The radiation isotopes placed within and about the cervix included Cesium 137 or Radium 226. Usually the first endocavitary treatment was performed before or during external beam radiation. The subsequent brachytherapy was performed within two weeks after completing pelvic radiation. For patients receiving combination of chemotherapy and radiation together, chemotherapy included intravenous administration of Cisplatin. Giving chemotherapy this way accounts for differences in patients size.
Larger patients receive greater doses.
The patients who were given the chemotherapy from the first through the fifth radiation day. The patients were followed on a regular basis with blood tests and physical exam. After treatment, the patients were followed on a routine basis. If persistent or recurrent cancer was questioned a biopsy was performed to make the diagnosis. Two hundred and one were randomly allocated to radiation and chemotherapy while 202 received radiation only.