When diagnosed with cervical cancer, treatment should be decided at the earliest. The stage of cancer should be determined to consider the best possible options. Examinations to determine the stage may consist of imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and a complete pelvic examination of the cervix, vagina, uterus, and ovaries. A cystoscopy and anoscopy are done as well to check whether cancer has spread to those areas.

Once the stage is determined treatment can be planned. As various aspects of a patient’s health are considered in terms of treatment, the teams treating cervical cancer are multidisciplinary, consisting of different specialists who work together to make the best possible decisions based on your age, health and the stage of the illness. The team will have a gynecologist, a radiation oncologist, and a medical oncologist. Consult with them and clear all your doubts before proceeding. Seek a second opinion when in doubt.

A basic understanding of the various treatments can help us be better informed.

Surgery
Early stages of cervical cancer can be treated with minimally invasive surgery. Cryosurgery or laser surgery, both of which can be done in the doctor’s clinic, are procedures which kill the cancer cells in the cervix. Conisation (also called LEEP) is recommended if cancer has progressed a little more and a surgical or laser knife is used to remove tissue from the cervix. The tissue is examined and if the outer edges of the tissue contain cancer cells, further treatment with radiation is suggested. Trachelectomy (removal of the cervix and upper part of the vagina) allows women to be treated without losing their ability to have children. Only if other surgeries cannot cure cancer, hysterectomy (removal of the body of the uterus) is suggested, as women cannot bear children after a hysterectomy. Consulting with your doctor and understanding the various options of surgery is very important.

Radiation therapy
It is used alone or with chemotherapy before surgery to shrink a tumor, or after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells. Radiotherapy uses high-powered energy beams and can be given internally or externally.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses intravenous or oral medication to kill cancer cells. Sometimes, in initial stages, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are combined to enhance the effect of the radiation. Women considering pregnancy after treatment should consult with doctors, to preserve eggs before treatment, as Radiation and Chemotherapy may stop menstruation in women.

Alternative methods and treatments
Various alternative treatments are available, using ozone therapy, vitamins, natural cures with herbs and special diets. They may help you feel better, but many have not been proven to cure cancer and can be detrimental rather than beneficial.