Our Approach to Cervical Cancer

The Siteman difference

Siteman Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Missouri. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks us among the top cancer facilities in the nation. As an NCI institution, we provide first-class patient care, conduct ground-breaking research, and train exceptional residents and fellows who will go on to become some of the best physicians in the country.

Since its founding in 1999, Siteman has been leading the charge against cancer from the middle of the Midwest. Our Washington University oncologists and scientists have an impressive track record of discoveries that have fundamentally changed cancer care.

Team-based, specialist care

When you become a Siteman patient, you will be treated by a multi-disciplinary team of physicians who specialize in gynecologic cancers. This means they care for women with cervical, endometrial, or ovarian/fallopian/peritoneal cancer.

Patient cases are regularly presented at weekly multi-disciplinary tumor boards, where faculty members from gynecologic oncology, radiation oncology and pathology collaborate and offer their expertise to develop an individualized treatment plan for each patient.

Through this team-based approach, Siteman’s Washington University gynecologic oncologists provide safe, innovative, and comprehensive care. As a Siteman patient, you can have confidence in your unique treatment plan.

• Meet the team.

Advanced surgical solutions

Patients with early-stage cervical cancer may be treated with surgery. We will always try to tailor surgery to our patients’ wishes for future fertility. Our exceptional surgeons are sometimes able to remove the cervix without removing the uterus, a complex procedure that is not available at most hospitals. The major advantage of this procedure, called a “radical trachelectomy,” is that it treats cervical cancer without compromising the ability to carry a pregnancy. Additionally, some patients may be candidates for a cone biopsy with sentinel lymph nodes.  However, for the majority of our patients, radical hysterectomy is necessary to cure early-stage cervical cancer.

Learn more about surgery for cervical cancer

Radiation therapy

 Many patients with cervical cancer will undergo radiation therapy. The Washington University radiation oncologists at Siteman have the tools and expertise to provide state-of the art radiation therapy, including internal forms of radiation called brachytherapy.

Read about how radiation therapy treats cervical cancer

Clinical trials

Clinical trials are research studies evaluating new drugs, procedures, and protocols. They allow patients to access novel therapies before they are available for general use. Siteman Cancer Center offers more clinical trials than any other facility in the region. When you come to Siteman, your team will see if any trials could be a good match for you.

• Read about ongoing clinical trials for cervical cancer at Siteman.

Palliative care

Many patients are reluctant to ask for palliative care because they fear it means giving up on a cure or remission. However, the goal of palliative care is to help manage symptoms and treatment side effects so you can have a higher quality of life during treatment and enjoy time with family and friends. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage of your illness.

Palliative care is provided by a specially trained team of physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers and chaplains who work together with your oncologists. The palliative care team makes recommendations on extended pain management and any other support the patient or family needs. We are always mindful of patients’ and families’ lifestyles and spiritual beliefs and integrate them into the care plan.

• Get more information about supportive services at Siteman.
• For additional information about travel, lodging, parking, and logistics, visit or contact the Barnard Health and Cancer Information Center.