Radiation

Radiation therapy is used to treat invasive cervical cancers. Two forms of radiation therapy are used to cure cervical cancer: external beam radiation and brachytherapy.

• External beam radiation therapy focuses radiation from outside the body to treat the cancer cells and the pelvic lymph nodes.

• Brachytherapy (also called internal radiation therapy) involves the insertion of radioactive material into the uterus and vagina, to treat the cervical cancer directly.

Women treated with radiation therapy for cervical cancer often get chemotherapy at the same time.

There can be side effects from radiation treatment. Most will go away. The skin in the treated area may get red and then look slightly tanned later, but will return to normal within 6 to 12 months.

Other side effects include:

• fatigue
• skin irritation
• diarrhea
• urge to urinate frequently
• burning sensation when urinating
• vaginal stenosis (narrowing of the vagina by scar tissue)
• premature menopause

Treatment to the pelvic area may cause the vagina to become narrower because of scar tissue, which can make having sex painful. Early menopause and problems with urination can also occur. However, all of these effects can be minimized and avoided altogether by taking certain precautions and appropriate hormone therapy. Talk to your doctor about any side effects and the treatments or medications that can help alleviate them.

Back to Introduction to treatment