Cervical Cancer Treatment
In brief
Cervical cancer develops in the neck of the womb and is closely linked to persistent infection with high risk types of HPV. Unlike most cancers it has an established screening pathway, which means precancerous change can be found and treated before cancer develops. Screening details are on the HPV and cervical screening page.
The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. Changes there develop slowly, often over years, which is what makes screening effective.
Symptoms
- Bleeding after intercourse
- Bleeding between periods or after menopause
- Persistent discharge with an unusual colour or odour
- Pelvic or lower back pain, more often at a later stage
Early disease frequently causes no symptoms at all. This is precisely why screening matters: the absence of complaints is not evidence that the cervix is healthy.
Diagnosis
An abnormal screening result is followed by colposcopy, an examination of the cervix under magnification, with a biopsy taken from any suspicious area. If cancer is confirmed, imaging is used to assess the extent of disease before a treatment plan is made.
Treatment
Treatment depends on how far the disease has progressed. Precancerous change is usually managed with a local procedure that removes the affected area of the cervix, such as conisation or a LEEP procedure, which preserves the uterus.
Where cancer is present and confined, surgery is the usual approach and may involve removal of the uterus with surrounding tissue and assessment of lymph nodes. In selected early cases in patients who wish to preserve fertility, an operation that removes the cervix while leaving the body of the uterus may be considered. More advanced disease is generally treated with radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy rather than with surgery.
After Treatment
Follow up after treatment for precancerous change is important, because the conditions that allowed the change to develop do not disappear with the procedure. Repeat testing at defined intervals is part of the treatment rather than an optional extra.
After treatment for cancer, the schedule is set according to the stage and what was found at operation. Bleeding, pain or discharge appearing between appointments should be reported at the time rather than kept for the next visit.
Prevention
Where fertility is a consideration, it is raised at the start of the discussion rather than after a plan has been settled. Whether a uterus preserving option is available depends on the stage and the pathology, and being clear about that early avoids decisions that cannot be revisited.
Two measures work together: HPV vaccination and regular screening. Vaccination does not cover every high risk HPV type, so people who have a cervix are advised to continue screening even after being vaccinated. Both are covered on the HPV and cervical screening page.
For an assessment, see the contact page. This page is general information and does not replace an examination. Decisions about your own treatment can only be made after assessment.
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