Cervical Cancer

In 2008 it was estimated that 529,000 incident cases and 275,000 deaths due to carcinoma of the uterine cervix (cervical cancer) occurred annually worldwide. About 88% of this burden is borne by low and middle income (LMI) countries where cervical cancer is the leading malignancy among women. 

Patients with cervical cancer are usually referred to the radiation oncologist either for definitive radiotherapy (usually in more advanced cases) or to consider post-operative radiotherapy following a radical surgical procedure. Radiotherapy is an essential component of cervical cancer management which includes External Beam Radiotherapy and Brachytherapy.

The International Atomic Energy Agency as part of its mandate promote the safe, effective and quality use of radiotherapy in its member states specially radiotherapy professionals working in centres with limited resources and treating a large number of patients with cervical cancer daily. The Applied Radiation Biology and Radiotherapy section is placing special emphasis on cervical cancer in published guidelines, regional training courses and coordinated research projects on the subject. The agency also provides technical support and guidelines in the transition from 2D to volumetric image based 3-D high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy for cervical cancer.