The five-year survival rate for cervical cancer in Stage 2B is about 75 to 78 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. This rate is a significantly better than the 47- to 50-percent survival rate for Stage 3 cervical cancer but not as good as that of Stage 1 cervical cancer, which ranges from 80 to 95 percent.
Definition
Stage 2 cervical cancer is distinguished from Stage 1 depending on whether the cancer has spread beyond the cervix. If the cancer has not spread beyond the cervix, the cancer is considered Stage 1. If it has spread, it's considered Stage 2.
Within Stage 2, two further classifications are made: Stage 2A and Stage 2B. The cancer is considered to be at Stage 2A if it has spread to the upper two-thirds of the vagina but not to tissues surrounding the uterus. The cancer is classified as Stage 2B when it has affected tissues around the uterus.
Treatment
Standard treatment for Stage 2B cervical cancer is usually a combination of radiation and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy may include external radiation from a machine that aims radiation at the cancer-affected area and internal radiation therapy, in which radioactive material is placed inside the body near the cancer.
Side Effects
Radiation and chemotherapy treatments for Stage 2B cervical cancer may cause fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Chemotherapy may cause hair loss. It can also lead to an increased chance of infection and abnormal bleeding or bruising. Sometimes it may cause infertility or premature menopause.
Radiation therapy can cause scar tissue in the vagina, resulting in painful sexual intercourse. Other side effects include premature menopause, sunburn-like skin damage, hip fractures, low white or red blood cell counts and bladder problems.
Clinical Trials
Patients may want to consider a clinical trial. Such a trial may provide access to cutting-edge cancer therapies that may or may not work better than the standard treatment. Participating in a clinical trial may include receiving either the experimental treatment being tested in the trial or the standard (control) treatment. You can find clinical trials by checking the National Cancer Institute's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry (see Additional Resources).
After Treatment
Your doctor will probably conduct further testing once your treatment is complete to determine its effectiveness and to monitor your condition. If at some point, tests determine the cancer has recurred, your doctor may recommend other treatment options that may include surgery, further radiation and chemotherapy or a clinical trial.
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