Cervical cancer is cancer that originates in the cervix, which is the muscular organ connecting the vagina and uterus. It may be treated in a variety of ways, depending on the stage and extent of the cancer, but radiation therapy is the main treatment course for the disease. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to slow down the growth of cancer and kill cancer cells.
Significance
The National Cancer Institute estimated that in 2009 in the United States, approximately 11,270 new diagnoses of cervical cancer were made, and 4,070 women died from the disease that year. According to the American Cancer Society, the majority of cases are diagnosed in women between the ages of 20 and 50 years old, with about 20 percent of the diagnoses made in women over 65 years old.
Types
There are two kinds of radiation therapy for cervical cancer: external beam radiation therapy, and internal radiation, which is also called brachytherapy. External beam radiation therapy uses a machine outside of the body to aim high-energy rays at the cancerous area to kill cancer cells. The chemotherapy drug cisplatin is typically administered along with the radiation when treating cervical cancer. Brachytherapy is internal radiation therapy, and a cylinder filled with radioactive material is inserted into the vagina; another method may involve radioactive needles being placed directly into the tumor.
Time Frame
External beam radiation therapy is done on an outpatient basis, typically five days a week, for six to seven weeks. Low-dose brachytherapy is done over several days in an inpatient setting; high-dose brachytherapy is done on an outpatient basis over several brief treatments.
Effects
Treatment for any disease has side effects, and radiation therapy for cervical cancer is no exception. Side effects of radiation include fatigue, hair loss in the radiated area, skin irritation and itching, darkening of the radiated skin, vaginal narrowing that causes painful intercourse, diarrhea, and frequent and painful urination. Other side effects can include lowered white and red blood cell counts, which may lead to increased risk of infection and anemia; upset stomach; vaginal dryness; and weakened pelvic bones from radiation to the bones, which can lead to hip fractures.
Considerations
Many side effects tend to resolve after treatment has ended, but there are various treatments that can help ameliorate any lingering side effects of radiation to the pelvic area. To relieve vaginal dryness or atrophy of vaginal tissue, topical estrogens may be prescribed; bone density tests can help monitor any changes in bone density that result from radiation; and using vaginal dilators once radiation has ended can help stretch narrowed vaginal walls, making intercourse less painful.
