Cervical cancer occurs when there’s an abnormal growth of cells in the cervix. This is usually caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a type of sexually transmitted disease. A doctor may plan one’s treatment depending on the size, location, and stage of cancer. When found early, cervical cancer is highly treatable. 

In this article, we will be discussing the various treatment methods for cervical cancer.

1. Chemotherapy
This treatment method uses high doses of medication to find and destroy cancerous cells. It is usually used if cancer has spread. For women with cervical cancer, chemotherapy is often combined with radiation therapy. The combination may lead to severe side effects, mainly hair loss, nausea, and loss of appetite.

2. Radiation therapy
In this method, high-powered beams of energy such as X-rays are used to destroy cancerous cells. It is usually used as a combination with chemotherapy or alone before surgery for cervical cancer. After this therapy, a woman may lose her ability to get pregnant. She may also lose her vaginal elasticity, and if she is premenopausal, she may enter menopause.

3. Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy treatment boosts the immune system to help it fight cancer. It uses high doses of medication that interfere with the system that allows cancer cells to grow. In cervical cancer, immunotherapy is used to treat cancer that has spread to other parts or reoccurs. This may help shrink the tumor or even delay the growth.

4. Targeted drug therapy
These therapies target specific tissues, genes, or proteins that assist cancer in surviving and growing. A doctor tests one’s cells to determine what kind of treatment is suitable. According to that, it may be paired with chemotherapy or another treatment method. It helps slow down the tumor in cervical cancer and treat cancers that have spread or recurred.

5. Surgery
Surgery is conducted to remove parts of the body affected by cancer.

Conization
This method is used for early cervical cancers that are usually visible using a telescope. A doctor removes some or all cancerous or abnormal tissue using a thin wire or a laser.

Hysterectomy
There are two types of hysterectomies, mainly full and radical hysterectomy. In a full hysterectomy, a doctor removes the uterus and cervix. This type of surgery is used for women whose cancer hasn’t spread. Similarly, a doctor removes the cervix, upper vagina, uterus, and lymph nodes in a radical hysterectomy.

Exenteration
This method is used rarely, usually when cancer has spread despite radiation treatment. In this procedure, a doctor removes the uterus, vagina, rectum, and even the bladder.

Trachelectomy
This option is usually considered for early cervical cancers. In this method, the cervix and upper vagina are removed; however, the uterus remains intact. This option is for women with cervical cancer who wish to have children.