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Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) uses high-energy beams or subatomic particles to damage the DNA inside cervical cancer cells. After enough damage, the cells cannot multiply, and they die. Learn how radiation therapy for cervical cancer, including brachytherapy, is used at Fred Hutch to deliver precise, patient‑focused care.
Cervical Cancer Care Tailored to You
You and your family are our top priority. At Fred Hutch Cancer Center, we offer comprehensive and compassionate care — personalized to you. You'll have access to the latest treatment options, clinical trials and supportive care services.
Referrals are required for new patients. Please request your primary care provider or specialist fax all relevant medical information to the fax number listed below.
Phone: 206.598.8300
Fax: 206.598.3590
How Radiation Therapy Can Treat Cervical Cancer
If you have cervical cancer, your physician may recommend that you have radiation therapy:
- After surgery to treat cancer cells that might remain in your body
- As a main treatment if you’re not having surgery
- To relieve symptoms if your cancer is advanced
You might have external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT), internal radiation therapy or both.
External-Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)
EBRT means radiation comes from a source outside your body using a machine that looks much like a regular X-ray machine. The radiation is delivered either as photons (such as X-rays or gamma rays) or subatomic particles (tiny particles that are smaller than atoms, such as electrons or protons). Typically, you’ll have EBRT five days a week (Monday to Friday) for five to six weeks. It’s not painful, and each treatment lasts only a few minutes.
For some people with cervical cancer, intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) may be an option. It’s a fast, effective way to give you radiation therapy during surgery. This may be helpful if there’s a small, localized tumor that surgeons cannot completely remove.
Internal Radiation Therapy
Internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy) means a radioactive substance is put inside your body so it can emit radiation from within. Radioactive material is sealed in a rod that is inserted into the vagina or uterus, left for a certain amount of time and then removed. There are two forms of brachytherapy:
- One form of brachytherapy is low-dose-rate (LDR), where the radioactive material is placed in the body, and radiation is delivered over a few days. You stay in the hospital during this treatment.
- Another form of brachytherapy is high-dose-rate (HDR), where the material is placed and stays in the body for only a few minutes. Then it’s removed. This is done in an outpatient office visit. Patients typically have about four of these treatments.
Radiation Plus Chemotherapy
Physicians sometimes use chemotherapy along with radiation therapy (chemoradiation) to treat cervical cancer. Fred Hutch and UW Medicine have been active in researching this approach. Results show that chemotherapy makes cervical cancer cells more sensitive to radiation. So, the combination is more effective than radiation therapy alone.
The National Cancer Institute says adding chemotherapy to radiation therapy improves the survival rates of women with advanced cervical cancer by as much as 30% to 50%.
You may get chemotherapy before radiation or at the same time.
Why Choose Fred Hutch for Radiation Therapy for Cervical Cancer
Fred Hutch uses the latest technology to provide the most precise radiation therapy possible for cervical cancer. We offer a wide range of radiation therapy options and match the best approach to your diagnosis.
Our radiation oncology experts take great care to align your body for EBRT. This helps ensure the radiation is focused on your tumor cells with the least chance of affecting healthy cells nearby.
Your care team at Fred Hutch is here to help you prevent or prepare for side effects and to relieve any side effects you have. The most important step you can take is to let your team know what you’re feeling. We’ve helped many patients and families through this process and know ways to ease your experience.
We can give you practical tips for dealing with whatever you’re going through, like how to cope with fatigue or how to improve bladder control. For some side effects, your care team can recommend over-the-counter medicine or give you a prescription to help. Our supportive care providers can help too. For example, you can meet with a Fred Hutch social worker or psychologist to discuss concerns related to relationships, body image, intimacy and sexuality.
The best way to treat cervical cancer depends on many factors, like the stage and the risk that the cancer will spread. Some people have a combination of treatments that work in different ways.
Radiation therapy may be effective for you in situations like these:
- You had surgery (hysterectomy) and there’s reason to suspect some microscopic cancer cells might remain behind in the area where tissue was removed.
- Your cancer has spread or might have spread into your lymph system, blood vessels or other nearby tissues.
- Your cancer came back after treatment.
- You have advanced cervical cancer.
- Cancer has spread to other parts of your body. Radiation may help relieve symptoms at these sites, such as your bones.