Best surgical oncologist in Jayanagar, Bangalore | Dr. Satish C explains: “Cervical cancer is a transmitted virus that occurs in the cells of the cervix, the lowest part of a woman’s uterus. If it is not treated on time, it also becomes the cause of death. Cervical cancer can be treated only in the precancerous stage; otherwise, surgery may be required.”
Cervical cancer is diagnosed by the Papanicolaou (PAP) test and HPV DNA Test. If you have cervical cancer, the doctor can treat it according to your condition. Surgery for cervical cancer largely depends on your type of cancer, age, and whether you want to have children in the future. Along with this, the treatment also depends on the cancer stage.
Today in this blog, we will discuss some necessary surgeries for treating cervical cancer, about which your doctor can give the best advice. Keep reading!!!
Some Important Surgeries for Cervical Pre-Cancer
The following procedures may be used to treat pre-cancer of the cervix:
Cryosurgery
- In this surgery, doctors try to freeze your cancer; for this, they use a gas called liquid nitrogen to freeze the abnormal cancer cells in your cervix, which kills the bad cells. The doctor can do this procedure in his clinic or office. You may have a watery discharge for a few weeks after this procedure, so don’t panic!
- Doctors usually use cryosurgery when doctors find abnormal cells only on the surface of your cervix.
Laser Surgery
- In this procedure, the doctor uses a focused laser beam to vaporize (burn-off) abnormal cancer cells on your cervix. This procedure causes more discomfort than cryotherapy, so that it can be done in the office with general anesthesia. The doctor may also remove a small piece of tissue for examination in the laboratory.
Conization
- In treating cervical cancer, the doctor may often ask for conization before recommending chemotherapy or radiation. However, if you want to have a child in the future, this is the only treatment that can cure your cervical cancer, and you will not have any problems having children.
- In this procedure, the doctor mainly uses a surgical knife or a laser to remove a cone-shaped piece of tissue from your cervix. The doctor may also use the loop electrosurgical excision procedure, or LEEP, which uses a thin wire that is heated with electricity. After this treatment, if some cancer remains behind in the edges of the cone, the doctor recommends radiation or chemotherapy.
Some important surgeries for invasive cervical cancer
Simple Hysterectomy
- In this, the surgeon removes the uterus along with your cervix. However, the surgeon leaves your other reproductive organs, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes, unless there is a medical reason.
- For your information, the surgeon can perform your hysterectomy mainly in any one of the three ways:-
- Through a cut in the abdomen (i.e., hysterectomy).
- Through vaginal hysterectomy.
- Through robotic instruments (laparoscopic hysterectomy).
- After the abdominal hysterectomy, you will have to stay in the hospital up to 5 days; it can take up to 1 month to recover completely. Whereas after a laparoscopic or vaginal hysterectomy, you will have to stay in the hospital only for 1 or 2 days, and it may take 2 to 3 weeks for complete recovery.
Radical Hysterectomy
- In a radical hysterectomy, the surgeon removes your uterus and the tissue around it. They also remove about 1 inch of the vagina next to your cervix. If there is no medical problem with your ovaries and fallopian tubes, they are left in place.
- This surgery can also be done through the abdomen. Surgeons use laparoscopy to remove the uterus through the vagina. You have a short hospital stay, and full recovery can take 4 to 6 weeks.
Trachelectomy
- Women with cervical cancer can go for a trachelectomy if they want to have a child in the future.
- In this procedure, the surgeon removes the upper part of your cervix and vagina but leaves your uterus intact. Stitching is done at the cut place.
- This surgery can also be done by cutting the abdomen or vagina. Studies show that women have a 50% chance of becoming pregnant five years after this surgery.
Pelvic Exenteration
- If you have had cervical cancer again, your doctor may recommend pelvic exenteration. In this procedure, the surgeon mainly removes the tissues along with your uterus, cervix, and surrounding organs. In this procedure, the surgeon also removes the lymph nodes.
- Full recovery after pelvic exenteration can take six months or more.
You can contact us if you have any cervical cancer-related problems. We will tell you the best treatment for you.
