How to Treat Cervical Cancer

Preventive strategies against cervical cancer have been discussed in my article, "How to Prevent cervical Cancer" (click below). This article will explain how to treat this condition. Cervical cancer is a treatable condition if it is found and treated in the early stages. The treatment of cervical cancer depends upon the woman's age and her fertility plans, the stage of the cancer, her underlying medical conditions, and the physician's and patient's preferences.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Knowledge
• Physician
• Gynecologist

1. Treatment of early stage (stage IA, IB, and some small IIA tumors) cervical cancer:
   
   The most common treatment is surgical removal of the cervix and uterus. The alternative is radiation therapy in combination with chemotherapy. In the earliest stage (IA1) cervical conization or simple hysterectomy alone may be enough. Future pregnancies are not possible after radical hysterectomy or radiation therapy. Therefore women who wish to preserve their fertility may be eligible for fertility preserving therapies involving partial or complete removal of the cervix, while leaving the uterus in place.
2. Brachytherapy:
   
   Brachytherapy is localized radiation therapy in which the source of the radiation is within the patient, allowing the delivery of high doses of radiation to cancer cells without damaging the healthy tissues.
   
   A radiation source is inserted through the vagina into the cervix and uterus and left in place internally for a period of time.
   
   External beam radiation therapy (EBRT):
   
   A radiation beam is targeted to the pelvic area. Exposure takes only a few seconds treatment is repeated five days per week for approximately five to six weeks.
3. Chemotherapy:
   
   EBRT is usually accompanied by chemotherapy and has the ability to enhance the damaging effect of radiation therapy on cancer cells; they are referred to as "radiation sensitizers."
   
   Some of commonly used anti-cancer drugs include: cisplatin, vincristine and bleomycin.

Tips & Warnings

• After cervical cancer treatment, periodic follow-up testing and examination are recommended.
• Physical examination and Pap test should be done every three months for one year, every four months for one year and every six months for three years, and then annually.
• Periodic radiographic studies, including CT or PET scan should be done to look for recurrence of the cancer