Sunday, February, 12, 2012

Cervical Cancer - Treatment for CIN and Carcinoma in Situ

Table of Contents

Stage II. Stage II invasive cancer has spread beyond the cervix, but it has not spread to the pelvic side wall. This stage is further categorized as IIA and IIB.

  • In stage IIA, the cancer has spread to the upper two-thirds of the vagina but not to the uterus.
  • In stage IIB, the cancer has spread beyond the vagina into the tissues of the uterus.

Stage III. In stage III, the cancer has spread to the lower third of the vagina.

  • In stage IIIA, the cancer has not spread to the pelvic wall.
  • In stage IIIB, the cancer has spread to the pelvic wall. The tumor may have become large enough to block the ureters of the kidney, which can cause the kidney to stop functioning.

Stage IV. Stage IV is advanced (metastasized) cancer. The cancer has spread to other organs or parts of the body.

  • In stage IVA, the cancer has spread to organs located near the cervix, such as the bladder or rectum.
  • In stage IVB, the cancer has spread beyond the pelvic area to other parts of the body, such as the liver, intestinal tract, or lungs.

Treatment Options by Stage

Treatments for cervical cancer depend on the stage of the cancer. Clinical trials investigating new treatment approaches are available for all stages of cervical cancer.

Stage 0. Stage 0 cancer is carcinoma in situ (CIN III) and is considered a pre-invasive cancer. Treatment options include:

  • Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP)
  • Laser surgery
  • Conization
  • Cryosurgery
  • Total (simple) hysterectomy (removal of uterus and cervix), for women who no longer want children
  • Internal radiation therapy, for women who cannot have surgery

Stage IA1. Treatment options for stage IA1 may include:

  • Conization
  • Total hysterectomy
  • Radical hysterectomy (removal of uterus, cervix, part of vagina, and pelvic lymph nodes)
  • Internal radiation therapy

Review Date: 10/21/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)