Cervical cancer treatmentCervical cancer treatment depends on the stage. Early detection gives women the most options, of course. Ideally, just a LEEP or cone biopsy is all that is needed for women who still want to have children. Basically, there are five stages of cervical cancer, with 0 being the least invasive and 4 meaning that it has spread to other parts of the body. In the US, because of routine Pap tests, it is uncommon that women have stage 4. In some under-developed countries, women die from cervical cancer every day. For the earliest stages (0, Ia, Ib), surgery, like LEEP or cone biopsy, is always recommended and is typically all that is needed. For some women who have a little bigger tumor, but the cancer still has not spread further, a trachelectomy may be a possibility. For later stages, not only is surgery necessary, but chemotherapy will also be required. One question I had was why surgery and not chemotherapy for early stages? Why not wipe out the cancer with chemotherapy? The answer is that the tissue has been destroyed so it has to be removed. Also, chemotherapy doesn't reach the cervix well enough. There are some experimental studies that look at chemotherapy for tumors that are bigger than 2 cm but smaller than 4 cm. The purpose is to shrink the tumor before surgery. Obviously, if a hysterectomy is required, you're not going to be able to get pregnant. If you are diagnosed with cervical cancer, find the best gynecology oncologist in your area. Surgical technique can affect your fertility.
|
