Treatment
options for cervical cancer by stage
Cervical cancer can be treated according to the stages of
cancer of the patients. There are many causes that affect the decision in
choosing treatment include the stage of cancer, type of cancer, location of the
cancer cell, physical condition and age.
Early stage of cancer
Stage 0 is often called as carcinoma
in situ is categorized as the earliest form of cancer. The abnormal cells are
founded only in the first layer of the cervix.
Treatment available: Conization,
laser surgery, cryosurgery, loop electrocautery excision procedure (LEEP) and
surgery removing the cancerous area, cervix and uterus.
Stage I only involved the cervix,
cancer cells have not spread to other parts. Treatments for stage I is depends
on how the cancer cells irrupt into the normal cells.
- Stage IA - The amount of cancer
cells is very little and it is irrupted in the deeper layer of the cervix.
Surgery is used to remove the
cancerous area, total abdominal hysterectomy and the ovaries also may be taken
out. This is usually for the women who cannot or do not want to have children
but not in young women. For those who want to have children, the cancer is
removed with cone biopsy. Surgery can be carried out to remove the cancerous
area by radical hysterectomy. Conization, radical trachelectomy and internal
therapy can also be used for this stage to remove lymph nodes in pelvis. If the
cancer cells have spread to the parametria, chemotherapy and radiotherapy will
be given together.
- Stage IB - A larger amount of
cancer cells are in the tissues of cervix.
Internal and external radiation
therapy with chemotherapy and radical hysterectomy and lymph node dissection
with chemotherapy and radiation therapy are available as well as high dose
internal and external radiation therapy. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy will be
given if cancer cells are found in lymph nodes after surgery. Radiotherapy is
normally used after surgery if there are cancer cells left behind. It helps to
cut down the chances of getting back the cancer. Radical trachelectomy with removal
of lymph nodes can be used in this stage as well.
Locally advanced cancer
Stage II the cancer cells have
spread around inside the pelvic area. Treatment is depends on the size of the
tumor and it cannot be cured with surgery in this stage.
- Stage IIA cancer cells have
spread farther the cervix to the upper to the vagina.
Internal and external radiation
therapy with chemotherapy is available in this stage. Radical hysterectomy and
lymph node dissection along with radiation therapy and chemotherapy after
surgery. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy with cisplatin or adding other
drugs is more effective than only radiation.
- Stage IIB cancer has spread to
parametrial tissue, tissue around the cervix.
Internal and external radiation
therapy with chemotherapy can be used if the tumor is larger than 4 cm.
Cisplatin and other drugs are combined in radiation therapy with chemotherapy.
Uterus is recommended to remove after the radiation therapy is done. Radical
hysterectomy and removal of lymph nodes in pelvis is used if the tumor is
smaller than 4 cm. If the tissue taken out from the surgery is performed cancer
cells in the lyomh nodes, radiation therapy with chemotherapy and brachytherapy
will be given.
Advanced cancer
Stage III cancerous area is all over
the pelvic area. Cancer may have spread to lower part of vagina or even further
to the kidneys and the urinary bladder.
Stage IV cancer cells have spread to
other parts of the body.
- Stage III and IVA are combined
in with regards to prognosis and treatment.
In stage IVA, cancer has spread to
kidneys and bladder. Treatment includes
internal and external radiation therapy with chemotherapy. The combination of
radiation and chemotherapy with cisplatin and other drugs is more effective.
The lymph nodes is recommend to be checked before doing the radiation therapy.
Another way is to do by surgery.
- Stage IVB cancer cells have
spread to other organs which even further such as lungs and bones.
Treatments available include
chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Cancer in this stage is usually not
curable. Radiation therapy is to relieve the symptoms of cancer to the areas
which have the cancer cells.
Recurrent cancer
Recurrent cancer is the cancer that
recurred after treatment. Cancer cells can return in the cervix or in lymphatic
system or bloodstream to other organs. Extensive surgery or radical pelvic
surgery is recommanded if the cancer has spread in the pelvis only. The
operation is successfully treated most of the patient. If the cancer cells
returned in the area beyond the pelvis, clinical trial of new treatment,
radiation therapy and chemotherapy is used to treat and relieve the symptoms.
Cervical
cancer in pregnancy
Small
amount of pregnant women are found have cervical cancers. If the cancer is in
the early stage as in IA, the pregnant women are allowed to continue the
pregnancy. Hysterectomy or cone biopsy is recommended. If the cancer is higher
than stage IA, the pregnancy has to be considerate. The baby would be delivered
by caesarean section. For pregnant women is treated in radical hysterectomy or
radiation therapy.
Types of Treatment
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy treats cancer by using
high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. Radiotherapy is a local therapy. It
only affected the treated area but sometimes while doing radiotherapy there is
possible to have little harm to the normal cells.
There are two types of radiotherapy:
- External radiotherapy
- Internal radiotherapy
External radiotherapy:
This treatment carries out from
outside of the body using a large machine which is used to aim the tumor area.
Radiotherapy is normally given as an outpatient in a hospital in series of
short daily treatment. The number of treatments are given depends on the size
and the type of cancer. The whole course of treatment in early stage last few
weeks. Schedule in the treatment is to protect the cells and tissues by
spreading out. No radioactive materials are insert to the body and it is
perfectly safe to the patient. This treatment is painless, the patient have to
stay in the room in few minutes to complete this treatment.
Internal radiotherapy:
Internal radiotherapy is also called
as brachytherapy. This treatment is carried out through special, tiny tubes
placed into vagina, gives radiation direct to the cervix. It is often given
after external radiotherapy. Internal therapy is given as an inpatient over a
few days or in short period repeated in few days apart. Patients have to stay
in the hospital during this treatment to prevent radiation exposure to others.
Internal radiotherapy is given in low lose rate treatment and high dose rate
treatment. The difference is only the period of time not the total dose of
radiotherapy.
- Low dose rate treatment
A treatment given as an inpatient in
a few days by using a machine known as Selectron which feeds small balls of
caesium into the applicators tubes. The tubes are placed into vagina during the
treatment. It often causes the pain in the vagina. The tubes are usually left
in place for few days. The radioactive balls can be removes into the machine
when the patient come into the room. During the treatment, the tubes must be in
the right position.
- High dose rate treatment
A machine known as microSlectron
containing a iridium or cobalt. The patient will have anaesthetic before the
treatment. Once the applicators inserted, the machine passes the radioactive
sources into the tubes. The tubes will be removed after the treatment is done.
This treatment need to repeat a number times, few days apart. It can be given
to inpatient or outpatient. During the experiment, catheter needed when x-ray
picture are taken.
Side effects of radiotherapy
Side effects of radiotherapy include
tiredness, loss of appetite, pain in urinary bladder and skin problems.
Radiotherapy in cervical cal also cause shortening, drying and adhesions of the
vagina.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy
cancer cells. Cisplatin is often used in this treatment. Chemotherapy can be
taken by pill or intravenously. The drugs insert to the bloodstream go through
the body and destroy the cancer cells, so it also called as a systemic
treatment. Chemotherapy with platinum can make radiation more effective.
Chemotherapy is usually given before surgery or radiotherapy to reduce the size
of a tumor, help to control the disease and relieve the symptoms. This
treatment also given to those have cancer in other parts of the body or have
recurrent cancer.
Side effects of chemotherapy
The side effects are depends on the
drugs used. The effects include vomiting, feeling sick and tired, hair loss,
lowering production of blood cells, damage of kidneys, sore mouth and loss of
appetite. These side effects are temporarily, there are several medications to
avoid many of the side effects. Addition, this treatment may cause periods
stop, it can be either temporarily or permanently, causing
premature menopause.
Combination of radiotherapy and
chemotherapy
This combination of treatment is
called chemoradiation. The experts found out that patients with cervical cancer
can recover faster and better if they have chemoradiation with cisplatin.
Chemoradiation cause more side effects than radiotherapy but those side effects
are temporary, can be treated.
Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy is a surgery of
removing uterus. There are two types of hysterectomy, total hysterectomy
and radical hysterectomy. In total hysterectomy, the uterus and cervix are
removed. In radical hysterectomy, the uterus, cervix and top part of the vagina
are removed. The ovaries are not removed if the women are still having periods.
Lymph node dissection usually done with radical hysterectomy in the surgery.
Radical hysterectomy will take more time to recover.
Cone biopsy
Cone biopsy is a treatment that
normally used in the early stage of cervical cancer. The advantage of cone
biopsy is the patient will not have any long term side effects.
Drugs Approved to Prevent Cervical
Cancer
- Cervarix
(Recombinant HPV Bivalent Vaccine)
- Gardasil
(Recombinant HPV Quadrivalent Vaccine)
- Recombinant
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Bivalent Vaccine
- Recombinant
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Quadrivalent Vaccine
- Blenoxane
(Bleomycin)
- Bleomycin
- Cisplatin
- Carboplatin Hycamtin
(Topotecan Hydrochloride)
- Gemcitabine
(Gemzar)
- Platinol
(Cisplatin)
- Platinol – AQ
(Cisplatin)
- Paclitaxel
(Taxol)
- Topotecan
Hydrochloride
- Vinorelbine (Navelbine)
Alternative
Traditional Chinese Treatment for Cervical Cancer
i. Licorice
Root as a Complementary Treatment of Cervical Cancer
Licorice root is one of the common ingredients in Chinese medicine. It has been used as a treatment for centuries. This root helps to preventing the growth of tumor and mutations in DNA. The fact is that the roots of licorice contain licohalcone-A and glabridin that kills the existing cancer cells.
Licorice root is one of the common ingredients in Chinese medicine. It has been used as a treatment for centuries. This root helps to preventing the growth of tumor and mutations in DNA. The fact is that the roots of licorice contain licohalcone-A and glabridin that kills the existing cancer cells.
ii. Acupressure
as treatment for cervical cancer
Acupressure is another alternative treatment that helps to cervix anxiety. This makes the body to restore the flow of blood. The therapist makes use of soft tissues in the body to stimulate "acupoints," to balance the flow of energy. This theraphy proves as an effective alternative way to treat cervical cancer for more than 50% of woman with cervical cancer.
Acupressure is another alternative treatment that helps to cervix anxiety. This makes the body to restore the flow of blood. The therapist makes use of soft tissues in the body to stimulate "acupoints," to balance the flow of energy. This theraphy proves as an effective alternative way to treat cervical cancer for more than 50% of woman with cervical cancer.
iii. Herbal
Cervical Cancer Treatment
Garlic helps to inhibit the growth of cells that cause cancer. Garlic contains an antioxidant, Allicin that helps to fight against cervical cancer in woman. The consumption of garlic extract helps to decrease the chances of forming cervical cancer. Research proves that garlic powder in regular diet inhibited mammary tumors.
Garlic helps to inhibit the growth of cells that cause cancer. Garlic contains an antioxidant, Allicin that helps to fight against cervical cancer in woman. The consumption of garlic extract helps to decrease the chances of forming cervical cancer. Research proves that garlic powder in regular diet inhibited mammary tumors.
Traditional
Chinese Doctors believed that Chinese herbs can:
- Offset the
damaging side-effects of radiation and chemotherapy.
- Benefit the
patient’s immune system, which biomedicine overwhelms and supplants with
its powerful agents.
- Aid in tumor
reduction itself, potentially shortening the length of time the patient
needs to receive radiation and chemotherapy.