Occurring most often in women over the age of 30, cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers to affect a woman's reproductive organs. According to the Mayo Clinic, the death rate from cervical cancer has decreased significantly over the last 50 years with the help of the Pap test, an exam that detects abnormal cells before they have an opportunity to divide and spread. Various treatments are used to destroy this cancer.
Noninvasive Cancer Treatments
The best-case scenario for women who are diagnosed with cervical cancer is to discover they have a noninvasive form of the disease. This means the cancerous cells are localized to the outer area of the cervix, requiring a simpler treatment to remove the cells. Among these treatments are a cone biopsy, laser surgery, cryosurgery and hysterectomy.
During a cone biopsy, the doctor removes a cone-shaped piece of tissue from the cervix where the cell abnormality is located.
Laser surgery involves using intense laser light beams to kill both cancerous and precancerous cells.
Cryosurgery freezes and kills both cancerous and precancerous cells.
Finally, a hysterectomy is considered major surgery and is performed only in certain cases. During this procedure, the doctor removes the area containing the cancerous and precancerous cells, along with the cervix and uterus.
In most cases, women whose cell abnormalities are confined outside of the cervix need to only undergo one of the aforementioned procedures. It is generally not necessary to follow up with any additional treatment, only regular exams to ensure the cancer has not returned.
Radical Hysterectomy
This procedure is performed when the cancer has spread, or invaded, the outer layers of the cervix wall--typically 3 mm into the cervix. Unlike the simple hysterectomy performed for noninvasive cervical cancer, which usually cures this disease in its early stages, a radical hysterectomy involves the removal of the cervix, uterus, surrounding lymph nodes and part of the vagina. A six-week recovery time is average, and most women experience temporary problems with urination and bowel movements, along with pelvic pain.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is another treatment used for invasive cervical cancer and can be administered one of two ways--externally or internally.
When given externally, high-powered energy beams are directed at the site of the cancer using a machine located outside of the body. When administered internally, also known as brachytherapy, devices containing radioactive seeds are implanted close to the cervix and are activated using a radiation machine. If the cervical cancer is in its early stages, radiation therapy may be effective by itself. For more advanced cases, it may be used in conjunction with chemotherapy to ensure any remaining cancer cells are destroyed, thus reducing the risk of recurrence, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The most common side effects of radiation therapy include nausea, bladder irritation, upset stomach and a narrowing of the vagina that makes sexual intercourse painful.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves the use of some very powerful anti-cancer drugs to destroy any cancer cells that may remain in the body. In some cases, more than one type of cancer drug may be used to ensure the best possible outcome. When used in combination with radiation, the most frequently used chemotherapy drug is cisplatin.
While chemotherapy is an effective means of treating cancer, the drugs travel through the bloodstream to reach the cancer cells. Unfortunately, they destroy healthy cells along with the cancer cells, which results in some unpleasant side effects. These include diarrhea, fatigue, nausea and temporary hair loss. In some cases, infertility may also occur.
