Online CPR Certification Blog

Cervical cancer treatment involves a wide range of different therapies depending on when the cancer is diagnosed. A hysterectomy may be involved in some instances. For a young woman who is still considering having children, this is a life saving procedure that is also potentially life changing. Through a hysterectomy, the womb or uterus is removed and the procedure might be necessary, particularly during late diagnosis of the cancer when it is fairly advanced. Essentially, treatment depends on the stage of cancer and its size.

Some doctors recommend that cervical cancer surgery is combined with chemotherapy or radiation therapy and the stage of the cancer will again determine this and will depend on whether it has metastasized to other body parts.

About hysterectomy for treating cervical cancer

Hysterectomy as a treatment for cervical cancer comes in two types, i.e. total and radical. As far as total hysterectomy is concerned, both the uterus and cervix are removed by the surgeon. For radical hysterectomy, the tissue that surrounds the cervix is removed as well as some part f vagina and reproductive system, including the likes of fallopian tubes, lymph nodes or ovaries depending on how much the cancer has spread.

There are three ways in which this operation might be performed and healing time will depend on the specific method used.

• Abdominal hysterectomy- an incision is made in the abdomen for removing the uterus.
• Vaginal hysterectomy- the removal of uterus is done via the vagina
• Laparoscopic hysterectomy- surgical instruments are used to perform the operation which is inserted via small incisions.

About hysterectomy recuperation

After hysterectomy, the patient will be required to stay at the hospital for about a week and this will depend on the type and extent of surgery. Medication is provided for easing the pain during especially the first couple of days. When recovering, it is highly likely that you are going to experience:

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Bowel problems such as constipation
• Bladder issues like difficulties when urinating

After returning home, it is essential that you get in touch with your doctor immediately just in case you start experiencing some symptoms such as:

• Excessive bleeding
• Fever
• Redness or swelling around the site of incision

Between four and eight weeks, a woman should be able to resume her normal activities after hysterectomy has been done.

Consequences for hysterectomy

Since the womb is removed surgically during a hysterectomy, you will stop seeing your periods and you lose your ability of being pregnant. In case your ovaries are surgically removed, this will mark the onset of menopause.

If you want to still be able to have children, a much better option that you should consider is a trachelectomy whereby the cervix, pelvic lymph nodes and a part of vagina are removed and the uterus is left in place.