CERVICAL CANCER TREATMENTS

Treatment of cervical cancer depends on a number of things including the type, size and stage of the tumour, and the age and general health of the patient.

Treatment may involve a either of the therapies outlined below or a combination of therapies.

Surgery
This is usually the first choice in for women in the early stages of the disease. In women with more advanced disease, surgery may be used to reduce the bulk of the tumour or to relieve symptoms.

A localised cervical tumour may be completely removed during colposcopy.

A hysterectomy or removal of the womb, part of the vagina and lymph nodes is the usual operation for cervical cancer. The ovaries are often left in younger women to avoid precipitating menopause. If the ovaries are removed, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be advised.

Radiotherapy
Mainly used to treat patients in whom cervical cancer has spread and for whom it is not possible to cure with surgery. It may also be given after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence of the cancer.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy drugs are cytotoxic i.e. they kill cells. They are more likely to kill cancer cells that are dividing and multiplying rapidly rather than normal cells. Chemotherapy may be given to reduce the size of the tumour before surgery or radiotherapy. It is also used to treat women whose cancer has spread to other parts of the body or has recurred.

CERVICAL CANCER RELATED ITEMS

	CERVICAL CANCER DEFINITION
	CERVICAL CANCER DESCRIPTION
	CERVICAL CANCER CAUSES
	CERVICAL CANCER SYMPTOMS
	CERVICAL CANCER DIAGNOSIS
	CERVICAL CANCER TREATMENTS
	CERVICAL CANCER PROGNOSIS
	CERVICAL CANCER INFORMATION
	CERVICAL CANCER PREVENTION