Download Treatment of Advanced Cervical Cancer and Palliative Care of

Treatment of
Advanced
Cervical Cancer
and Palliative Care
of Patients
Dr. Martha Jacob
PATH
Video transcript is located below each slide.
Treatment of Advanced Cervical Cancer and Palliative Care of Patients—1
How cervical cancer develops
-------------------------------- 15–20 years --------------------------------
Source: Wright TC and Schiffman M. Adding a Test for Human Papillomavirus DNA to Cervical-Cancer Screening.
The New England Journal of Medicine. 2003;348:489–490.
Transcript: There’s compelling evidence to date that human papillomavirus
infection is a necessary cause for cervical cancer. The majority of the women who
get infected with human papillomavirus infection clear the infection spontaneously.
But for a small group of women, this infection persists, and then progresses to
precancerous lesions, which, if left untreated, can go on to develop cervical cancer.
Treatment of Advanced Cervical Cancer and Palliative Care of Patients—2
Invasive cancer: common
where there is no screening
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Cancer symptoms only become evident
late in the course of disease.
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Cancer treatment greatly improves
survival rates, except for the most
advanced stages of disease.

Stage of the cancer determines
treatment—typically surgery or radiation,
with or without chemotherapy.
Invasive cancer is a common outcome when there is no screening. Cancer
symptoms include vaginal discharge, bleeding, and pain. However, these symptoms
become apparent and evident only later in the course of the disease. When
available, cancer treatment greatly improves survival rates, except where the
disease is diagnosed in the most advanced cases. The stage of the patient’s cancer
determines the treatment options. Typically, it is through surgery or radiotherapy,
with or without chemotherapy.
Treatment of Advanced Cervical Cancer and Palliative Care of Patients—3
Improving treatment outcomes
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Providers must be trained to recognize
symptoms and signs.
Treatment is often available only in
central facilities.
Radiotherapy is key to successful
treatment.
Providers must coordinate with
caregivers at home.
Patients need access to treatment over
the long-term.
Health care providers need training to recognize these symptoms and signs, and
treatment for invasive cancer requires specialized skills often available only in
tertiary facilities. Basic radiotherapy capabilities are key to successful treatment.
Providers in tertiary hospitals must coordinate with follow-up caregivers in the
patient’s community, including members of the family. Patients need ongoing
access to treatment over the long term.
Treatment of Advanced Cervical Cancer and Palliative Care of Patients—4
Palliative care and
pain management
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Palliative care seeks to avoid unnecessary
suffering during the final stages of
disease.
Pain control is a human right, but is often
neglected.
Pain can be controlled with a combination
of medical and non-medical interventions.
Patients and caregivers need training for
effective palliative care, including end-oflife counseling.
Palliative care and pain management is part of the treatment for cancers, including
cervical cancers. The goal of palliative care is to avoid unnecessary suffering during
the final stages of the disease. Pain control is a vital component of palliative care
and is also a basic human right. Yet, it is often neglected in cancer control
programs. Pain can be effectively controlled, using a combination of medical and
non-medical interventions. Patients and caregivers need training for effective
palliative care, including end-of-life counseling.
Treatment of Advanced Cervical Cancer and Palliative Care of Patients—5