Most people with cervical cancer begin treatment by having surgery to remove their cancer. For some early cancers, this might be the only treatment you need. Some people will have other treatments too, like radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
For advanced cervical cancer, surgery might not be a good option. That’s because chances are low that surgery will cure the disease. In this case, your care team at Fred Hutch Cancer Center will offer you other treatments to help control your disease.
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 Surgery Can Treat Cervical Cancer
The goal of cervical cancer surgery is to remove all of the cancer or as much cancer as possible. First, your physician may recommend having an operation to remove several lymph nodes. They do this to check the lymph nodes for cancer cells to see if your cancer has spread. The results help your care team recommend the best treatment for you.
If your physician recommends cervical cancer surgery, they will explain what tissues need to be removed and why. There are several options.
Hysterectomy
In a cervical cancer hysterectomy, the physician removes the entire uterus, including the cervix. This is sometimes called a total (complete) hysterectomy.
If cancer has spread, or is at high risk for spreading, within the cervix or to other organs and tissues, you might have one of these procedures:
- Radical hysterectomy. Surgery to remove the uterus, cervix, part of the vagina, a wide area of the ligaments and other tissues around these organs, and some lymph nodes.
- Modified radical hysterectomy. Surgery to remove the uterus, cervix, upper part of the vagina, and ligaments and other tissues close to these organs (less than in a radical hysterectomy) as well as some lymph nodes.
Salpingo-Oophorectomy
This is surgery to remove an ovary and fallopian tube. If both ovaries and tubes are removed, it’s called a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. You might need this, along with a hysterectomy, if cancer has spread to these organs.
Radical Trachelectomy
If you want the option to become pregnant in the future, you might be able to have surgery to keep most of your uterus. This cervical cancer surgery option is called radical trachelectomy or radical cervicectomy. The physician removes the cervix, leaving the upper part of the uterus. They also remove some nearby tissue, the upper part of the vagina and possibly some lymph nodes. Then they connect the remaining uterus and vagina. This might allow you to carry a pregnancy to term and give birth by cesarean section.
Pelvic Exenteration
If cancer comes back in the pelvis after treatment, some women have a cervical cancer surgery called pelvic exenteration. In this procedure, the physician removes the uterus, cervix, ovaries and vagina, as well as other organs where the cancer has spread, such as the lower colon, rectum or bladder.
Why Choose Fred Hutch for Cervical Cancer Surgery
As a patient at Fred Hutch, you’ll have surgery by a UW Medicine gynecologic oncologist. Your surgeon will be specially trained and board certified in gynecologic oncology. They will recommend the best procedure to match your needs.
Gynecologic oncology is a unique specialty because your physician is a surgical oncologist and a medical oncologist, all in one.
“Patients benefit from having a surgeon who can manage all aspects of their cancer care and understands all the new treatments,” said gynecologic oncologist Barbara Goff, MD. “By performing the right surgery, selecting the right chemotherapy, using genetic testing to select targeted therapies, and connecting patients with clinical trials, we are slowly improving patient survival.”
Like with any surgery, you will probably have some pain after your operation. Your care team will give you pain medicines to help with this.
- If your uterus is removed, you will not be able to become pregnant.
- In a radical hysterectomy, some nerves around the bladder are removed. This could affect your ability to empty your bladder.
- If lymph nodes are removed, there’s a risk of lymphedema (swelling) in your legs.
- After trachelectomy (removing the cervix and leaving the rest of the uterus), some women can become pregnant and carry a baby to term. You may be at higher risk for miscarriage.
Your Fred Hutch care team will talk with you about common side effects and signs to watch for. We’ll make sure you know what to expect, what to do and how to reach us if any concerns come up.