Medical Advice Please - Spread of Cervical Cancer to Lymph Nodes

[VH-MLE]

My beautiful wife was diagnosed with cancer of the cervix 12 months ago. It was staged as a 2A which meant it hadn't spread beyond the local area. She underwent a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy which appeared to have eradicated the tumour, however, a recent CAT and PET scan revealed it was in her para-aortic lymph nodes, but not showing up anywhere else.

The respective nodes were all removed and a subsequent biopsy confirms the nodes are cancerous. Two of the affected nodes were in areas where there has not been previous radiation treatment, however the other nodes are in an area that has been previously irradiated and cannot be irradiated again I am told.

While we do not have a plan of attack just yet (we only had the biopsy results all confirmed today) her surgical oncologist does not seem to think it is worth pursuing any further radiation or chemotherapy at present. He doesn't think either will be particularly effective at this point in time and would like to monitor the disease through CAT/PET scans and take action if it should turn up elsewhere.

We, on the other hand, would like to try and do something to stop this disease. Therefore, if there are any oncology type specialists out there, I would be very grateful for your views on this situation please - particularly whether or not more radiation and/or chemotherapy is an appropriate course of action at this point in time.

Thanks in anticipation.

VH-MLE

[obgraham]

VH, I'm not sure where you're located. If you're on the west side of the pond, I might suggest some places to go for another opinion. Not much help for places in Europe, though.
I suspect that the recommended treatment might depend somewhat on the specific cell type and location of the tumor. (Endo- versus ecto- cervical, for instance.)
I think what your docs are saying is that these nodes may well have been positive for a while, and though it is unlikely that you can eradicate every last cell there, there may well be an opportunity for long term control of the nodes should they progress. Meanwhile you have to weight the risk of the treatment against the benefit.
PM me with more detail if you wish. Good luck to both of you.
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Graham MD