Cervical Cancer
Treatment in Malaysia
At Onco Life Centre, our team takes a personalized approach to treating cervical cancer. We focus not only on treating the disease, but also on supporting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our patients every step of the way.
There are 2 main types of cervical cancer according to the cell origin of the cancer. Other types of cervical cancer are rare.
Squamous cell carcinoma makes up about 80% of all cervical cancers and starts in the cells on the outer surface covering of the cervix.
Adenocarcinoma makes up 20% of all cervical cancer and starts in the glandular cells that line the lower birth canal.
Why Choose Onco Life Centre?
Expertise You Can Trust, Innovation You Can Count On
Over 20 Years of
Experience
Our highly-qualified consultant oncologists boast extensive experience treating a vast array of cancers. Their training at prestigious institutions in Australia and the UK ensures exceptional expertise that you can trust.
Collaboration with
Leading Genomics Experts
For complex cases, our oncologists collaborate with leading genomics specialists in the US. This ensures access to the latest treatments for all cancer types.
Unmatched
patient experience
You and your healthcare experience are at the centre of what we do at Onco Life Centre. Our core values of Empathy, Dedication, Professionalism and Service Quality have driven us since our earliest days.
Treatment Methods
Treatment recommendations by our cervical cancer specialists at Onco Life Centre are tailored and depends on several factors, including the type and stage of cancer, possible side effects, the woman’s preferences and concerns about fertility and overall health.
For cervical cancer that has not spread beyond the cervix, these procedures are often used:
Radical hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus, cervix, upper vagina, and the tissue around the cervix and extensive pelvic lymph node dissection.
Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy or removal of both fallopian tubes and both ovaries is often done.
Exenteration is the removal of the uterus, vagina, lower colon, rectum, or bladder if cervical cancer has spread to these organs after radiation therapy. Exenteration is rarely required.
The most common type of radiation treatment is called external-beam radiation therapy. When radiation treatment is given using implants, it is called brachytherapy. This combined approach is the most effective to reduce the chances the cancer will come back.
For early stages of cervical cancer, a combination of radiation therapy and low-dose chemotherapy is employed to increase the effectiveness of the radiation treatment and curing the cancer without surgery.
The types of systemic therapies include:
1) Chemotherapy for cervical cancer
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells, usually by keeping the cancer cells from growing, dividing, and making more cells. A chemotherapy regimen, or schedule
, usually consists of a specific number of cycles given over a set period of time.
2) Targeted therapy for cervical cancer
Targeted therapy is a treatment that targets the cancer’s specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival. This type of treatment blocks the growth and spread of cancer cells while limiting damage to healthy cells. Not all tumors have the same targets.
To find the most effective treatment, our cervical cancer oncologists at Onco Life Centre will run tumor profiling tests to identify the genes, proteins and other factors in your tumor.
When cervical cancer has relapsed after treatment, or if cervical cancer has spread beyond the pelvis, called metastatic cervical cancer (stage 4 cervical cancer), it can be treated with a platinum-based chemotherapy combined with anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy.
Please click here to learn more about Targeted Therapy
3) Immunotherapy for cervical cancer
Immunotherapy is designed to boost the body’s natural defenses to fight cancer. The PD-1 pathway is critical in the immune system’s ability to control cancer growth. Some cancer cells express the PD-L1 protein, which binds to the PD-1 protein on T cells. T cells are immune system cells that kill certain cells, like cancer cells. When the PD-1 and PD-L1 proteins bind, the T cell does not attack the cancer cell.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are PD-1 inhibitor and block the binding between PD-1 and PD-L1, which allows the T cells to find and attack the cancer cells. Immune checkpoint inhibitors can be used to treat recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer.
Please click here to learn more about Immunotherapy.
Figo Stages of Cervical Cancer
Staging is based on results of a physical exam, imaging scans, and biopsies.
Stage 1 cervical cancer
The cancer has spread from the cervix lining into the deeper tissue but is still confined in the cervix.
Stage 2 cervical cancer
The cancer has spread beyond the uterus to nearby areas, but it is still inside the pelvic area.
– Stage 2a cervical cancer
The tumor is limited to the upper two-thirds of the vagina and has not spread to the parametrial area.
– Stage 2b cervical cancer
The tumor has spread to the parametrial area but has not reached the pelvic wall.
Stage 3 cervical cancer
The tumor has involved the lower third of the vagina, and has spread to the pelvic wall, and/or involving kidney and regional lymph nodes.
Stage 4 cervical cancer
– Stage 4a cervical cancer
The cancer has spread to the bladder or rectum, but it has not spread to distant parts of the body.
– Stage 4b cervical cancer
The cancer has spread to distant parts of the body.
Transparency You Can Trust
At Onco Life Centre, we understand the financial burden associated with Cervical Cancer treatment. We are committed to transparency and will provide you with a personalized cost estimate during your initial consultation. Here is an estimate:
Chemotherapy
At Onco Life Centre, the cost for treating cervical cancer using chemotherapy for most of our patients is around MYR6,000 per cycle.
Targeted Therapy
Adding in Targeted Therapy can go up from MYR8,000, depending on the specific type of targeted therapy drug used.
Immunotherapy
Cost of immunotherapy for cervical cancer can range from MYR10,000 and above depending on the specific type and dosage of immunotherapy drug used.
Prevention
Cervical cancer can be prevented through regular screening as well as by receiving the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for prevention of cervical cancer caused by HPV for people between 9 and 45 years old.
Additional actions people can take to help prevent cervical cancer include:
- Delay first sexual intercourse until the late teens or older
- Limit the number of sex partners
- Practicing safe sex by using condoms
- Quit smoking
Screening recommendations for cervical cancer
Different organizations have looked at the scientific evidence, risks, and benefits of cervical cancer screening. The American Society of Clinical Oncology recommends that all women receive at least 1 HPV test to screen for cervical cancer in their lifetime.
Ideally, women 25 to 65 years old should receive an HPV test once every 5 years. Women 65 and older or who had a hysterectomy may stop screening if their HPV test results have been mostly negative over the previous 15 years.
Symptoms and Signs
The signs or symptoms of cervical cancer are:
- Light bleeding between or following periods
- Menstrual bleeding that is longer and heavier than usual
- Bleeding after intercourse
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Bleeding after menopause
- Unexplained, persistent pelvic and/or back pain
Diagnosis
The following tests may be used to diagnose cervical cancer:
Pap Smear & HPV typing test
A HPV test is done on a sample of cells from the patient’s cervix. HPV can be tested at the same time as a Pap test or after Pap test results show abnormal changes to the cervix. HPV16 and18 are seen more often in women with cervical cancer and may help confirm a diagnosis.
Colposcopy
The colposcope magnifies the cells of the cervix and vagina, similar to a microscope. It gives the doctor a lighted, magnified view of the tissues of the vagina and the cervix.
Biopsy
A biopsy is the removal of a small amount of tissue for examination under a microscope and enables a definite diagnosis to be made.
Computed tomography (CT) scan
A CT scan combines the pictures of the inside of your body into a detailed, 3-dimensional image that shows the tumor.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
An MRI uses magnetic fields to produce detailed images of the body and can be used to measure the tumor’s size.
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
A small amount of a radioactive sugar substance is injected into the patient’s body. Cells that use the most energy take up this sugar substance. Because cancer tends to use energy actively, it absorbs more of the radioactive substance. A scanner then detects this substance to produce images of the inside of the body.
Your Journey
Start Your Recovery
Our dedicated Patient Navigator will assist you with appointment scheduling. Contact us at +6012-3993260 (Call or Whatsapp ).
First Consultation
On appointment day, bring along all the medical reports and your identity documents, ie. identity card or passport. Our team will help you organize the medical reports for our oncologist to review. Our oncologist will discuss the treatment plan with you. Tele-consult is available for overseas patients.
Treatment Day
Come to our center on an agreed date and time for the treatment. Our team will take good care of you. You will be discharged on the same day. Yes, you will get to go home after every treatment visit as no overnight admission is required.
Stay on Track
Our dedicated patient navigator will be following up with you post treatment to check on your condition, to ensure that you are doing well. You will receive a reminder message on your phone for the next appointment date.
Credentials You Can Trust
Ministry of Health Malaysia
Onco Life Centre is fully licensed as an Oncology Consultation and Treatment Centre (License No: 931401-00214-03/2024)
DR. CHRISTINA NG VAN TZE
MBBS (MELB), FELLOW RACP (AUS)
DR. JOSEPH KANIANTHRA JOSEPH
MBBCH, BAO (IRE), MRCP (UK)
I have been coming to OncoLife centre with my mother. She is under the care of Dr Christina since diagnosis and has been on targeted therapy and is doing well. Dr Christina Ng has been guiding my mum through her treatment and is quick to suggest changes if needed. She is also very ready to hear our concerns and will always take our preference into consideration. Communication with the staff is good and we can readily ask them questions at any time. The atmosphere of the clinic is also pleasant which makes waiting around not such a chore. Parking is readily available in the building. Overall, Onco Life is very patient centred and I am very thankful to Dr Christina and her team for the support they have given my mum and the family.
My mother was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer about 6 months ago at a hospital in KL. We were all very scared, worried and felt very lost at the same time. A friend suggested that we seek advice from Dr Christina Ng at Onco Life Centre. During our first consultation, Dr Christina had explained patiently to us that my mother has stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and it has spread to her liver and lung. She had suggested for my mother to promptly start on combination chemotherapy. We were initially worried about chemotherapy side effects. Dr Christina had explained to us that she would carefully select drugs which my mother would likely tolerate well. Much to our surprise, my mother was very well & energetic throughout her chemotherapy course. After 3 months of chemotherapy, she did a CT scan which showed a significant reduction in all tumor deposits in pancreas, liver, lungs & peritoneum. We are grateful towards Dr Christina Ng & her Team for giving us a great hope.
My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer more than one year ago. He started treatment at another hospital but his condition worsened and he became fully dependent on oxygen support over 6 months. That was when we became very anxious and worried. We wanted to seek a second opinion and thus found Dr Christina Ng at Onco Life Centre. Dr Christina immediately adjusted his immunotherapy treatment protocol whilst actively treating his worsening infection. After 4 months under the care of Dr Christina, his condition has improved significantly and he is now totally off oxygen support. We are grateful that he is being given a new lease of life.
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