The cervical cancer treatment is different for limited, non invasive cancer and invasive cancers.

Limited, non invasive cancer: The cervical cancer treatment which is in the outside layer of the cervix involves removal of abnormal cells. The several procedures include:
1. Cone biopsy: A scalpel is used to remove a cone shaped cervical abnormal tissue which is also called as conization.
2. Laser surgery: This cervical cancer treatment involves use of a narrow beam of intense light to kill cancerous or pre-cancerous cells.
3. Loop electrosurgical excision procedure: In this process a wire loop is used to pass the electric current. It cuts like a knife and removes cells from the mouth of the cervix.
4. Cryosurgery: Cancerous cells are killed by freezing in this treatment.
5. Hysterectomy: In this treatment cancerous and the precancerous areas, the cervix and the uterus are removed.
6. Pelvic exenteration: In this kind of surgery involves removal of lower colon, rectum and bladder. The cervix, vagina, ovaries and nearby lymph nodes are removed in women. Urine and stool are passed to a collection bag through artificial openings.

Invasive cancers: More extensive treatment is necessary for this kind of cancer. In invasive cancer the cervical cancer invades deeper than the outside layer of cells on the cervix. The cervical cancer treatment depends on many factors like the stage of the cancer and health condition at the time of treatment. The following are the treatments that could be given:

1. Surgery: Hysterectomy, i.e. removal of the uterus is done in the early stages of the cancer. Simple hysterectomy could be done at an early stage of the cancer in which the cancer, cervix and the uterus is removed and when the invasion is less then 3mm in the cervix. If the invasion is more then 3 mm then, radical hysterectomy is done wherein the cervix, uterus, part of the vagina and lymph nodes in the area is removed.

Although hysterectomy cures the early stage of cervical cancer and prevents it from coming back, but removal of uterus makes it impossible for a woman to become pregnant in future. The side effects of radical hysterectomy are pelvic pain, difficulty with bowel movements and urination which are temporary.

2. Radiation: In radiation therapy high powered energy is used to destroy the cancer cells. Radiation therapy could be given both externally and internally. In external treatment high beam radiation is used and in internal treatment devices filled with radioactive material are placed near the cervix. Radiation therapy is very effective cervical cancer treatment for early stage cervical cancer.

Radiation therapy could be used alone. It could also be used along with chemotherapy before surgery to shrink the tumor. It could be used after surgery to kill the cancer cells if any of them are remaining. The side effects include upset stomach, nausea, irritation in the bladder, diarrhea and narrowing of the vagina. Menopause might start for pre-menopausal women.

3. Chemotherapy: In chemotherapeutic treatment of cervical cancer strong anti-cancer chemicals are used to kill the cancer cells. These drugs are injected in the vein and they travel throughout the body and kill quickly growing cancer cells. Sometimes low doses of chemotherapy are combined with radiation therapy. Higher doses of chemotherapy are used to control advanced cervical cancer which might not be curable. General side-effects include diarrhea, fatigue, and nausea, loss of hair, infertility and menopause in some women.