Radiation Therapy for Cervical Cancer

Radiation Therapy for Cervical Cancer

Most patients with cervical cancer receive radiation therapy to treat their cancer.

At Siteman, many women follow a treatment protocol that combines intensity-modulated radiation therapy, or IMRT, with internal radiation therapy, or brachytherapy. The radiation is completed over the course of several weeks. It often will be given with cisplatin, an IV chemotherapy that may help the radiation work better on the tumor.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy

IMRT is an advanced form of external-beam radiation therapy, in which radiation beams from a large machine are aimed at a patient’s tumor site. The advantage of IMRT is that it allows radiation oncologists to precisely map the radiation onto the 3-dimensional shape of the tumor. They do this by adjusting the amount of radiation in each beam. Because the radiation is conformed to the tumor so accurately, healthy tissue receives limited exposure to the radiation.

It is painless to receive IMRT. During the procedure the patient lies still while radiation is directed to their tumor from the radiation machine.

Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy, or internal radiation therapy, is a method of radiation delivery that involves placing tiny radioactive sources into, or near, a patient’s tumor via a pelvic exam. It’s often paired with external beam radiation therapy.

When a patient with cervical cancer undergoes brachytherapy, the radioactive source passes through catheters or devices near the tumor or inside of it. The devices may be shaped like a rod with two spheres, a cylinder, or a ring.

Patients receive brachytherapy in a series of outpatient treatments. During this method, called “high dose rate brachytherapy,” the device is placed in the patient’s body for only a few minutes at a time while the radiation is administered.

Siteman Cancer Center has one of the largest and most comprehensive Brachytherapy Center in the United States. We see more than 1,200 patients for gynecologic cancer as well as thousands more for other types of cancer.

Radiation oncologists at Siteman were among the first in the country to offer Image-Guided Adaptive Brachytherapy (IGABT) and have set the protocols and standards of care for this highly specialized and target-specific treatment that allows the oncologist to adapt both the dose and parameters of radiation beams. The team also is the only one in the region specializing in combined brachytherapy and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT).

Does radiation therapy hurt?

Many patients are nervous about receiving radiation therapy. They worry that the radiation will burn them, or that it will make them a danger to those around them.

However, it’s actually painless to undergo radiation therapy. You can’t feel the radiation beams as they enter your body and target the tumor cells. In addition, it is perfectly safe for you to be around your loved ones after your treatment sessions.

As patients continue through their course of radiation therapy, they may notice a number of side effects. These include:

  • Digestive problems, such as diarrhea
  • Feeling tired
  • Bladder irritation
  • Painful sex, due to vaginal dryness or narrowing of the vaginal canal

Talk to your treatment team about any problems you are experiencing. Though these issues can be sensitive and difficult to bring up, be honest about how you are feeling. There are treatments for the side effects radiation therapy causes. If you are struggling, we want to help you feel better as soon as possible.