Cervical Cancer Treatment
Updated: Feb 15, 2020
Each year, approximately 13,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer. Today, 83 percent of women get a well-woman exam each year to test for uterine or ovarian abnormalities and to screen for cervical cancer. Early cervical cancer typically does not have any outward signs or symptoms, so preventative health screenings are essential for identifying early warning signs. Screening for cervical cancer is associated with a significant reduction in incidence of and mortality from cervical cancer in women between the ages of 40 and 65.
Cervical cancer treatment options
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cervical cancer, the skilled cancer care team at the START Center for Cancer Care can help you learn about the treatment options available to you. These include:
Cryosurgery is a procedure that uses freezing gas (e.g., liquid nitrogen) to destroy precancerous cells on the cervix.
Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) is a way to remove abnormal tissue from the cervix using a low-voltage electrical current.
Cold knife cone biopsy is a surgery to remove a sample of abnormal tissue from the cervix to help diagnose cancer or pre-cancer cells.
Simple hysterectomy is a surgical procedure in which the entire uterus and cervix are removed.
Radical hysterectomy is a surgical procedure in which the uterus (and the tissue fibers that hold it in place), cervix and part of the vagina are removed.
Pelvic lymph node dissection is a surgery to remove the lymph nodes from the pelvis.
Radical trachelectomy is a surgery to remove the cervix, upper part of the vagina and lymph nodes in the pelvis.
External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is the most common form of radiation therapy used to treat cancer. A machine aims high-energy rays from outside the body into the tumor.
Brachytherapy puts a source of radiation in or near the cancer cells in the cervix by inserting a small metal tube, or tandem, into the uterus.
Chemotherapy is a type of treatment that includes medication, or a combination of medication, used to treat cancer.
If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment for you or a loved one with one of START’s highly trained, highly experienced cancer specialists, call 210-593-5790 or use our easy online form.