Treatment instructions for patients with recurrence in the original irradiated area of ​​cervical cancer

Recurrence after radiotherapy refers to the disappearance of local tumors in cervical cancer patients after radiotherapy. After a period of time when the cervical wound is completely healed, the tumor is found again in the pelvic cavity or distant places. According to the site of recurrence, it can be divided into recurrence within the irradiation area and recurrence outside the irradiation area.

The choice of treatment method for cervical cancer recurrence in the irradiated area is mainly determined by factors such as the patient's physical condition, time and range of metastasis and recurrence, and precautions should be understood in advance during treatment.

1. For patients who relapse after radiotherapy, due to tissue fibrosis and reduced radiosensitivity, it is generally not recommended to continue radiotherapy for patients with relapse in the original irradiated area. If re-radiotherapy is used, the effect is poor and the complication rate is as high as 30% to 50%, which has a serious impact on the patient's quality of life. It is only used for a small number of strictly selected patients with recurrent cancer in the hind limbs.

2. For recurrence within the original irradiation area, surgical treatment is recommended. For recurrence outside the original irradiation area, the commonly used treatment method is a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy to enhance the efficacy and reduce complications. Thermal therapy can also be used to enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy.

3. It is difficult to control the radiation dose when radiotherapy is repeated after recurrence. For patients who have been treated for more than 2 to 3 years since the first radiotherapy, full-dose radiation can be considered according to the specific situation. For patients who relapse within a short period of time after the first radiotherapy, full-dose radiation will not only fail to cure the tumor, but may also cause serious radiation complications.