Cervical Cancer Specialist

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer affects the cells in your cervix, the lower part of your uterus that connects to your vagina. This type of cancer develops when healthy cervical cells begin growing out of control.

The abnormal cell growth may be the result of an infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease. You may also be at increased risk for cervical cancer if you have a family history of the condition.

What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?

In the earliest stages of cervical cancer, you may not experience any symptoms. As the condition advances, you may experience vaginal bleeding between your periods or after menopause, when your periods stop for good.

It’s common with cervical cancer to experience persistent pelvic pain, pain during sex, and have vaginal discharge that appears bloody or foul-smelling.

How is cervical cancer diagnosed?

The team at Greater Houston Radiation Oncology offers on-site diagnostic testing to determine if your symptoms relate to cervical cancer. 

During your evaluation, your provider can use a specialized magnifying instrument to evaluate the cells in your cervix. They may take a portion of tissue for further testing at a medical lab.

To determine the stage of your cancer, the team uses in-office positron emission tomography (PET) scans and other imaging tests.

If you don’t have symptoms but have a family history or other risk factors for cervical cancer, your Greater Houston Radiation Oncology physical may recommend routine screenings to test for HPV and cancerous changes in your cervical cells.

How is cervical cancer treated?

Treating cervical cancer depends on the stage of your disease. In the early stages, you may be a candidate for surgery to remove cancerous cells. Your physician may also recommend surgery to remove your cervix and surrounding tissue or a hysterectomy to remove your uterus and cervix.

The Greater Houston Radiation Oncology team offers chemotherapy treatments following surgery to destroy all existing cancer cells. They may also recommend advanced radiation therapies, including:

• Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
• RapidArc – Volumetric Arc Therapy
• Image Guidance Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
• Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
• Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)
• Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D CRT)
• Four-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (4D CRT)

If you need screening for cervical cancer or are interested in learning more about available treatments, call Greater Houston Radiation Oncology or schedule an appointment online today.