The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center takes a team approach.
Your care team includes different types of doctors and other healthcare professionals who specialize in cervical cancer. Your team meets regularly to discuss your case, review test results, offer recommendations for therapy, and develop an individualized treatment plan based on the stage of your cervical cancer.
Your Cervical Cancer Treatment Team
Your care team will include specialists from several medical disciplines, such as:
- Gynecologists, who use their knowledge of the female reproductive system to help plan treatment.
- Pathologists, who analyze tumor tissue samples for evidence of cancer.
- Gynecologic oncologists, who specialize in diagnosing and treating gynecologic cancers.
- Medical oncologists, who treat cancer using drug therapies.
- Radiation oncologists, who plan and perform radiation therapy.
Cervical Cancer Surgery
For many patients with cervical cancer, surgery is the primary treatment. The Englewood Health gynecologic cancer team uses the latest surgical techniques to maximize outcomes.
If your doctor recommends surgery for cervical cancer, we offer several options, including:
- Cervical precancer treatment: If you have precancerous cervical cells, you may have them destroyed with intense cold (cervical cryosurgery) or heat (laser surgery), preventing them from turning into cancer.
- Cone biopsy (cervical conization): This procedure, which is also used as a diagnostic tool, may be all that is needed to effectively remove very small cervical tumors.
- Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery: In some cases, minimally invasive surgery allows surgeons to safely remove the cervix and surrounding tissues, including the uterus if necessary (laparoscopic hysterectomy). One form of minimally invasive surgery is robotic gynecologic surgery. Our experts were the first to complete 1,000 robotic surgeries in the region. We use the latest generation da Vinci® surgical robots to provide superior surgical care for patients of all ages.
- Traditional open surgery: Recent research has demonstrated that traditional open surgery for cervical cancer is more effective than minimally invasive approaches (including robotic surgery) in certain situations. Our surgical team will advise you if traditional open surgery is the best option for you.
Additionally, our surgeons take a progressive approach to blood management during your procedure. Our bloodless medicine and surgery providers help you avoid blood transfusions while improving your surgery outcomes.
Medical Treatments for Cervical Cancer
Depending on the stage of your cancer, you may need anti-cancer medications as part of your care to give you the best chance of a full recovery. Our Infusion Center, located on the Englewood Hospital campus, offers a comfortable and convenient experience for patients returning often for therapy. We also offer medical treatments at our Jersey City and Fair Lawn locations. Medical treatment options for cervical cancer may include:
- Chemotherapy and targeted therapies: Certain anti-cancer drugs are used to destroy cervical cancer cells. Certain chemotherapy drugs can help sensitize cervical cancer cells to the effects of radiation therapy.
- Immunotherapy: In some cases, doctors prescribe medications to boost the power of your immune system to find and kill cancer cells.
Radiation Therapy for Cervical Cancer
If your cervical cancer is of a certain size or has spread beyond the cervix, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy, often combined with chemotherapy. Radiation therapy may be delivered externally or internally. Englewood Health’s radiation oncology team offers therapy that spares healthy tissue, using state-of-the-art equipment at the Coe Radiation Oncology Center at our main Englewood Hospital campus.
As part of our commitment to excellence, Englewood Health gynecologic cancer specialists offer a form of internal radiation therapy called interstitial brachytherapy. This procedure, available only at a small number of healthcare centers nationwide, is usually well tolerated and extremely effective.
Your doctor temporarily implants a small radioactive needle, known as a Syad-Neblett template, which delivers radiation directly to cervical tumor tissue. This treatment is particularly useful for difficult-to- treat cervical and vaginal cancers.
Geriatric Oncology for Cervical Cancer
At Englewood Health, we offer specialized care for older adults diagnosed with cervical cancer. Our team focuses on the unique needs of elderly patients, tailoring treatment plans to address both the cancer and any age-related health concerns. With a comprehensive approach that balances effective cancer treatment and maintaining quality of life, we provide personalized care that takes into account the patient's overall well-being and treatment tolerability.
Survivorship Services
After completing multidisciplinary therapy, patients are guided through a comprehensive survivorship meeting. This meeting provides an opportunity to review the treatments received and establish a personalized plan for ongoing surveillance and follow-up care. Our team will assess your current health status, discuss strategies for monitoring your recovery, and help ensure you have the necessary support for long-term well-being following cervical cancer treatment.