Surgery or radiotherapy for cervical cancer

The extent of the disease determines whether surgery, radiotherapy or both are employed to treat cervical cancer. In the early stages, both radiotherapy and surgery are equally effective. In the advanced stages, radiotherapy is the best treatment.

Induced menopause after cervical cancer treatment.

A woman will not necessarily go into menopause as a result of the treatment. Most experts try to preserve ovarian function in a young woman treated for cervical cancer, so as to avoid premature menopause. This is not always feasible, in which case hormone replacement therapy (HRT) will be necessary.

HRT has no adverse effect on the behavior of the disease.

Delaying cervical cancer treatment in pregnancy ‘for the sake of the baby’

When cervical cancer is diagnosed in early pregnancy, the maternal instinct will inevitably bring up the question on whether there is a possibility of delaying treatment to allow the baby in the womb to reach a stage where he/she can survive outside the womb. This is a very tough call.

Clearly, if it is early pregnancy (i.e. below 20 weeks), many experts will find it extremely difficult to contemplate waiting. In cases over 20 weeks of gestation, where waiting will be confined to two to four weeks, the idea could be given serious thought, if this is what the mother wants.

It is impossible to know what would be a safe interval between diagnosis and successful treatment of the cancer. The disease behaves differently in different individuals.

Most experts would prefer to start treatment within days of confirming diagnosis, to maximize the chances of a successful treatment.

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