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Mayo Clinic brings a compassionate and multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of cervical cancer. Teams of physicians base treatment on the stage of the cancer and the needs of the patient. Mayo Clinic is a member of the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), a national organization whose members conduct research to find the best strategies for gynecologic cancer treatment. In addition, the National Cancer Institute has designated Mayo Clinic Cancer Center as a comprehensive cancer center. This designation is given to cancer centers whose cancer researchers and clinicians meet stringent standards. Mayo Clinic surgeons are known nationally for their skill and coordination of care for patients requiring multidisciplinary treatments such as radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery.
If a Pap smear is abnormal, a colposcopy (examination of the cervix using a magnifying lens) and a biopsy (the collection and examination of tissue) may be performed to determine whether cancer is present. Once cancer is identified, other tests may be necessary to determine the best approach to treatment. Read more about cervical cancer diagnosis.
Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these modalities may be used to treat cervical cancer at Mayo Clinic. In addition, patients have access to relevant clinical trials. The extent of a patient's disease, her age, desire to have children, and general medical condition play an important part in determining optimal treatment. Read more about cervical cancer treatment options.
The cervix acts as the opening of the uterus. It connects the uterus to the vagina. According to the National Cancer Institute, 78 percent of cervical cancer cases are diagnosed in the early stages (in situ stage) of the disease. Incidence and mortality rates for cervical cancer have declined 40 percent since the 1970s. Although cervical cancer was once the leading cause of cancer death in American women, it is now the 14th leading cause of death, according to the American Cancer Society. The survival rate for early stages of cervical cancer exceeds 90 percent. This reduction is largely the result of early detection procedures.
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Cancer survivor for 17 years and still counting
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