I've Been Diagnosed with Cervical Cancer: Do I Need a Hysterectomy?

January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, so we’re educating women on the risks and dangers of this illness. Cervical cancer is the fourth most diagnosed type across the globe, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 

If you’ve been diagnosed with this disease, treatment depends on many variables including the stage you’re at. In some cases, a hysterectomy may be required to treat the damage but it’s not the only option. Let’s find out more by exploring some facts about this form of cancer and when a hysterectomy is the best option for treating it.

Women in the Las Vegas, Nevada area struggling with cervical cancer can find help with Dr. Staci McHale and her dedicated staff at WHASN Sunset Valley.

Facts about cervical cancer

Cervical cancer happens when abnormal cells develop on the surface of your cervix and change into precancerous cells. The cancer can develop slowly, as abnormal cells can take three to seven years to become cancerous. 

Once it turns into cancer, symptoms and progression happen quickly. Signs include foul-smelling watery or bloody vaginal discharge, painful sex, bleeding after sex, painful urination, sudden weight loss, loss of appetite, and pelvic pain.

The main cause of most cases of cervical cancer is human papillomavirus, or HPV, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) with over 100 types. Other factors include smoking, a weakened immune system, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and family history.

Treatment options

This disease is managed with four main forms of treatment: 

• Targeted therapy: a drug that blocks new blood vessels that enable cancer to thrive

• Radiation therapy: high-energy x-ray beams used to kill cancer cells

• Chemotherapy: drugs that kill cancer cells given in cycles to let your body recover

• Surgery: removing the areas of the cervix where cancer is present or removing the cervix and nearby organs

How you’re treated depends on the stage of cancer itself. There are four stages, and mild treatments are usually good for the early stages, but as the cancer spreads, more invasive measures may be necessary. 

When a hysterectomy is necessary

A hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus and cervix and is often used to treat early-stage cervical cancer to ensure it won’t return. The type of hysterectomy depends on the stage of the cancer and whether the lymph nodes in the pelvis need to be removed.

Deciding to do a hysterectomy depends on a lot of factors, so while it may be a viable solution, it isn’t necessarily the one you need. To find the best way to manage your cervical cancer, make an appointment with Dr. McHale and the team at WHASN Sunset Valley today.