What treatments are available for cervical cancer?
Treatment depends entirely on the stage, type, and degree of cancer. Before settling on one mode of treatment, your best bet is to get a second opinion to confirm that the prognosis is correct. Once this has been determined, the treatment modalities for cervical cancer include: • Surgery – good for non-metastatic tumors • Total hysterectomy – the uterus and cervix are removed. • Radical hysterectomy – the uterus, cervix, and part of the vagina are removed. • Chemotherapy – best suited for cancer that has spread beyond the cervical region. • Radiotherapy – best suited for cancer that has spread beyond the cervical region. There are two types: • External beam radiation – radiation therapy is applied to pelvic region outside the body. • Internal radiation – a tube with radioactive substances is inserted into the vagina where the radioactive substances treat cancerous cells.
