High-energy x-rays are used in Radiation Therapy to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be used depending on the stage of cervical cancer:
- As a component of the primary therapy. Radiation therapy alone or surgery with radiation therapy are preferred treatments for some cervical cancer stages. The preferred treatment for later stages is concurrent chemoradiation, which combines radiation with chemotherapy to improve the effectiveness.
- To treat cervical cancer that has spread or returned after therapy. Radiation therapy may be used to treat cervical cancers that have spread to other organs and tissues.
The radiation therapy kinds that are most frequently used to treat cervical cancer are:
- External beam radiation
- Brachytherapy
External beam radiation:
Using a machine outside the body, external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) directs x-rays at the cancer. The procedure is very similar to receiving an ordinary x-ray, but the radiation dose is higher.
Even though each radiation treatment only lasts a few minutes, getting you into the place for treatment normally takes some time. The procedure is painless.
When EBRT is used as the main therapy for cervical cancer, it is usually combined with chemotherapy (called concurrent chemoradiation). A little dose of the chemotherapy medication cisplatin is frequently used.
There are additional chemo medicines available. For around five weeks, five days a week, radiation treatments are given. During the radiation, the chemotherapy is administered at predetermined times. Which medicine is utilised determines the timetable. After the concurrent chemoradiation is finished, brachytherapy, which is covered in more detail below, may also be administered if the cancer has not progressed to remote locations.
Patients who cannot handle chemotherapy or radiation therapy, can’t safely have surgery, or do not want to have surgery can also have EBRT as their primary form of treatment for cervical cancer. The spread of cancer can also be treated by using it by itself.
Possible side effects of EBRT
Short-term side effects of external beam radiation therapy for cervical cancer can include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Upset stomach
- Diarrhea or loose stools
- Skin changes
- Radiation cystitis
- Vaginal pain
- Menstrual changes
- Low blood counts
- Fatigue (tiredness)
Brachytherapy (internal radiation therapy)
Brachytherapy, also known as internal radiation therapy, places a radiation source into or close to the malignancy. This kind of radiation only covers a small area. Intracavitary brachytherapy is the kind of brachytherapy most frequently used to treat cervical cancer. The vaginal device contains the radiation source (and sometimes in the cervix). In addition to EBRT, brachytherapy is typically utilised as part of the primary treatment for cervical cancer. Rarely, it might be administered alone in very narrow situations involving cervical malignancies in the early stages.
The two varieties of brachytherapy are:
The process of low-dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy takes a few days to finish. The radioactive material is held in place by devices while the patient is kept in bed in a private hospital room during this time. The hospital personnel will look after you while the radiation therapy is being administered, but they will also take precautions to protect themselves from radiation exposure.
High-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy is done as a series of outpatient sessions (often at least a week apart). The radioactive substance is introduced for a brief period of time before being removed for each high-dose therapy. The benefit of HDR treatment is that you don’t need to spend a lot of time immobile or stay in the hospital.
The radioactive substance is inserted into a tube in the vagina to treat cervical cancer in women who have undergone hysterectomy.
In order to treat a lady who still has a uterus, radioactive material can be inserted into a tiny metal tube called a tandem and tiny circular metal holders called ovoids can be positioned close to the cervix. Occasionally, this is referred to as tandem and ovoid therapy.
Tandem and ring is an additional choice. A circular holder (like a disc) is positioned next to the uterus for this purpose. What kind of brachytherapy is intended will determine which one is used.
