Cancer Treatment in Pasadena, CA
At Pasadena CyberKnife Center, we believe there’s always hope in the fight against cancer. Our state-of-the-art cancer treatment center in Pasadena, CA, provides world-class CyberKnife radiation therapy treatment to patients throughout the greater Los Angeles area, and we work hard to make treatment fit into the lifestyles of our patients. If you’ve been diagnosed with cervical cancer, we’re here to help – and we’ll work with you no matter what type or stage you’re fighting.
Types of Cervical Cancer
While almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), cervical cancer is divided into two main types based on the kind of cell from which the cancer originates. The two main types of cervical cancer are:
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma: This is the most common form, making up 80% to 90% of
cervical cancer cases. This condition starts in the squamous cells, which are thin, flat
cells lining the bottom of the uterus. - Adenocarcinoma: Accounting for only 10% to 20% of cases, this form starts in the cells
of glands lining the upper part of the cervix.
In some cases, both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma cells may be present in an individual case. While there are other forms of cervical cancer, these are exceedingly rare.
Stages of Cervical Cancer
As with most forms of cancer, doctors use a four-part staging system to assess the severity of cervical cancer. The higher the stage of the cancer, the more advanced and serious the condition. Staging is assessed using three variables:
- Tumor: The size of the original tumor
- Node: How many lymph nodes cancer cells have spread to
- Metastasis: The extent to which the cancer has spread through the body
Your doctor considers these three variables holistically to determine the overall stage of your
cancer. The stages of cervical cancer run as follows:
- Stage I: At this stage, the cancer is either only in the cells of the lining of the cervix
(cancer in situ) or has spread to deeper layers but is still confined to the uterus. In any
case, it has not spread to lymph nodes or other organs.- Stage IA: The cancer is only visible under a microscope.
- Stage IB: Doctors can see the cancer without a microscope, but it is still confined
to the cervix.
- Stage II: The cancer has spread to nearby areas like the vagina or the tissue around the
cervix, but has not infected lymph nodes or distant sites.- Stage IIB: This occurs when the cancer has spread to the tissue next to the
cervix, called the parametrial area.
- Stage IIB: This occurs when the cancer has spread to the tissue next to the
- Stage III: This stage applies when the tumor has spread to the pelvic wall, involves the
lower third of the vagina, causes the swelling of a kidney, and/or stops a kidney from
functioning. Any or all of these conditions constitutes stage III cervical cancer. In any
case, no lymph nodes are involved and cancer cells have not spread to distant sites. - Stage IV is described as follows:
- Stage IVA: The cancer has spread beyond the cervix to the bladder or the
rectum. It may or may not have spread to lymph nodes, but has not spread to
distant part of the body. - Stage IVB: This applies to any cervical cancer that has spread to distant parts of
the body
- Stage IVA: The cancer has spread beyond the cervix to the bladder or the
Contact Your Los Angeles, CA Radiation Therapy Clinic
Battling cancer can be one of life’s most devastating, draining challenges – but at Pasadena CyberKnife Center, we’re on your side. We are committed to providing effective, convenient cancer treatment to patients no matter what they’re up against, and we’re here to help if you’ve been diagnosed with cervical cancer. Contact us today to learn more about treatment and schedule your consultation. We look forward to helping you overcome cancer and reclaim the healthy, normal life you deserve