Cervical Cancer Treatment Options

There are several options used by our oncologists in the treatment of cervical cancer. These include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of the three. Ultimately the course of treatment chosen by is based on the stage (size and spread) of the disease. The most common forms of treatment include:

Radical Hysterectomy. Appropriate only for patients with cancer confined to the cervix or upper vagina, this surgical procedure involves the removal of the uterus, cervix, and part of the vagina. The ovaries, fallopian tubes, or nearby lymph nodes may also be removed. Robot-assisted surgery with the da Vinci^® Surgical System may be the most effective, least invasive treatment option. Through tiny, 1-2 cm incisions, surgeons using the da Vinci System can operate with greater precision and control, minimizing the pain and risk associated with large incisions while increasing the likelihood of a fast recovery and excellent clinical outcomes. Laparoscopic surgery is also a considered option. Individuals with cancer that has spread beyond the upper vagina can only be treated with radiation therapy.

Pelvic Exenteration. This aggressive surgery is reserved for patients with very advanced cancer or for patients whose cancer has returned. Here, our skilled surgeons will remove the lower colon, rectum, bladder, cervix, vagina, ovaries and nearby lymph nodes, and then create artificial openings (stoma) for the flow of waste from the body into a collection bag.

Chemotherapy. This treatment uses potent drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Typically, one or more drugs are administered intravenously (directly into the veins). Chemotherapy given in combination with radiation therapy is shown to increase the benefits of radiation therapy. The combination (chemoradiation) is the preferred treatment at The Lacks Cancer Center for all patients in whom radiation is the treatment of choice.

Radiation Therapy. The goal of radiation therapy is to kill cancer cells while harming as little normal tissue as possible. This therapy is delivered in one of two ways—depending on the type and stage of cancer being treated. Radiation can either be administered to the affected area(s) from outside the body or, in other instances, inserted through a needle or catheter into or near the cancer.

Seek the most aggressive treatments available from our multidisciplinary team with a referral from your primary care physician or with a self-referral by calling 1-877-LACKS-MI or 616-685-LACK(S).