Cervical Cancer

If you've been diagnosed with cervical cancer, our GYN oncologists ensure you understand your diagnosis and treatment options.

Cervical Cancer Symptoms and Risks

Cervical cancer affects cells lining the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects the uterus to the vagina. 

Over time, these cells can develop abnormal (precancerous) changes. A Pap test screens you for cervical cancer or looks for precancerous changes in cervical cells.

Pap tests are important because cervical cancer symptoms aren't usually detectable until the cancer is more extensive or grows into nearby tissues. At that point, cervical cancer symptoms may include the following: 

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, such as heavy bleeding, bleeding between periods, periods that are longer or heavier than usual, or post-menopausal bleeding
• Pain or bleeding during sex
• Pelvic pain

What are the risk factors for cervical cancer?

The following are the most common risk factors for developing cervical cancer: 

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the primary risk factor for cervical cancer. There are more than 150 known strains of HPV. Of those, more than 40 genital HPVs can cause genital warts and cervical cancer. In fact, almost all cervical cancer can be traced back to an HPV infection. 
• Smoking
• HIV infection
• Becoming sexually active before age 18

Cervical Cancer Types

• Squamous cell carcinoma accounts for about 80% to 90% of all cervical cancer diagnoses. This type of cervical cancer develops in the thin, flat cells lining the inner part of the cervix.
• Adenocarcinoma develops in the cells that line the mucous-producing glands of the cervix.

Occasionally, cervical cancer has characteristics of both types and is called adenosquamous or mixed carcinoma.

Cervical Cancer Diagnosis at Virtua

Cervical cancer doesn't just happen overnight. Occurrence in the U.S. is so low because routine screening with Pap smears allows prompt recognition and treatment of abnormalities.

Pap smears detect the presence of precancerous cervical cells, so the condition can be treated before it has a chance to develop into cervical cancer.

If you have an abnormal cervical cancer screening result, your gynecologist will recommend further testing to confirm a precancer or cancer diagnosis. These tests may include the following:

• Colposcopy: A colposcopy is an in-office procedure. Your gynecologist uses a high-powered microscope to examine the cervix and cervical cells for abnormalities.
• Biopsy: The doctor may take a biopsy (tissue sample) to check for cancer cells. Your doctor may do a biopsy during your colposcopy or recommend an outpatient excisional cone biopsy (performed under anesthesia) that removes a cone-shaped piece of tissue from your cervix.

A pathologist then reviews the tissue sample and determines the cell type and cancer grade. These are preliminary indicators of how aggressive cancer might act. 

Cervical Cancer Treatment at Virtua

You have access to the most advanced cancer treatment options and personalized support services—all close to home in South Jersey.

Your care team is led by fellowship-trained, board-certified gynecologic oncologists who work closely with your gynecologist and radiation and medical oncologists to provide comprehensive, integrated care.

Your personalized treatment plan may include the following: 

Surgery

Surgery is often used to treat cervical cancer. The type of surgery depends on your tumor size and staging, as well as your reproductive age and desire for fertility-sparing alternatives.

Surgical options may include:

• Open (abdominal) radical hysterectomy, removing the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries
• Trachelectomy, a fertility-sparing surgery that removes the cervix and upper part of the vagina but preserves the uterus
• Lymph node removal with or without sentinel lymph node mapping to identify and test certain lymph nodes for cancer cells. If there's no cancer in the sentinel nodes, no other lymph nodes are removed.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is frequently used for the following:

• To help decrease cancer recurrence in high-risk patients
• For treatment when cancer cannot be removed surgically
• When severe medical conditions make surgery unsafe

Radiation can be delivered both externally and internally. External radiation therapy uses a high-energy X-ray beam to target specific sites to shrink tumors and destroy cancer cells. 

Internal radiation therapy (HDR brachytherapy) involves placing a radioactive source directly into or near the tumor site. This delivers targeted radiation to a small area of the body and limits exposure to normal tissue.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy destroys cancer cells that may have spread throughout the body. 

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy uses the body's immune system to fight cancer. It works by giving the immune system an overall boost or training the immune system to attack specific parts of the cancer cells.

Targeted biological therapy

Targeted therapy is a treatment that uses drugs or other substances that target the growth or spread of certain cancers. 

Clinical trials

Clinical trials are used to test new cancer treatment regimens. The National Cancer Institute provides updates on cervical cancer research and clinical trials, including everything from prevention to treatment for cervical cancer.