Radiation treatment of carcinoma of the cervix

To give the optimal treatment to each individual with cancer of the cervix, there must be very close cooperation and professional rapport between the radiation oncologist and gynecologic oncologist. Patients should be evaluated together with a review of the pertinent pathology and diagnostic roentgenograms in order to determine the optimal, individualized treatment plan for each patient. In the radiotherapeutic management of patients with cervical cancer, meticulous care must be taken in the treatment setups for external radiotherapy and the intracavitary radium applications. External fields should be carefully shaped to minimize the amount of normal tissue treated. Radium applications must be carefully reviewed with attention to and correction of minor deviations in the radium geometry, which could give rise to "hot" or "cold" spots in the radium dosage. With attention paid to the above factors, radiotherapy in the treatment of cervical cancer can be extremely rewarding. The majority of the patients treated will be cured and will be able to return to normal, functional lives. Most of the patients seen with cervical cancer do not have other major medical illnesses that will limit their lifespan, and as a result, 10-, 20-, and 30-yr survivals after treatment are being reported.