Treating invasive cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable forms of cancer, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively. Cancers diagnosed in late stages can also be controlled with appropriate treatment and palliative care.
If cervical cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, surgery and/or radiotherapy are the primary treatment options and can provide long-term survival and/or cure.
More advanced cases of cervical cancer are usually treated using a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Palliative care, which includes prevention and relief of suffering from pain and other distressing symptoms, as well psychosocial, spiritual and physical support should be provided to improve quality of life of patients and their families. Palliative care should be accessible throughout the disease trajectory irrespective of the stage of cancer and integrated as part of the treatment plan.
The Draft Global Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a public health problem recommends a comprehensive approach to cervical cancer, based on three pillars: Prevent (primary prevention through HPV vaccination), screen (secondary prevention, screening and treatment of precancerous lesions) and Treat (tertiary prevention, diagnosis and treatment of invasive cervical cancer, and palliative care). The Draft Strategy recommends that 90% of invasive cervical cancer cases are managed appropriately, including palliative care.
