If you have been diagnosed with cancer of the cervix, you may be wondering how you will go about determining a treatment plan. The good news is that in most cases, cervical cancer is curable when caught in an early stage. However, chances of a cure vary, so you may want to look into the different types of treatment options available. Listed below are some of the most common types of cancer of the cervix treatment.
First, you should understand that cancer of the cervix treatment will depend on the stage of the disease, location, and your overall health. However, before surgery, you should prepare yourself for the upcoming procedures. This process is called prehab or rehabilitation. There are several main treatments for cervical cancer, which include surgery. The surgical options include radical hysterectomy and radical trachelectomy. You may also need to undergo chemotherapy to fight cancer cells.
In some cases, a minimally invasive procedure called laparotomy may be necessary. This type of surgery involves making multiple small incisions in the abdominal area, as well as cutting into the cervix. This technique tends to be less invasive than traditional hysterectomy, but it may not be as effective. Discuss your options with your surgeon and decide which treatment will be the best choice.
Once you’ve figured out the stage of your cancer, your healthcare provider will perform a physical examination. The exam may include a pelvic ultrasound, rectal examination, and vaginal examination. Other tests may be necessary to determine whether the cancer has spread to distant organs, like the lungs or intestines. If the cancer has spread, it is often treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The procedure typically consists of five days of external radiotherapy, followed by a boost of internal radiotherapy at the end of the course.
When cervical cancer is caught in its early stages, chances of survival are high. As the cancer spreads, the chances of survival decrease, but early detection and treatment has the best chance of being successful. Treatment options include surgery, targeted medicines, and other approaches. The treatments can be complicated, and many women choose to undergo chemotherapy to shrink the tumor. If this doesn’t work, she may opt for surgery, or at least undergo chemotherapy.
After completing surgery, some women opt for radiation therapy. This treatment is effective for very large lesions and has less side effects compared to surgery. Doctors at MD Anderson use modern techniques to target the tumor while sparing healthy cells. External radiation therapy uses a machine that is outside the body to send radiation towards the cervical cancer. However, radiation therapy is not appropriate for all women with cervical cancer. So, you should talk to your doctor about all your treatment options.
Chemotherapy involves delivering special medicines to the body that help fight the cancer cells. These medicines may be given through pills or injected into the vein. Radiation is another option. It uses high energy X-rays to kill cancer cells. This treatment is also often used along with surgery. Several doctors provide these treatments. The most common type of oncology doctors are medical oncologists and gynecologic oncologists.
