Cervical Cancer Treatment

Cervical cancer treatment is necessary for a patient who has been diagnosed with cervical cancer, after experiencing the symptoms and signs of the disease. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of methods are the options of treatment for a patient of cervical cancer. The kind of treatment required by a patient is determined by the size and shape of the tumor, the stage of the cancer, the age and general health of the patient and also whether the patient would like to become pregnant after the treatment.

Cervical cancer treatment options are as follows:

• Surgery refers to removal of the cancer in an operation. There are several surgical procedures that may be used in treating cervical cancer:

-     Conization, a procedure to remove a piece of tissue that is shaped like a cone from the cervix and cervical canal),

-     Total hysterectomy, a surgery to remove the uterus, including the cervix. There three types of this surgery: vaginal hysterectomy (if both the uterus and the cervix are removed from the vagina), abdominal hysterectomy (if it is done by cutting through the abdomen), and  total laparoscopic hysterectomy (if it is done by cutting a small incision in the abdomen using a laparoscope).

-     Radical hysterectomy, a surgery performed to remove the uterus, cervix, part of the vagina and a wide area of the surrounding ligaments and tissues. The removal may also include the ovaries, fallopian tubes or nearby lymph nodes.

-     Modified radical hysterectomy, a surgery performed to remove the uterus, cervix,  upper part of the vagina, closely surrounding ligaments and tissues, and probably also to remove nearby lymph nodes. However, this type of surgery removes less organs and tissues than a radical hysterectomy does.

-     Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, a surgery to remove both ovaries and both fallopian tubes.

-     Pelvic exenteration: a surgery to remove the lower colon, rectum and bladder – also the cervix, vagina, ovaries and nearby lymph nodes if it is done for women. To make urine and stool flow from the body to a collection bag, doctors will make artificial openings called stoma. A woman may require plastic surgery to make an artificial vagina after this surgery.

-     Cryosurgery, also called cryotherapy, is a kind of treatment using a tool that can freeze and then destroy an abnormal tissue, like carcinoma in situ.

-     Laser surgery, a surgery using a laser beam to make cuts in tissue without causing bleeding to remove a lesion like a tumor.

-     Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), a treatment using electrical current passed through a thin wire loop as a knife to remove abnormal tissue or cancer.

• Radiation therapy or radio therapy is a treatment option of cancer using a kind or radiation such as high-energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells to stop them from growing. There are two types of radiation therapy, which are given based on the type and stage of the cancer:

-     External radiation therapy, a radiation therapy using a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer.

-     Internal radiation therapy, a radiation therapy using radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires or catheters which are put directly on or near the cancer cells.

• Chemotherapy a kind of cancer  treatment that uses drugs to stop cancer cells’ growth. It may be given by mouth, injected into the vein or muscle, or placed directly into an organ such as the abdomen, depending on the type and stage of the cancer.

Cervical Cancer Treatment:As indicated above, the treatment options depends on the type and stage of the cancer, age and general health of the patient and also the patient’s wish to be pregnant after undergoing treatment. So, if you have cervical cancer and are considering your treatment options, make sure that you consult your physician first to get the best cervical cancer treatment.

Cervical Cancer Treatment Video: