How to Learn About Cervical Cancer Treatment Options

Cervical cancer refers to all forms of cancer that affect the cervix. It is one of the more preventable forms of cancer, but sadly there are millions of women afflicted by the disease every year. The good news is that there are a large number of cervical cancer treatment options available, and survival rates, particularly for those who catch the presence of cervical cancer early, are high.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Understand that, when caught early, the survival rate for those diagnosed with cervical cancer is as high as 95 percent according to the American Cancer Society. This illustrates the importance of receiving regular checkups and speaking to your doctor at the first sign of symptoms. Women who have been diagnosed with human papillomavirus (HVP) or pre-cancerous growths should be especially diligent.
2. Talk to your doctor about doubling-up on cervical cancer treatment options. The most effective treatments involve using more than one specific method at the same time. Doubling-up can reduce the amount of stress placed on the body long term, as well as improve the chances that one treatment will be effective even if another is not.
3. Consider surgery to be the first and most common option for treating cervical cancer. The removal of malignant tissue is usually the best way to ensure that cancer does not spread further. Laser surgery is used for already invasive cervical cancer, as is conization (the removal of tissue in the shape of a cone from the cervix). More serious cases of cervical cancer will often require a hysterectomy.
4. Prepare for the possibility of receiving radiation treatments for cervical cancer. Radiation therapy uses X-rays to kill the abnormal tissue in a non-invasive manner. There are side effects associated with radiation therapy, but it has proven to be a successful method of treating cervical cancer.
5. Talk to your doctor about chemotherapy, the third most common treatment for cervical cancer. It involves the introduction of powerful drugs to the system, which are known to combat, halt and reverse the effects of cancer. There are side effects associated with using chemotherapy, so talk to your doctor about the risks.
6. Stop smoking immediately if you're about to undergo cervical cancer treatment. Smoking is proven to increase the duration and severity of the side effects brought on by radiation or chemotherapy.
7. Learn about life after treatments. Once your surgery, chemotherapy or radiation regimens have been completed, you will begin the process of healing. Regular follow-up visits will become an important part of your life.

Tips & Warnings

• Always get a second opinion from another doctor, even if your first diagnosis was negative.
• Ask your doctor about alternative remedies that may reduce the side effects of common treatments. She may recommend acupuncture, ozone therapy or Qi Gong as a way of dealing with stress or relieving chemotherapy side effects.
• Discuss all available options with your doctor, as is your right. You are entitled to have a say in any and all treatment options that can help free you of cervical cancer.
• Fatigue is a side effect of many cancer treatments. However, fatigue that lasts for days on end or persists once treatment is finished may be a symptom of depression, rather than a side effect of treatment. Ask for a mental health worker to be added to your healthcare team if you think you may be depressed or anxious.