The treatment for cervical cancer varies from person to person. There's no single route, and the treatment plan is often tailored to the person's overall health, the cancer's location, and how early the cancer is diagnosed. When making decisions about a plan, these details must be taken in.
The beginning of the treatment plan
Doctors first spend time understanding the full picture. Before any suggestions are made, scans, tests, and reports from the biopsies all come together. Doctors check how far the cancer has grown, whether it has spread nearby, and how fast it is growing. The review is normally done by a team of specialists, so that there is not just one opinion.
Surgery
Early surgery is generally performed. Sometimes, just a small cone-shaped section of the cervix is removed. If the cancer is detected very early, then it may have no impact on fertility. Another possibility is to remove the cervix without removing the uterus. This may be selected for younger females who wish to preserve the option of having children in the future. In more advanced early cases, doctors might recommend having a hysterectomy along with the removal of the cervix. The recovery time is based on the surgery. Some people recover quickly and resume their daily activities in a few weeks, while others require more rest.
Radiation treatment
In radiation therapy, energy is directed at the cancerous area to kill the cancer cells. It can be used by itself, after surgery, or in combination with chemotherapy. One type uses a machine outside the body to deliver radiation. Treatment is usually given in short sessions over several weeks. Another type places radiation close to the cervix for a short period, allowing doctors to target the cancer more directly. This stage is accompanied by fatigue. Some people also notice changes in bowel or bladder habits, but these usually settle after treatment ends.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs that are administered throughout the body and are effective against the cancer. In the treatment of cervical cancer, it is sometimes used in combination with radiation. It can also be used if the cancer has spread or come back. Possible side effects are nausea, low energy, or increased infection risk. The effects are different for everyone, and doctors typically prescribe medications to assist in controlling them.
Targeted therapy
This treatment works in a more focused way. It does not destroy all cells that grow, but it is directed against particular characteristics of cancer cells that enable the cells to grow. It's typically used when the cancer has spread or returned after initial treatment. An analysis of the cancer tissue is used to determine whether or not this is an option.
Immunotherapy
The immune system is generally able to identify and eliminate abnormal cells, but in certain cases, cancer cells may escape detection. Immunotherapy enables the immune system to see and react to them again. It is not applicable in all situations. Doctors first check whether the cancer has certain markers that make this treatment more likely to work. For some people, it becomes an important option when other treatments are limited.
Moving ahead
Clinical trials are used to test new or combination treatments and are sometimes a consideration when there are fewer standard treatments available. Before a decision is made, doctors explain what is known and not known. Asking questions ahead of appointments is helpful – particularly around stage, treatment plan, side effects, recovery,y and what happens if treatment fails. Treatment for cervical cancer typically consists of several steps and can vary depending on the body's response. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy may be combined, and treatments are planned as needed over time.