Read article Surgery for advanced cervical cancer
This page has information about the different operations you may have if you have cancer of the neck of the womb (cervix) that has spread beyond the cervix.
Surgery for advanced cervical cancer
Surgery for advanced cervical cancer can involve many of the structures within the pelvis (the lower part of your abdomen). All the cancer will need to be removed, together with all the lymph nodes that may be affected. How much surgery you have will be very individual. It will depend on where the cancer is.
Removing the womb, cervix, top of the vagina and lymph nodes as well as other organs is called pelvic exenteration. The aim of exenteration is to try to cure your cancer. Because it is a big operation, it is important that you are fit enough to make a good recovery. It is not suitable for everyone. You usually have an examination under anaesthetic and a scan first to check if an operation is possible for you. It is important to discuss this type of surgery fully with your doctor or specialist nurse so that you know exactly what to expect after the operation.
You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the treating cervical cancer section.
Advanced cervical cancer includes both cervical cancer that has spread at the time of your diagnosis, and cervical cancer that has come back after previous treatment.
Surgery for advanced cervical cancer can involve many of the structures within the pelvis (the lower part of your abdomen). All the cancer will need to be removed, together with any lymph nodes the cancer may have spread into. How much surgery you have will be very individual. It will depend on where the cancer is.
Removing the womb, cervix, top of the vagina and lymph nodes as well as other organs is called pelvic exenteration. The aim of exenteration is to try to cure your cancer. Because it is a big operation, it is important that you are fit enough to make a good recovery. It is not suitable for everyone. You usually have an examination under anaesthetic and a scan first to check if an operation is possible for you. This may be a CT scan, an MRI scan or a PET scan. It is important to discuss this type of operation fully with your doctor or specialist nurse so that you know exactly what to expect after the operation.
There are 3 types of exenteration operations
Anterior (front) exenteration
In this operation you will have your womb, ovaries, cervix, top of the vagina and lymph nodes removed. Your bladder and lymph nodes around the bladder will also be removed.
After this operation you will have a urostomy and will need to have bags to collect your urine. There is information about a urostomy in our section about bladder cancer. If you look at this section, do remember to use the back button to come back to the cervical cancer section. The rest of the information in the bladder cancer section will not apply to you.
Posterior (back) exenteration
In this operation you will have your womb, ovaries, cervix, top of the vagina and lymph nodes removed. Part of your bowel and rectum will also be removed.
After this operation you will need to have a colostomy and you will have bags to collect your bowel movements. There is information about a colostomy in our section about bowel (colorectal) cancer. If you look at this section, do remember to use the back button to come back to the cervical cancer section. The rest of the information in the bowel cancer section will not apply to you.
Total exenteration
In this operation you will have your womb, ovaries, cervix, top of the vagina and lymph nodes removed. You will also have the lower bowel, rectum and the bladder removed.
After this operation you will have both a colostomy and a urostomy. You will need to have a bag to collect your bowel movements and a bag to collect your urine. There is information about a colostomy in our section about bowel (colorectal) cancer and information about a urostomy in our section about bladder cancer. If you look at either of these sections, do remember to use the back button to come back to the cervical cancer section. The rest of the information in the bowel cancer and bladder cancer sections will not apply to you.
Rated 4 out of 5 based on 2 votes
- Share this: Tweet
-
-
- Print this page
-
Email this page
Increase text size
Decrease text size
Print page
Print basket
Save pages here and print in one go
Nurse helpline
Questions about cancer? Call freephone
0808 800 4040
or email us
