Advantages and disadvantages of radiotherapy for cervical cancer

Radiotherapy is a commonly used method in tumor treatment, and its role in treatment has become increasingly prominent. Clinical studies have found that about 70% of cancer patients need radiotherapy during the treatment of cancer, and about 40% of cancers can be cured by radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy is one of the main methods of treating cervical cancer. So what are the benefits of radiotherapy for cervical cancer patients?

Generally speaking, radiotherapy for cervical cancer is easy to operate and has a wide range of indications. It can be used for clinical cases of all stages, whether in the early stage or in the locally advanced stage. It has a high efficacy. The efficacy of radiotherapy for early stage cervical cancer is similar to that of surgery. The 5-year survival rate of advanced (stage III) cervical cancer can reach 30% to 50%. Even if it cannot be cured, radiotherapy has a good palliative effect, can alleviate symptoms and prolong life.

Of course, radiotherapy also has some disadvantages. For example, expensive radiotherapy equipment and professionally trained technicians are necessary factors for radiotherapy. 2% to 5% of cervical cancer is insensitive to radiotherapy, and 5% to 10% of patients may experience rectal bladder reactions to varying degrees.

Tips: Radiation therapy

Tumor radiotherapy is a method of treating malignant tumors by using radiation such as α, β, γ rays produced by radioactive isotopes and x-rays, electron beams, proton beams and other particle beams produced by various x-ray therapy machines or accelerators.