Standard Treatment Before surgery, whole-pelvis external beam radiation therapy (total dose of 4,000 cGy) is given in divided doses, five days a week, over five weeks. After a two-week break, this is followed by a three-day application of radioactive cesium to the upper vagina, cervix and uterus . Six weeks later, an abdominal hysterectomy is performed, along with removal of both tubes and ovaries, selective pelvic and aortic lymph node sampling and cytological assessment of the abdominal cavity.
Alternative therapy for a woman in good medical condition is an abdominal hysterectomy, removal of the tubes and ovaries, removal of all the pelvic lymph nodes , and surgical staging followed by pelvic radiation.
