Cervical cancer refers to malignant neoplasm of the cervical area. Symptoms include vaginal bleeding although most symptoms are not present until it reaches an advanced stage. Pap smear screening identifies precancerous changes. When high grade changes are addressed earlier, cancer may be prevented. The increased awareness in cervical screening programs has reduced incidence of invasive cervical cancer by 50 percent.

There are varied conventional cervical cancer treatments including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy: the three common forms of treatment used over the years. The extent of the patient’s cancer, general state of health, and other factors determine the best combination of treatments applicable to the cervical cancer patient.

Surgery is a cervical cancer treatment applicable to certain types of cancer. It is the oldest form of cervical cancer treatment which also plays an important role in staging and diagnosis. Surgeries range from simple to very sophisticated surgical techniques resulting to effective treatment of cervical cancer. Surgery may be used as preventative, diagnostic, staging, curative, debulking or cytoreductive, palliative supportive, or restorative therapies.

Radiation therapy is a cervical cancer treatment that uses radiation to treat cervical cancer and provide relief to related cervical cancer symptoms. It may be used as a sole treatment or may be paired with the other two primary forms of conventional cervical cancer treatment methods. Continuous efforts are being exerted by medical practitioners on delivering higher radiation doses to the cancer cells and sparing normal reproductive tissue at the same time. Certain cervical cancers may be treated effectively with advanced techniques such as high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

Chemotherapy is a type of cervical cancer treatment that uses medications (anticancer drugs) to kill cervical cancer cells. Administration of chemotherapy can be done intravenously, orally, or by injection. It can be used as a standalone treatment or may be paired with other conventional treatments. It is known that chemotherapy is usually associated with unpleasant side effects (nausea, vomiting, hair loss, fatigue, mouth sores, etc.). Such side effects vary on a case to case basis depending on how a patient’s body responds to the drugs. New approaches to chemotherapy are continuously being introduced to minimize the effects. Fractionated-dose chemotherapy administers the total dose of medication in smaller amounts over a longer period of time making the side effects more tolerable.

Biotherapy or immunotherapy is a less common cervical cancer treatment. In biotherapy, the immune system plays a role as it is believed to have a natural power of protection that leverages the ability of the body’s immune system to provide natural healing. This therapy may be used directly or indirectly to treat cervical cancer and its symptoms. It may also assist in diminishing the side effects caused by other cervical cancer treatments. Understanding that cervical cancer develops when the immune system is weak, biotherapy is designed to fight the cancer through repair and stimulation of the body’s own natural immune responses. Biotherapy can be used as a sole treatment or alongside other conventional therapies.

Non-conventional cervical cancer treatment methods cover, but are not limited to, nutrition therapy, pain management, naturopathy, mind-body medicine, physical therapy, and social support.