Radiation Therapy for Cancer of the Uterine Cervix

Abstract

Meticulously applied intracavitary radium therapy is still the best form of radiotherapy for localized cancer on and around the cervix. External irradiation (primarily supervoltage roentgenotherapy because of its skin-sparing effect and better systemic and organ tolerance) must be skillfully combined with intracavitary radium therapy. This type of irradiation assumes an increasingly important role in more advanced stages of the disease. Close teamwork between gynecologist and radiotherapist is the key to the planning of treatment units adapted to individual cases.