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Cervical Cancer Treatment
NJ, CT, & MD
Determining the appropriate cervical cancer treatment for a particular woman can be a daunting task. Options vary depending on the patient’s age, health, potential for pregnancy, and cancer stage. At Regional Cancer Care Associates, our team of oncologists and hematologists has the expertise, latest therapies, and state-of-the-art technologies to identify and deliver the treatment that is best for each patient. We offer multiple treatments for cervical cancer at our 25 offices in New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, and the Washington, D.C., area.
What Is Cervical Cancer?
Cervical cancer is the irregular, malignant growth of cells in the cervix, the narrow passage in the pelvic cavity that connects the uterus to the vagina. Cervical cancer tends to be a slow-growth malignancy that can be detected by a regular cervical screening tests – such as a Pap smear or liquid-based cytology test administered by a medical professional. Yet, it grows slowly, Early detection and treatment are critical because the 5-year survival rate for local cervical treatment is nearly 92%, while that rate drops to 58% if cancer has spread throughout the pelvis. Types of Cervical Cancer Treatment
Treatment options for cervical cancer include:
Surgery
The type of surgery a doctor will recommend for cervical cancer depends on several factors, including the cancer’s stage. Approaches include:
- Conization: This procedure, which involves removing a cone-shaped portion of cervical tissue, can be used both to obtain a biopsy to diagnose cervical cancer and to treat very early-stage cancer.
- Laser surgery: Laser surgery uses a laser beam to burn off cancerous cervical cells. ,
- Hysterectomy: A simple hysterectomy, encompassing removal of the cervix and uterus, may be the preferred choice in earlier stages of cervical cancer. A radical hysterectomy may be necessary to treat advanced stages of cervical cancer. For this procedure, the cervix, uterus, upper vagina, tissue around the cervix, and pelvic lymph nodes are removed.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is often used in conjunction with surgery or other treatments. This treatment modality focuses high-energy beams on cancer to kill malignant cells. There are two main kinds of radiation therapy:
- External beam radiation (EBRT): EBRT aims radiation beams at cervical cancer from outside the body.
- Brachytherapy: Brachytherapy involves implanting tiny radiation-emitting “seeds” or pellets in or immediately adjacent to cancerous lesions in the body.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves the use of oral or intravenously administered drugs to kill cancer cells. Doctors often use chemotherapy in combination with radiation therapy to treat cancer.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy targets cancer cells via certain drugs, antibodies, and vaccines that harness the power of the body’s immune system to identify and attack cancer. H3: Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy focuses of attacking cancerous cells with specific genetic mutations while leaving health cells unharmed.
As with any type of medical treatment, cervical cancer therapies may have side effects, such as fatigue, infection, loss of appetite, or vomiting, depending on the treatment administered. The oncologists and nurses at Regional Cancer Care Associates have long experience in preventing, minimizing, and treating the side effects of cancer treatment.
Cervical Cancer Risk Factors
Risk factors for cervical cancer include:
- Human papillomavirus (HPV): Two strains of HPV are linked to 90% of all cervical cancer diagnoses.
- Smoking: Smoking cigarettes and exposure to second-hand smoke are also linked to cervical cancer.
- Birth control pills and multiple pregnancies: Long-term use of oral contraceptives can increase the probability of cervical cancer. At the same time, women who became pregnant before age 20 and those who had three or more full-term pregnancies may run a higher risk of developing cervical cancer. The evidence on these subjects continues to evolve, so be sure to talk with your Ob/Gyn or other healthcare provider about these topics and their implications for your health.
Cervical Cancer Signs and Symptoms
As with any disease, cervical cancer manifests differently in each person. However, in general, the beginning stages of cervical cancer may be marked by no symptoms or by the presence of the following symptoms:
- Unusual vaginal bleeding or odorous discharge, especially during or after sex, between periods, or after menopause
- Pelvic discomfort during intercourse
- Unexplained discomfort in the lower back or lower abdomen
Signs of cervical cancer during stages II to IV of the disease, when cancer has spread beyond the cervix, may include:
- Discomfort while urinating
- Occasional blood in the urine
- Back and lower abdomen pain, soreness, or swelling in legs
- Diarrhea
- General fatigue
- Unexplained loss of weight and appetite
It is important to note that these symptoms may reflect a wide variety of causes other than cancer. However, they warrant prompt evaluation by a medical professional.
Contact Regional Cancer Care Associates About Cervical Cancer
At the medical oncologists of Regional Cancer Care Associates offer patients comprehensive, compassionate care in community-based settings close to home. That care includes access to the latest cervical cancer therapies and clinical trials. To learn more about treatment for cervical cancer and other cancers and blood disorders at our locations in New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, and the Washington, D.C., area, contact us or request an appointment today.
RCCA’s personalized, caring approach to helping you beat cervical cancer
Although you’re not alone in facing cervical cancer, no other woman shares your unique combination of health status, lifestyle, family situation and age. For these and many other reasons, your care at RCCA is equally unique. From your first appointment, through treatment, while managing side effects and during post-treatment care, your RCCA team will be dedicated to your very individual journey back to good health.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call (844) 346-7222. You can also schedule an appointment by calling the RCCA location nearest you.
Physicians SPECIALIZED IN Cervical Cancer
Physicians SPECIALIZED IN Cervical Cancer
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