Treatment FAQ

what is treatment for cervical cancer

by Dudley Bahringer Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Cervical cancer treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. If your doctor says that you have cervical cancer, ask to be referred to a gynecologic oncologist—a doctor who has been trained to treat cancers of a woman's reproductive system. This doctor will work with you to create a treatment plan.

Medication

Sep 05, 2019 · Treatment options include radiation therapy with or without chemo to try to slow the growth of the cancer or help relieve symptoms. Most standard chemo regimens include a platinum drug (cisplatin or carboplatin) along with another drug such as paclitaxel (Taxol), gemcitabine (Gemzar), or topotecan.

Procedures

Screening tests and the HPV vaccine can help prevent cervical cancer. When cervical cancer is found early, it is highly treatable and associated with long survival and good quality of life. Are you worried about the cost? CDC offers free or low-cost cervical cancer screening tests. Find out if you qualify. Page last reviewed: December 14, 2021

Therapy

Feb 22, 2022 · Cervical cancer can be cured if diagnosed at an early stage and treated promptly. Comprehensive cervical cancer control includes primary prevention (vaccination against HPV), secondary prevention (screening and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions), tertiary prevention (diagnosis and treatment of invasive cervical cancer) and palliative care.

Nutrition

Recommended treatment for cervical cancer is based on many factors including the stage of the disease, your age and general health, and if you want children in the future. The treatments for cervical cancer are radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, targeted therapy and …

What are some common methods of cervical cancer treatment?

Jun 17, 2021 · To reduce your risk of cervical cancer: Ask your doctor about the HPV vaccine. Receiving a vaccination to prevent HPV infection may reduce your risk of cervical cancer and other HPV -related cancers. Ask your doctor whether an HPV vaccine is appropriate for you. Have routine Pap tests.

How do you cure cervical cancer?

Treatment of cervical cancer: 1) When examined at a starting stage, operation is a likely method for treating cervical threatening development viably. 2) Radiotherapy is an option in contrast to a medical procedure for certain ladies with beginning phase cervical disease.

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What is the most common treatment for cervical cancer?

Common treatment approaches For the earliest stages of cervical cancer, either surgery or radiation combined with chemo may be used. For later stages, radiation combined with chemo is usually the main treatment. Chemo (by itself) is often used to treat advanced cervical cancer.

Can cervical cancer be cured completely?

Cervical cancer is generally viewed as treatable and curable, particularly if it is diagnosed when the cancer is in an early stage. This disease occurs in the cervix, or the passageway that joins the lower section of the uterus to the vagina.

What is the first treatment for cervical cancer?

Most early-stage cervical cancers are treated with a radical hysterectomy operation, which involves removing the cervix, uterus, part of the vagina and nearby lymph nodes. A hysterectomy can cure early-stage cervical cancer and prevent recurrence.Jun 17, 2021

What is the survival rate for cervical cancer?

The 5-year survival rate for all people with cervical cancer is 66%. However, survival rates can vary by factors such as race, ethnicity, and age. For White women, the 5-year survival rate is 71%. For Black women, the 5-year survival rate is 58%.

What are the warning signs of cervical cancer?

Early Warning Signs of Cervical CancerVaginal bleeding (either after intercourse, between periods or post-menopause)Abnormal vaginal discharge (heavy or with a foul odor)Pain during intercourse.Pelvic pain.Lower back pain.Pain and swelling in legs.Unexplained weight loss.Decreased appetite.Jan 10, 2020

Does cervical cancer spread quickly?

Usually, cervical cancer grows slowly, but sometimes it can develop and spread quickly. Cervical cancer is one of the cancers that can occur in young women.

Do you need chemo for Stage 1 cervical cancer?

Stage 1 cervical cancer is usually treated with: surgery. combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy (chemoradiotherapy)

What are the symptoms of Stage 1 cervical cancer?

Signs and symptoms of stage 1 cervical cancer can include:Watery or bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and can have a foul odor.Vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between menstrual periods or after menopause.Menstrual periods may be heavier and last longer than normal.Feb 17, 2022

Does hysterectomy cure cervical cancer?

Nearly half of cervical cancers are diagnosed at an early stage, meaning the tumors are small and have not spread beyond the cervix. Although there are other treatment options, radical hysterectomy is the most common treatment for early-stage disease, and cure rates for the disease are around 80%.May 25, 2021

How long can you live with untreated cervical cancer?

Survival for all stages of cervical cancer more than 60 out of every 100 (more than 60%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis. more than 50 women out of every 100 (more than 50%) will survive their cancer for 10 years or more after diagnosis.

Is cervical cancer a death sentence?

It happens less often than it used to, but yes, it's possible to die from cervical cancer. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that about 4,250 people in the United States will die from cervical cancer in 2019.Sep 23, 2019

What age does cervical cancer affect?

Cervical cancer is most frequently diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 44 with the average age at diagnosis being 50 . It rarely develops in women younger than 20. Many older women do not realize that the risk of developing cervical cancer is still present as they age.Jan 12, 2022

What is the best treatment for cervical cancer?

Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy beams, such as X-rays or protons, to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy is often combined with chemotherapy as the primary treatment for locally advanced cervical cancers. It can also be used after surgery if there's an increased risk that the cancer will come back.

What tests are used to determine if cancer has spread?

Staging exams include: Imaging tests. Tests such as X-ray, CT, MRI and positron emission tomography (PET) help your doctor determine whether your cancer has spread beyond your cervix. Visual examination of your bladder and rectum.

What is a Pap test?

Pap test. During a Pap test, your doctor scrapes and brushes cells from your cervix, which are then examined in a lab for abnormalities. A Pap test can detect abnormal cells in the cervix, including cancer cells and cells that show changes that increase the risk of cervical cancer. HPV DNA test.

What is cone shaped?

Typically, the cone-shaped piece includes tissue from both the upper and lower part of the cervix. If cervical cancer is suspected, your doctor is likely to start with a thorough examination of your cervix. A special magnifying instrument (colposcope) is used to check for abnormal cells. During the colposcopic examination, ...

Can you get pregnant after a trachelectomy?

The uterus remains after this procedure, so it may be possible to become pregnant, if you choose.

What is a punch biopsy?

Punch biopsy, which involves using a sharp tool to pinch off small samples of cervical tissue. Endocervical curettage, which uses a small, spoon-shaped instrument (curet) or a thin brush to scrape a tissue sample from the cervix.

Can you get pregnant with cervical cancer?

A hysterectomy can cure early-stage cervical cancer and prevent recurrence. But removing the uterus makes it impossible to become pregnant.

What is the treatment for cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. If your doctor says that you have cervical cancer, ask to be referred to a gynecologic oncologist —a doctor who has been trained to treat cancers of a woman’s reproductive system.

What is a gynecologic oncologist?

Gynecologic oncologists are doctors who have been trained to treat cancers of a woman’s reproductive system. Surgeons are doctors who perform operations. Medical oncologists are doctors who treat cancer with medicine. Radiation oncologists are doctors who treat cancer with radiation.

What is the treatment for a swollen vein?

Surgery: Doctors remove cancer tissue in an operation. Chemotherapy: Using special medicines to shrink or kill the cancer. The drugs can be pills you take or medicines given in your veins, or sometimes both.

What is the purpose of cervical cancer tests?

After cervical cancer has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the cervix or to other parts of the body.

Where does cervical cancer form?

Cervical cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the cervix. The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus (the hollow, pear-shaped organ where a fetus grows). The cervix leads from the uterus to the vagina (birth canal). Anatomy of the female reproductive system.

Why do we do clinical trials?

Clinical trials are done to find out if new cancer treatments are safe and effective or better than the standard treatment.

What are the organs of the female reproductive system?

Anatomy of the female reproductive system. The organs in the female reproductive system include the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, and vagina. The uterus has a muscular outer layer called the myometrium and an inner lining called the endometrium. Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time.

How does chemo work?

When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle , the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body ( systemic chemotherapy ). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the cerebrospinal fluid, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas ( regional chemotherapy ). The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.

What is the risk factor for cervical cancer?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the major risk factor for cervical cancer. Anything that increases your chance of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn't mean that you will not get cancer.

Can cervical cancer spread to children?

Over time, the abnormal cells may become cancer cells and start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and to surrounding areas. Cervical cancer in children is rare. See the following PDQ summaries for more information about cervical cancer: Cervical Cancer Prevention. Cervical Cancer Screening.

What is the best treatment for pelvic cancer?

If the cancer has recurred in the center of the pelvis only, extensive surgery (s uch as pelvic exenteration) may be an option for some patients, and offers the best chance for possibly curing the cancer (although it can have major side effects). Radiation therapy (sometimes along with chemo) might be another option.

What is the goal of cancer treatment?

No matter which type of treatment your doctor recommends, it's important that you understand the goal of treatment (to try to cure the cancer, control its growth, or relieve symptoms ), as well as its possible side effects and limitations.

What is the most important factor in choosing a cancer treatment?

The stage of a cervical cancer is the most important factor in choosing treatment. But other factors can also affect your treatment options, including the exact location of the cancer within the cervix, the type of cancer (squamous cell or adenocarcinoma), your age and overall health, and whether you want to have children.

What is stage IA1?

Stage IA1. Treatment for this stage depends on whether or not you want to be able to have children (maintain fertility) and whether or not the cancer has grown into blood or lymph vessels (called lymphova scular invasion).

Is cervical cancer curable?

Stage IVB cervical cancer is not usually considered curable. Treatment options include radiation therapy with or without chemo to try to slow the growth of the cancer or help relieve symptoms .

What is it called when cancer comes back after treatment?

Cancer that comes back after treatment is called recurrent cancer . Cancer can come back locally (in or near where it first started, such as the cervix, uterus or nearby the pelvic organs), or it can come back in distant areas (such as the lungs or bone).

Can radiation therapy help with cancer?

If not, chemo, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy may be used to slow the growth of the cancer or help relieve symptoms, but they aren’t expected to cure the cancer.

What is cervical cancer?

This diagram shows different parts of a woman’s reproductive system. Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. Cancer is always named for the part of the body where it starts, even if it spreads to other body parts later.

What is the name of the part of the body where cancer starts?

Cancer is always named for the part of the body where it starts, even if it spreads to other body parts later. When cancer starts in the cervix , it is called cervical cancer. The cervix connects the vagina (birth canal) to the upper part of the uterus. The uterus (or womb) is where a baby grows when a woman is pregnant.

What are the treatments for cervical cancer?

The three main treatments for cervical cancer are radiation , chemotherapy and surgery. Some people may have a combination of treatments. Radiation or chemotherapy may be used to treat cancer that has spread beyond the pelvis (Stage IV) or cancer that has recurred. There are two kinds of radiation treatment:

What is the cancer of the cervix?

Cervical cancer, or cancer of the cervix, begins on the surface of the cervix. There are two main types of cancer of the cervix — squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. About 80% to 90% are squamous cell carcinomas, while 10%-20% are adenocarcinomas. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.

Where is stage 1 cancer found?

Stage I: Cancer is found only in the cervix. Stage II: Cancer has spread beyond the cervix but has not yet spread to the pelvic wall (the tissues that line the part of the body between the hips). Stage III: Cancer has spread to the lower third of the vagina and may have spread to the pelvic wall and nearby lymph nodes.

What is a radioactive pellet?

A device loaded with radioactive pellets which is placed into the vagina near the cancer and kept in place for a certain period of time. An external device which beams radiation into the target areas during visits to the radiotherapist. A variety of chemotherapeutic drugs, or combinations of them, are used.

What is the cervix?

The cervix is the lower part of the womb (uterus). The uterus has two parts — the upper part (body) where a baby grows, and the lower part (cervix). The cervix connects the body of the uterus to the vagina (birth canal).

Can cervical cancer be avoided?

In many cases, cervical cancer can be linked with known risk factors for the disease. Some risk factors can be avoided, while others cannot. Some risk factors include: An irregular screening history: Women who have not regularly had a Pap test (smear) are at increased risk of cervical cancer.

How to reduce cervical cancer risk?

Reduce your risk of cervical cancer by taking measures to prevent sexually transmitted infections, such as using a condom every time you have sex and limiting the number of sexual partners you have. Don 't smoke. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you do smoke, talk to your doctor about strategies to help you quit.

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix — the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, play a role in causing most cervical cancer. When exposed to HPV, the body's immune system typically prevents ...

What are the different types of cervical cancer?

The type of cervical cancer that you have helps determine your prognosis and treatment. The main types of cervical cancer are: 1 Squamous cell carcinoma. This type of cervical cancer begins in the thin, flat cells (squamous cells) lining the outer part of the cervix, which projects into the vagina. Most cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. 2 Adenocarcinoma. This type of cervical cancer begins in the column-shaped glandular cells that line the cervical canal.

What are the parts of the reproductive system?

Female reproductive system. Female reproductive system. The ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and vagina (vaginal canal) make up the female reproductive system. Early-stage cervical cancer generally produces no signs or symptoms. Signs and symptoms of more-advanced cervical cancer include:

What are the two types of cells that line the surface of the cervix?

Two types of cells line the surface of the cervix, and both can become cancerous. One type (glandular cells) has a column-shaped appearance. The other type (squamous cells) is thin and flat. The boundary between the two types of cells is where cervical cancer most commonly occurs.

What type of cancer is squamous cell carcinoma?

Types of cervical cancer. The type of cervical cancer that you have helps determine your prognosis and treatment. The main types of cervical cancer are: Squamous cell carcinoma. This type of cervical cancer begins in the thin, flat cells (squamous cells) lining the outer part of the cervix, which projects into the vagina.

What type of cancer is found in the cervix?

Most cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. Adenocarcinoma. This type of cervical cancer begins in the column-shaped glandular cells that line the cervical canal. Sometimes, both types of cells are involved in cervical cancer. Very rarely, cancer occurs in other cells in the cervix.

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Diagnosis

Treatment

Clinical Trials

Coping and Support

Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
The treatment options include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
Medication

Chemotherapy: Uses medications usually injected into a vein to kill cancer cells. Sometimes used in combination with radiation.

Bevacizumab . Carboplatin . Cisplatin . Docetaxel . Fluorouracil (5-FU) . Gemcitabine

Procedures

Simple hysterectomy: The cervix and uterus are removed along with the cancerous tumor. This is done in a very early-stage of cervical cancer.

Radical hysterectomy: The cervix, uterus, part of the vagina and lymph nodes are removed along with the cancerous tumor.

Therapy

Radiation therapy:Utilizes high-powered energy beams like X-rays or protons to kill cancer cells.

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Beta-carotene rich foods like carrots, cantaloupe, peaches, squash
  • Folic acid rich foods such as dark green leafy vegetables and asparagus
  • Citrus fruit such as orange, lemon
  • Whole-grain cereals and breads
  • Lycopene containing products such as tomato, watermelon

Foods to avoid:

  • Food rich in sugar

Specialist to consult

Gynecologist
Specializes in the health of the female reproductive systems and breasts.
Gynecologic oncologist
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of women with cancer of the reproductive organs.

Preparing For Your Appointment

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