Various cervical cancer treatments are available and you’re best choice for your particular case will rely on several factors including: the cancer ‘Type’ (squamous cell or adenocarcinoma), the specific location and ‘Stage’ of the cancer. Your general health and fitness as well as Your age and personal preferences. Current cervical cancer treatment options include:

• Surgical Cervical Cancer Treatments
  
• Radiation Cervical Cancer Treatments
  
• Chemotherapy Cervical Cancer Treatments
  

Surgical Cervical Cancer Treatments
Surgical treatment is effective for cervical cancer in its early stages, and a range of techniques are available:

Conization - involves the removal of a cone-shaped sample of cervical tissue with a laser knife, (cold knife cone biopsy) or with an electrically heated wire (LEEP or LEETZ procedure). These techniques can be used alone (on early stage cancers or if the patient wants future pregnancy) but are most often combined with other surgery or radiation treatments.

Cryosurgery – involves freezing the cancerous cervical cells with liquid nitrogen, and is effective in pre-invasive early-stage cancer.

Laser Surgery – involves burning off the cancer cells with a laser beam, and is also effective for pre-invasive early-stage cancer.

Simple Hysterectomy - involves removal of the uterus only, leaving the cervical lymph nodes, tissue and vagina unaffected. The ovaries and fallopian tubes may be removed if they have been affected by another condition or if the patient is aged around 45 years or older. This procedure requires the patient spending several days in hospital and full recovery can take up to 6 weeks. Because the procedure removes the uterus, women having this surgery cannot become pregnant. Complications during or following the procedure can include: infection of the wound, excessive bleeding, and damage of the urinary or intestinal tracts.

Radical Hysterectomy - involves Simple Hysterectomy along with removal of the lymph nodes, surrounding cervical tissue, and parts of the vagina may also be removed. A Laparoscopy (insertion of a tube into the incision) enables the surgeon to view the inside of the pelvic and abdominal area, and the lymph nodes can also be removed through the tube. Abdominal incision may be avoided when a vaginal incision is made. Then, laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy can be performed, which entails using a laparoscope to remove the uterus and other tissue/organs. Radical hysterectomy requires a hospital stay of up to a week, and again removal of the uterus means the patient will no longer be able to have children. Complications following the procedure are the same as for Simple Hysterectomy.

Pelvic Exenteration - involves the surgical removal of the uterus, pelvic lymph nodes, part of the vagina, and tissue surrounding the uterus. Additionally, the bladder, rectum and sections of the colon may also need to be removed. This procedure is used to treat advanced or recurrent cervical cancers. If the bladder, rectum or colon have to be removed, a part of the intestine is attached to the abdomen or abdominal wall to enable the patient to pass urine or fecal matter. If the vagina is removed, skin or intestinal tissue may be used for reconstruction. Recovery from this procedure can take a considerable time, and some adjustment may be required - although many women are able to enjoy a fulfilling sex life.

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Radiation Cervical Cancer Treatments
Cervical cancer treatment by radiation (Radiotherapy) often involves the use of high-energy x-rays to kill the cancer cells. Radiotherapy is is used for treating Stage IB, II, III, and IV cancers and may be prescribed after surgery on Stage IA cancer to remove any small groups of cancer cells that may remain.

External Beam Radiotherapy - aims an x-ray beam directly at the tumor. The treatment lasts a few minutes, with only a very short exposure to radiation and will probably be combined with chemotherapy. Side effects include: changes in skin texture, as well as nausea, fatigue or diarrhea. Your doctor should be able to prescribe drugs to provide relief of these symptoms.

Brachytherapy does not use a directional beam of x-rays, instead, radioactive pellets are implanted through a thin plastic tube directly at the site of cancer. Again, this treatment is usually combined with chemotherapy.

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Chemotherapy Cervical Cancer Treatments
Chemotherapy cervical cancer treatment primarily uses drugs that work synergistically to increase the damage done to cancer cells by radiation treatment. Different drugs maintain the tumor cells at a stage where they are most susceptible to radiation treatment, or impair the ability of cancer cells to repair themselves following radiotherapy. Other drugs that can shrink or kill the cancer cells may also be used. Chemotherapy is normally prescribed for cervical cancer at Stages II, III and IV, and may also be prescribed to slow tumor growth and relieve symptoms in patients who cannot recieve surgery.

Evidence is mounting that a combination of these drugs integrated with radiotherapy is more effective than radiotherapy alone, but there is a substantial risk of serious side effects.

Side Effects Of Chemotherapy Cervical Cancer Treatment
Side effects of Chemotherapy cervical cancer treatment include: severe nausea, vomiting, and damage to the immune system, kidneys and liver. However, there now are ways to counter some of these effects. Traditional chemotherapy cancer treatments are prescribed generically based on the 'Stage' of the cancer.

ORT Inc. can now offer You a revolutionary new option. We enable your oncologist to tailor your chemotherapy to YOUR specific tumor characteristics, regardless of stage. The benefit of this approach, is that we are able to provide more effective treatment to YOUR specific tumor 'Type', minimizing side effects to You.

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Experimental Cervical Cancer Treatments
Researchers are continuously seeking new cervical cancer treatments, aiming to increase increase the potency of the treatment while decreasing any side effects. The only way to prove these new treatments is to test them in patients with cervical cancer. Patients who choose to take part in such 'clinical trials' get the best possible medical care, and also the chance to receive either a new treatment or the best known treatment. If you agree to take part in such a trial you can rest assured that the new treatment has been carefully tested to make sure it is safe.

You can only get these new treatments if you join a clinical trial. To find out more about these trials, talk to your doctor, contact the National Cancer Institute at www.nci.nih.gov or at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237), or you can contact ORT Inc. at 866-894-8887.

New Proven Cervical Cancer Treatment Option
ORT Inc. has developed a proven technology that allows your oncologist to tailor YOUR chemotherapy treatment to target YOUR specific tumor. This new approach identifies the drugs that YOUR specific tumor is resistant to, and enables your oncologist to provide YOU with a more effective treatment regimen while minimizing side effects.

Many studies agree that the earliest possible detection and diagnosis provides the cancer patient with the best possible outcome. The ORT Inc. technique achieves this, thereby minimizing occurrence of relapse, recurrence and/or metastasis (spreading of the cancer beyond the original site).

Furthermore, recent studies have indicated that patients respond more favorably when their treatment is based on detailed analytical results, rather than merely on the superficial determination of the cancer stage.

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