Late-Stage Cervical Cancer Support
When detected early, cervical cancer responds well to treatment. However, a recent study found that late-stage cervical cancer cases are on the rise. This may be due to women skipping important screenings which has only increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Late-stage cervical cancer has a five-year survival rate of 17%.
What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer begins in the cells of the cervix, the lower, narrow end of the uterus that forms a canal between the uterus and vagina. When old or damaged cells in the cervix continue to divide, they create an abnormal growth of cells on the surface of the cervix called cervical dysplasia. This precancerous condition can be detected with regular pap smear testing and destroyed or removed. If not detected, the abnormal cells may turn into cancer cells that grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and surrounding areas.
How is cervical cancer treated?
Treatment for cervical cancer depends on the type of cervical cancer and how far it has spread. Treatments include surgery to remove cancer tissue, chemotherapy to shrink or kill the cancer, and radiation to kill the cancer. An oncologist may pursue one of these treatment avenues or a combination of them depending on the patient’s staging, wishes, and overall health.
How does hospice care support patients with late-stage cervical cancer?
If cervical cancer progresses to a point where treatment is no longer working, a patient may decide with their doctor to shift the goal of care to quality-of-life instead of curative treatment. Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care supports individuals with late-stage cervical cancer as they make that transition to symptom management. The goal of this care is to support the patient’s physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs at the patient’s place of residence, avoiding emergency room visits and lengthy hospital stays.
To learn more about the Crossroads CancerLink program, please call us at 1-888-564-3405.
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