Chemotherapy for cervical cancer is used to treat large tumors present around the cervix. It is combined with radiation in many cases. This is called chemo radiation. This combination makes the treatment more effective as chemotherapy makes cervical cancer more sensitive radiation.

Usually, it is given once a week during the course of radiotherapy. The most frequently used drug for this cancer is cisplatin that is given intravenously. The other commonly used drugs are carboplatin, paclitaxel, 5-FU, cyclophosphamide, and ifosfamide. These drugs have great importance in the treatment for cervical cancer.

The dose of the drug depends on the height and weight of the patient, overall health and stage of the cancer.

Chemotherapy is also used before surgery or radiotherapy to shrink the tumor and enhance the effectiveness. This is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy is also used in cases where the cancer is spread to other parts or returned after radiotherapy. In most of these cases, chemotherapy is given to control the spread of the disease, to relieve symptoms, prolong survival and quality of life. It works well in some cases; however, in some cases it does not shrink the tumor and only causes side effects. Unfortunately, the treatment has to be stopped in such cases.

Chemo radiation for Cervical Cancer

Chemotherapy is administered along with radiation in certain stages of cervical cancer. Both these treatments are given simultaneously. Hence, this is called concurrent chemoradiation.

In this, one way is that one dose of cisplatin is administered once a week during radiation. This is given intravenously about four hours before beginning the radiation therapy. The other way is that cisplatin is administered intravenously along with 5-FU or fluorouracil once in every four weeks during radiation. Other drug combinations could also be used.

Chemo radiation helps in survival and a good quality of life. However, when these two are combined the side effects are also combined.

Side effects like nausea and fatigue get worse. Diarrhea is also one of the major side effects. Low blood counts are also common. Fortunately, most of these side effects can be reduced with medications by consulting your doctor.

Side Effects of Chemotherapy for Cervical Cancer

Side effects of chemotherapy depend on the dose and type of drug used. It also depends on the patient’s tolerance level. Also, not all the patients have all these side effects as each person reacts differently to different drugs.

Some common side effects are hair loss, upset stomach, and fatigue.

Normally medications to control nausea are given prior to the treatment. However, hair loss cannot be prevented as chemotherapy drugs attack the cells of the hair follicle along with the cancer cells. There are no medications to prevent hair loss but the hair grows back in a few months after the treatment is over.

Risk Factors of Cervical Cancer

The main cause of most of the uterine and cervical cancers like non-squamous tumors is the infections due to human papillomavirus (HPV). Although vaccine for HPV is under development, the actual implementation will take time.

Cigarette smoking is also a risk factor for causing squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

The treatment of cervical cancer differs as per the stage and not the cell type. Squamous and non-squamous (Adenocarcinoma) tumors generally have a similar line of treatment.

Chemotherapy for cervical cancer is effective as long as the cancer is detected early. Unfortunately, in most cases of recurrent cancer, palliative care is the only option and most women are not able to survive for a very long time. However, with advanced diagnostic tests, it is possible to detect this cancer at the earliest. Follow up is required to prevent recurrence of this disease.