Cervical Cancer

About 240 women in South Carolina will get a diagnosis of cervical cancer this year. It’s not a common cancer, which is why it’s important that you be seen by a specialized and highly experienced team if you’ve been told that you have cervical cancer. As the only NCI-designated cancer center in South Carolina, MUSC Hollings Cancer Center can offer you the most advanced, cutting-edge treatment, including access to clinical trials of the latest medications and treatment methods.

Our cervical cancer specialists include physicians who are double-board certified in obstetrics & gynecology and gynecologic oncology. This means they’ve sought out additional training specific to gynecologic cancers, and they’ve demonstrated their expertise through a rigorous application and testing process. Our cervical cancer team also includes radiation oncologists, pathologists, a nurse practitioner who specializes in women’s cancers, a nurse navigator dedicated to women’s cancers and a full suite of patient services.

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is cancer that begins in the cervix. The cervix is the lower end of the uterus, and it connects the uterus, or womb, to the vagina, or birth canal. Cervical cancer can begin in the inner part of the cervix, called the endocervix, but most cervical cancer begins in the ectocervix, the outer part of the cervix that your doctor can see during a gynecologic exam.

Most cervical cancers are caused by long-term infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). This is a common infection — so common that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that almost everyone in the U.S. will get HPV at some point. Usually the infection clears, but sometimes it can go on to cause cancer. About 13,000 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year.

The HPV vaccine, which is available at Hollings and across the state through our HPV Vaccination Van, can prevent about 90% of these cases from occurring. Recent research has shown that the rates of cervical cancer deaths in women under 25, the first cohort to grow up with the HPV vaccine, have declined significantly. 

Cervical cancer rates have been going down for many years but in 2012 that continuous decline stopped. Research by a Hollings epidemiologist shows that, since then, the rates of cervical cancer in women in their early 30s started increasing by about 3% a year. Hollings encourages women to speak with their gynecologist or primary care doctor to ensure they’re getting screened on a timely basis.

Have more questions about cervical cancer? Check out our answers to common questions.

Cervical cancer symptoms

Cervical cancer often doesn’t show symptoms at first, which is why regular screening is an important part of your health care routine. Possible early warning signs of cervical cancer can include:

• Vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods or after menopause
• Abnormal or heavy menstruation
• Abnormal discharge from the vagina
• Pain during intercourse

Symptoms of more advanced cervical cancer might include:

• Backache
• Fatigue
• Pain in the belly
• Pain or bleeding during urination or bowel movements

If you notice these symptoms, it’s important to talk to your doctor to find out what’s causing them.

Cervical cancer treatment

People diagnosed with cervical cancer have excellent chances of survival when the cancer is found at an early stage. Regular screening, with Pap smear, HPV test or both — called co-testing — can find most cervical cancer. When cervical cancer is found at an early stage, the five-year survival rate is 92%.

Your treatment options will depend upon the stage at which your cancer is found, whether you are interested in fertility preservation and your risk of the cancer returning. You might also be eligible for a cervical cancer clinical trial. Clinical trials offer the possibility of getting new treatments that will one day be considered standard. Whether you receive a new medication or simply allow your progress to be observed over time, participating in a clinical trial adds to our knowledge of how to treat cancer.

Breakthrough immunotherapy treatments for cervical cancer

• Recent clinical trials in cervical cancer showed the benefit that combining immunotherapy with existing chemotherapy regimens can have on your response and overall outcome.
• Hollings is actively enrolling cervical cancer patients to provide you access to the latest clinical trials. This includes a national trial that seeks to understand the benefits of combining immunotherapy with radiation therapy.
• Hollings offers patients who have a cancer recurrence new hope using combination immunotherapy after the completion of chemotherapy.

New treatments for cervical cancer approved by the Food and Drug Administration

By providing you access to breakthrough treatments, Hollings can offer you better care and the best possible outcome for your cancer.

• In fall 2021, Hollings began treating cervical cancer patients with an approved antibody drug conjugate (ADC), called tisotumab vedotin-tftv, which targets cancerous cells without harming healthy cells.

Minimally invasive surgery for cervical cancer

Our team is trained in the use of laparoscopic surgery and the da Vinci Surgical System, a robot that helps to increase surgical precision. These techniques are used for:

• Early pelvic mass evaluations
• Staging and treatment for early endometrial, ovarian and cervical cancer
• Robotic-assisted laparoscopic lymph node assessment

If surgery will be a part of your treatment plan, check out our Gynecology Oncology Surgery Guide to get a better understanding of what to expect and how to prepare.

Hysterectomies tailored to your needs

• Simple hysterectomy — removal of the cervix and uterus
• Radical hysterectomy — removal of the uterus, cervix, tissue surrounding the cervix and the upper vagina
• Fertility-sparing options:
  • Fertility-sparing surgeries are an option for Stage 1 cancer patients based on the cell type and the functioning of your ovaries.
  • For patients with lesions of 3 millimeters or smaller, a cold knife cone is an option. A wedge of tissue in the cervix will be removed, leaving the rest of the cervix intact.
  • For patients with lesions of 2 centimeters or smaller, a radical trachelectomy is possible. A large portion of the cervix, along with surrounding tissue including part of the vagina, is removed. The shortened portion of the cervix is attached to the uterus and vagina. Pregnancies following this surgery are considered high-risk but can result in healthy deliveries.

Chemotherapy treatment for cervical cancer

• Using state-of-the-art technology and relying on our experts, Hollings can tailor chemotherapy treatments to your specific needs.

Radiation therapy for cervical cancer

• Specialized radiation oncology services to target therapy and decrease side effects.
• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in addition to traditional external beam radiation.
• South Carolina’s first MRI-guided interstitial brachytherapy program for the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer or vaginal recurrence of cervical cancer. This program is also used to treat other gynecologic cancers.

Refer a cervical cancer patient

To refer a cervical cancer patient to Hollings, please call patient referral coordinator Morgan Krohn (843-985-0580). If you are a referring provider, please submit our GYN Oncology Referral Form.

Nurse navigator support

You and your doctor will discuss the pros and cons of each option and decide on the best course of treatment for you. Our gynecologic cancer nurse navigators, Brooke Winkler, MSN, RN, at our Charleston area locations and Antonio Rivera, BSN, RN, OCN, at Tidelands, will help you understand what to expect during treatment and answer questions you may have.