Cervical cancer is one of the most common oncological diseases in developing countries. Its cause is the human papillomavirus. If timely detected, the pathology can be successfully treated with surgery. Should the disease be detected in its advanced stage, radiation therapy and drug therapy will become the main methods of its control. You are welcome to visit the Booking Health website to undergo your treatment abroad. On our website, you can find out the cervical cancer immunotherapy cost and prices for any other procedures, make an appointment at a clinic for your preferred dates, and get services for organising your trip abroad.
What kinds of surgical procedures can be performed for cervical cancer?
Surgery is the main treatment for cervical cancer. It is the most effective treatment option, as it gives a real chance for a complete cure.
Depending on the stage of the disease, doctors can perform the following operations:
- Cervical conization involves the removal of a small area in the form of a cone along with the tumor
- Hysterectomy involves the removal of the uterus and its appendages, and this is the main operation for cervical cancer treatment
- Radical trachelectomy involves the removal of only the cervix and upper part of the vagina while preserving the body of the uterus (this surgery is performed in the early stages in women who want to preserve their reproductive function)
- Pelvic exenteration is an operation to treat advanced stages of cervical cancer that involves the removal of not only the uterus and its appendages but also other affected organs (for example, the bladder or rectum)
What radiation therapy methods can be used for cervical cancer?
For patients with cervical cancer, doctors use the following types of radiation therapy:
- External beam radiation therapy is an irradiation option when the radiation source is outside the patient’s body and directs beams into the tumor (this is a generally accepted and most commonly used radiotherapy technique)
- Brachytherapy involves the placement of radioactive seed implants in the area of tumor localization (internal beam radiation therapy)
External beam radiation therapy is often used after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence or as the main treatment for inoperable tumors.
Brachytherapy can be an alternative to external beam radiation therapy. It is safer because the radiation source is delivered directly to the tumor and does not pass through healthy organs. Radioactive seed implants are inserted into a tube that is placed in the vagina.
Proton therapy is also used at some medical centers abroad. This is the safest option for external beam radiation therapy, which uses protons instead of photons. These almost never emit radiation on their way to the target, so they minimally damage the tissues surrounding the tumor. You can undergo your cervical cancer treatment in Germany if you want to get proton therapy. It is available at the University Hospital Essen and the University Hospital Heidelberg.
What methods of drug therapy are available abroad?
Chemotherapy remains the classic treatment for cervical cancer. It is often combined with radiation therapy and is one of the main ways to fight cancer.
However, modern hospitals also use other methods that can successfully curb cancer, even in its advanced stages. Doctors perform targeted therapy with angiogenesis inhibitors that block the growth of tumor blood vessels and, in severe cases, use antibody-drug conjugates. Antibodies deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to cancer cells, which greatly increases their effectiveness.
Immunotherapy with PD-1 inhibitors can also be used for cervical cancer. These drugs remove the tumor’s disguise, not allowing it to evade the attacks of the immune system. These drugs can only be used when PD-L1 protein levels are high.
You are welcome to use the Booking Health service if you want to undergo your cervical cancer treatment in one of the developed countries. On our website, you can find the world’s best clinics and the prices for all procedures and operations. You can also choose the best medical center and medical care program, and the Booking Health specialists will take care of all the arrangements for your trip abroad.
Please note this is a contributed post. Words, views and opinions are not my own.
