care or another opinion. I think it’s very important that patients have a doctor that they trust and feel like they can ask questions for. I don’t, I really don’t think it’s okay to be dismissed. 

Mikki:

Thank you so much.


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Are Endometrial Cancer Outcomes Worse for Underrepresented Patients?

Are Endometrial Cancer Outcomes Worse for Underrepresented Patients? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo

How do endometrial cancer outcomes compare for patients from marginalized groups? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins shares risk factors for optimal endometrial cancer care and advice for patients to receive assistance for their care.

Dr. Ebony Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…asking the question about their risk. If someone is not insured, asking the hospital or a cancer center that’s there about any resources that are available to say, patients who are uninsured or underinsured, there are programs that are there. And even for medications, some of the manufacturers have programs that pay for medications.”

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What Treatment Options Are Available for Advanced Endometrial Cancer

What Treatment Options Are Available for Advanced Endometrial Cancer?

Transcript:

Mikki:

Dr. Hoskins, is endometrial cancer worse for a marginalized population? And are there any specific risk factors that put some at risk more than others?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

So I think marginalized populations, I think we could say minority populations, we can say Black women, we can say Hispanic women, and we can say people who, I’m trying to define, if you were the marginalized, patients who don’t have access to care. Yes. I definitely think that you could or they could have a worse outcome, whether it’s for lack of access for someone who may not be insured or for patients who may be in this country without proper documentation getting the medical care that they may need. Yeah, I think it can certainly be and I’ve seen those. I think risk factors, and we’ve talked about race as being a risk factor, and again, access to care is certainly a risk factor.

I think those are probably the bigger risk, if you will. So my activation tip for patients would be asking the question about their risk. If someone is not insured, asking the hospital or a cancer center that’s there about any resources that are available to say, patients who are uninsured or underinsured, there are programs that are there. And even for medications, some of the manufacturers have programs that pay for medications. So I think in asking the ask the question, I have no problem asking a question, right. So we, I think asking for yourself is not going to hurt.

Mikki:

Okay. Well, Dr. Hoskins, we know the endometrial cancer outcomes among populations that are disadvantaged. How are you and your colleagues changing this?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

So disadvantaged populations could be patients who live in rural areas, patients with gender identity changes. So I think in terms of that, I think our Society of Gynecologic Oncology recognize it. I think number one, we have to recognize who the people are, and who these populations are. And then at least from our most recent annual meeting have noted more, talks that are about it. So it’s just more education that we are, seeing in, again, even more, some more data, particularly with patients that live in rural communities where they have lack of access to say a gynecologic oncologist, where they have to travel. And so I think one, recognizing it, and in terms of what’s being done I think there’s more to come. My activation tip for patients would be if you are in a disadvantaged population, perhaps inquiring with let’s say local groups that you are aligned to or even let’s say someone who may live in a rural community to figure out where they can get the best care that’s local to home. So, and I mean, these are things that we recognize that may be coming about soon. 


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What Treatment Options and Factors Should Be Considered for Endometrial Cancer?

What Treatment Options and Factors Should Be Considered for Endometrial Cancer? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

Endometrial cancer treatment options take different factors into account, but what are they? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins explains key factors that play into treatment decisions and shares advice to be proactive in your care. 

Dr. Ebony Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…asking your doctor based off the stage and grade, ‘What is the standard of care?’”

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What Treatment Options Are Available for Advanced Endometrial Cancer?

Transcript:

Mikki:

Dr. Hoskins, please walk us through a treatment option for endometrial cancer by stage, and what other factors should be considered when making treatment, the decisions?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

So this question used to be so easy where I would say, okay, if you had stage I, if someone is diagnosed with stage I, they don’t need any further treatment. If they have stage two, they may need radiation. Stage III and IV, typically chemotherapy and radiation. And I think what makes the difference in this question now is that it all depends not just in stage, but the type of cancer or the grade. So it’s one is the extent of disease. And the second question is the type of cancer. So some there could be a higher risk endometrial cancer, that’s early stage where we may need to give chemotherapy.

So I think my activation tip for this question would be asking your doctor based off the stage and grade, “What is the standard of care?” We always want standard of care, because that’s a golden standard in terms of treatment. And looking at all the options are into that care. Usually standard of care is either usually one, maybe two options. And I think looking at the whole scenario in terms of the patient, any other side effects that they may have, medications or diagnosis.


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What Role Does Hormone Therapy Play in Endometrial Cancer?

What Role Does Hormone Therapy Play in Endometrial Cancer? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What part can hormone therapy play in endometrial cancer treatment? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins explains patient situations that typically work well with hormonal therapy and shares advice for patients to help ensure their best care.

Dr. Ebony Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center.

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What Disparities Exist in Treating Patients with Endometrial Cancer?

What Is the Role of Surgery in Treating Endometrial Cancer

What Is the Role of Surgery in Treating Endometrial Cancer?

Transcript:

Mikki:

How does hormone therapy play in endometrial cancer treatment?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

I think there is a role for some patients for endometrial cancer with use of hormonal therapy, I would typically say either patients may not need any treatment at all or may need more in, I should say more adjuvant treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation. There are sometimes I use hormonal treatment in patients who may have a recurrence that do not have symptoms, and they’re looking for an option with minimal side effects and in…not inconvenient for them. So I don’t use it say on a daily or weekly basis, but there are some times where I may use hormonal treatment.

Mikki:

Awesome. Any things that I should ask the doctor if that’s presented to me? Or any tips that I should have or should have had? [laughter]

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:  

I think in terms of hormonal things, the treatment or any treatment for that matter is understand what the options are, and also recognizing options aren’t just like something that’s on the menu that you get to choose what you have. But hopefully if you have a relationship with your doctor that you’re getting one, number one, the standard of care and then to discuss what the options are in specifically for you as a patient or anybody that’s recently diagnosed.


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What Is the Role of Surgery in Treating Endometrial Cancer?

What Is the Role of Surgery in Treating Endometrial Cancer? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What part can surgery take in endometrial cancer treatment? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins shares her perspective about the role of surgery in treatment and explains situations when surgery may be delayed.

Dr. Ebony Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center.

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What Role Does Hormone Therapy Play in Endometrial Cancer

What Role Does Hormone Therapy Play in Endometrial Cancer?

Transcript:

Mikki:

Let’s talk about surgical options within endometrial cancers. What is the role of surgery in treatment of endometrial cancer?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

Well, I always say that our number one mode of treatment is surgery, meaning that’s the first thing that we want to do is actually remove the cancer. So, surgery is like the number one role and one it helps diagnose, it helps stage, and it helps with treatment. And so surgery, again, it’s number one. In terms of like my activation tip for a patient should ask is, what is the role of surgery, and what are the modes of surgery? Meaning, now we have minimally invasive surgery, we have sometimes the standard exploratory laparotomy surgery, so there are other options that were totally not available even 10 or 15 years ago that we have now for patients who are diagnosed with endometrial cancer.

Mikki:

Is there a time that surgery is not recommended or that they don’t ask or require that?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

Any patient that I have that has endometrial cancer, I’m going to figure out how I can get them to surgery. There are very infrequent times where a patient may have had, say, a pulmonary embolism or other medical complications before we can get to surgery. And at that time, we may have to delay a bit, and it all kind of depends on the scenario, but ultimately we always need to get to surgery, because that’s our number one kind of mode of a treatment, diagnosis, and staging.


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Ovarian Cysts and Uterine Fibroids: Is There a Connection to Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian Cysts and Uterine Fibroids: Is There a Connection to Ovarian Cancer? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

Are ovarian cysts and fibroids a concern for ovarian cancer patients? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins shares her perspective about fibroids and cysts, what she looks for in patients, and her advice to patients to ensure their best care.

Dr. Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center. Hoskins sees women for gynecological malignancies, which include the treatment of endometrial, ovarian, vulva, vaginal and cervical cancers.

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Transcript:

Mikki:

Okay, Dr. Hoskins, are fibroids or ovarian cysts related to ovarian cancer?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

So from a gynecologic oncology standpoint, when I see someone who has a documented uterine fibroid, I don’t think that it’s related to ovarian cancer. Certainly when I see a woman that has ovarian cysts, that’s something that potentially could be an ovarian cancer. But then I’m looking at whether it’s a cyst, whether there’s fluid. So there’s other characteristics in the imaging that I have obtained. So I think the question is, are fibroids and ovarian cysts related to ovarian cancer? Not really, but I think it’s important that we are basing this on some objective data, right? So I can press on someone’s belly and say, “Oh, that’s fibroids.” But asking my activation tip would say, “Hey can I get an ultrasound to look at my pelvic organs?” Not just randomly, but if you, if a patient feels like it’s fibroids, let’s prove it, let’s get an ultrasound. And that will look not only at the uterus, it looks at the adnexa, which is the fallopian tubes and the ovaries, and have an objective diagnosis for what’s going on in the GYN organs and pelvis.


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Sexual Health After a Cancer Diagnosis: An Expert Weighs In

Sexual Health After a Cancer Diagnosis: An Expert Weighs In from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What can ovarian patients do if they have sexual health issues that arise during their patient journey? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins explains issues that may come up for some patients and patient advice on how to seek support. 

Dr. Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center. Hoskins sees women for gynecological malignancies, which include the treatment of endometrial, ovarian, vulva, vaginal and cervical cancers.

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Transcript:

Mikki:

Dr. Hoskins, can you speak to the sexual health following a cancer diagnosis, and which healthcare team member should patients have a conversation with?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:

I think this is a great question. I think sexual health is something that goes undiscussed unless we ask it, and I think sometimes it’s uncomfortable for the patient, it’s uncomfortable for the provider. But I do talk to a lot of women that have decreased libido or pain, or there’s a lot of dysfunction sometimes after surgery or chemotherapy, and some of it is related to the actual treatment itself. Physiologic meaning how the body functions after treatment, and some could be the fact that there is shame associated with that, sometimes the cancer is involving a sexual organ in that area, and so I think bringing discussion up to your…whether the provider is a gynecologic oncologist and is the person who did the surgery, or the who person gave the chemo or the radiation oncologist. Also, there are mid-level providers who do survivorship, and it just kind of depends on who’s taking care of you after completion of treatment, butI know there are survivorships, and these are times to bring it up. Bring it up to your provider, number one, and they may have resources to refer you to in terms of getting through these difficult times, because I think ultimately you can get your sexual life back. 


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Ovarian Cancer and Clinical Trial Participation: What Patients Should Know

Ovarian Cancer and Clinical Trial Participation: What Patients Should Know from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What do ovarian cancer patients need to know about clinical trial participation? Expert Dr. Ebony Hoskins explains the importance of clinical trial participation and key advice for patients who are considering participation in a clinical trial.

Dr. Hoskins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center. Hoskins sees women for gynecological malignancies, which include the treatment of endometrial, ovarian, vulva, vaginal and cervical cancers.

[ACT]IVATION TIP

“…inquire with your doctor, ‘Am I a candidate for a clinical trial? Do you offer a clinical trial, are there clinical trials that would fit my scenario that’s local that I could go to? Are there clinical trials that are available, say, out of state that you think I will be a good fit for?’”

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Transcript:

Mikki:

Dr. Hoskins, why is clinical trial participation so important in ovarian cancer, and what advice do you have for patients considering a clinical trial?

Dr. Ebony Hoskins:  

One, I always tell patients is the reason we know what to give you now, treatment is based off a clinical trial. So we need these trials. We didn’t just create a new drug and just gave it. We need to know, is it going to improve survival? What are the side effects? Is it going to kill the cancer? And so it’s important to be on the cutting edge if you will, of advancement in the field. The only way I know what to give patients is based off a clinical trial.

Right, so that’s number one. The advice for patients I have is, I think understanding what the options are for treatment, whether they come off of trial. So knowing if I’m not on trial, what am I going to get? If I am on trial, what am I going to get? What are the side effects? Side effects is an important thing. What are the safety issues? Because not only are there side effects, there can be a safety issue. I think one thing that we don’t really talk about that could be there, is some of the clinical trials depends on who’s sponsoring it, provide the drugs, and some of the drugs are quite costly, so that’s something that we’re not talking about.

The financial toxicity and sometimes coming under their trial, the drugs are covered, so you’re getting cutting-edge care that comes as maybe it’s not as costly to you, so I think, again, my activation tip for a patient is inquire with your doctor, “Am I a candidate for a clinical trial? Do you offer a clinical trial, are there clinical trials that would fit my scenario that’s local that I could go to? Are there clinical trials that are available, say, out of state that you think I will be a good fit for?” And sometimes…again, not every patient is a clinical trial candidate for a number of reasons, but asking the question, I think is huge.


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