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Cervical Cancer Treatment

Treating Cervical Cancer

Treating cervical cancer depends on the stage at which a doctor identifies the condition. The outcome of the patient relates to how far along the disease has progressed, or how many years a patient has had cancer. Regular screening in recent years has decreased the number of women diagnosed with advanced stage cervical cancer, thus improving their outcome.

Roughly 70 percent of women diagnosed with cervical cancer survive the five years after their diagnosis.

• Stage 0 – This is the early stage of cervical cancer, or precancerous stage. During this time most doctors can cure cancer in women.
• Stage 1 – During this stage 70-90 percent of women diagnosed with cancer will survive 5 years after diagnosis, provided the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes or other areas of the body. Stage one is often divided into stage 1A and 1B depending on the severity of the condition.
• Stage 2 – This cancer is also divided into stage 2A and 2B. Women with 2A stage 2 cervical cancers will fair better than those with 2B. Generally the five-year survival rates are similar to stage 1. Up to 90 percent of women diagnosed survive five years post diagnosis.
• Stage 3 – The more advanced the cancer the less likely a woman is to survive. The survival rate for state 3 cancer drops to 30 to 50 percent five years after first diagnosis.
• Stage 4 – This is the most invasive form of cancer. At this stage most cervical cancers have spread to other areas of the body. Only 20 to 30 percent of women diagnosed will live for more than 5 years when diagnosed with cancer.

Treatment choices vary depending on the stage of cancer you are diagnosed. Other factors that impact treatment may include your age had health.

The early stages of cervical cancer are easiest to treat. During stage 1 or stage 2 most doctors will perform surgery or radiotherapy, even a combination to help remove the cancer.

Here are some common treatment choices for removing cervical cancer:

Surgery – surgery is most often used during stage 1 or 0 to remove the cancer. Surgery related to cervical cancer is called a cone biopsy, where a doctor removes a piece of tissue from the cervix. Occasionally a hysterectomy is necessary especially when other areas of the reproductive organs are affected.

Radiotherapy – Doctors use this treatment method if cancer has spread beyond the cervix. It is usually used in combination with surgery. Radiotherapy uses radiation to destroy cancer cells.

Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy is a common treatment for cancer to help remove cancer cells. It often helps shrink tumors and control symptoms. Sometimes chemotherapy is used with surgery and/or radiotherapy.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy often have side effects including increased fatigue, hair loss and nausea. Your doctor will weigh the risks of treatment against your prognosis to help you decide the best treatment choices if you are diagnosed with cervical cancer.

No woman wants to hear that they have cancer. The best thing you can do to protect yourself from cervical cancer is schedule an annual appointment with your gynecologist to receive an exam and Pap smear. Remember, while cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death in women, it is also one of the most preventable and curable when detected at an early stage.