There are many variables taken into account when considering cervical cancer treatment, including whether the cancer is confined to one area or if it has spread, where it has spread, the patient’s age and overall health, as well as fertility concerns.
Radiation therapy: Two types of radiation therapy are combined to treat cervical cancer. External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) delivers high doses of radiation to the pelvis from outside the body. High-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy (internal radiation) delivers high doses of radiation inserted close to or inside the tumor.
Chemotherapy: This treatment uses anti-cancer drugs given intravenously. Chemotherapy and radiation are usually given at the same time in a treatment known as chemoradiation.
Targeted therapy: These drugs are used to disrupt tumor growth by targeting the cancer cells directly, rather than with systemic treatments, like chemotherapy, that attack all the body’s cells, both cancerous and non-cancerous. Sometimes targeted therapy is used to help other treatments like chemotherapy work better.