Cervical Cancer Surgery

Advanced and minimally invasive surgery options cervical cancer.

The most important step in treating cervical cancer is often surgery to remove a cancerous tumor and tissue. Our surgeons are experts who have extensive experience and specialize in treating cervical cancer.

Types of cervical cancer surgery

Whenever possible, our surgeons perform minimally invasive surgery by making small incisions instead of large ones. This provides the same benefits and leads to faster recovery and less discomfort. Depending on the location and amount of cancer in the body, treatment may be performed in one of several ways. 

• Cryosurgery involves inserting a special probe into the tumor or cancerous tissue. Then the tip of the probe is frozen, killing cancer cells. This procedure may be used to treat abnormal cells in the cervix that may turn into cancer.
• Cold-knife conization is a surgical procedure that uses a sharp knife to remove a tumor or a cone-shaped area of cancerous tissue. 
• Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) is done by using a thin wire loop as a knife. An electrical current produces heat that passes through the loop and removes the cancerous tissue or a tumor.  
• Laser surgery is done by using a narrow beam of intense light that acts like a knife. The laser beam makes bloodless cuts to remove cancerous tissue or a tumor.  
• Laparoscopic hysterectomy involves creating a small incision in the navel or abdomen. The surgeon places a tiny video camera and surgical tools through a small incision to remove the cervix and uterus. The surgeon uses a device to control the tools as he watches a monitor with 3D images. The uterus will be removed through small incisions in the abdomen.
• Laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy is done by making small incisions in the abdominal area. Inside the vagina, incisions will be made to detach part of the cervix and uterus. They will be removed through the vaginal opening.
• Robotic hysterectomy is one of the most effective and least invasive types of hysterectomy. This type of surgery allows the surgeon an excellent view of the delicate area and ways to work around it. In this robot-assisted procedure, a small “keyhole” incision is made in the naval or abdomen and a camera and surgical tools are inserted. The surgeon uses a device to control the tools as he watches a monitor with 3D images. The instruments can move in a circular manner to remove the uterus without additional incisions.
• Vaginal hysterectomy involves removing the cervix and uterus through an incision in the vagina. No abdominal incision is made. The surgeon will use long instruments inserted into the vagina to separate the uterus from the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and vagina. The surgeon may also perform robotic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy. 
• Abdominal hysterectomy requires making a long incision in the abdomen to remove cancerous tissue and organs. Typically, most women will be able to return to work and daily activities after six weeks. 
• Modified radical hysterectomy involves removing the cervix, uterus, upper part of the vagina, and the ligaments and tissues near these organs. Lymph nodes nearby may be also removed. For this surgery, a vertical incision or a less noticeable, low “bikini” incision will be made. 
• Radical hysterectomy is done to remove the cervix, uterus, both ovaries, and both fallopian tubes. In addition, nearby tissue and lymph nodes may be removed. A vertical incision or a less noticeable, low “bikini” incision will be made. 

We use special technologies to vaporize the tumor and remove any tumor cells that we find during surgery. If cervical cancer has spread, your surgeon may remove the lymph nodes in the nearby areas. Our surgeons are experts in minimally invasive sentinel lymph node biopsy, a procedure that detects microscopic cancer cells that may have spread to the lymph nodes. 

Sentinel lymph node biopsy identifies the lymph nodes most likely to be affected, making it possible to remove fewer lymph nodes, improving recovery time and reducing the risk for lymphedema.