Treatments for stage 3 cervical cancer

The following are treatment options for stage 3 cervical cancer. Your healthcare team will suggest treatments based on your needs and work with you to develop a treatment plan.

Chemoradiation

Chemoradiation is a main treatment for stage 3 cervical cancer. Chemotherapy is given during the same time period as radiation therapy to make the radiation therapy more effective.

Cisplatin or cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil (Adrucil, 5-FU) is the chemotherapy that is used. If cisplatin is used, it is usually given one time each week during the radiation therapy schedule. If cisplatin plus 5-FU is used, it is usually given every 4 weeks during radiation therapy.

Brachytherapy (a type of internal radiation therapy) is usually given during and after external radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy

You may be offered radiation therapy for stage 3 cervical cancer. Women who have radiation therapy will have both external radiation therapy and brachytherapy. In most cases radiation therapy is given with chemotherapy (chemoradiation), but in some cases it may be used alone as the main treatment for stage 3 cervical cancer.

Clinical trials

Talk to your doctor about clinical trials open to women with cervical cancer in Canada. Clinical trials look at new ways to prevent, find and treat cancer. Find out more about clinical trials.

Expert review and references

  • American Cancer Society. Cervical Cancer. 2016: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/treating.html.
  • Klopp AH, Eifel PJ, Berek JS, Konstantinopoulos PA . Cancer of the cervix, vagina and vulva. DeVita VT Jr, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg SA. Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 10th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2015: 72:1013-1047.
  • Kunos CA, Abdul-Karim FW, Dizon DS, Debernardo R . Cervix uteri. Chi DS, Dizon DS, Berchuck A, and Yashar C (eds.). Principles and Practice of Gynecologic Oncology. 7th ed. Philadelphia: 2017: 20: 467 - 510.
  • National Cancer Institute. Cervical Cancer Treatment (PDQ®) Health Professional Version. 2018: http://www.cancer.gov/.
  • Oleszewski K . Cervical cancer. Yarbro CH, Wujcki D, Holmes Gobel B, (eds.). Cancer Nursing: Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning; 2018: 50: 1397 - 1421.