Recurrence after Treatment of Cervical Cancer 

A small amount of cancer recurrence can be treated with radiation therapy if it has not been performed before. Patients with prior radiation therapy may be able to undergo a pelvic exenteration which is a surgical procedure that removes the cancer and pelvic organs. This is only done if cancer cells are not detected anywhere else in the body. Approximately one-third of recurrent cancer patients will survive cancer free five years after treatment.

Cancer cells that have spread outside the pelvic area and were not removed by surgery are difficult to detect. This type of recurrent cancer is called micrometastases. 

Some patients can experience a recurrence of cervical cancer after radiation therapy. Once a patient has received prior treatment of radiation therapy, additional radiation therapy cannot be safely administered to the same area. These patients can also undergo a pelvic exenteration as long as the cancer has not spread elsewhere in the body. Approximately one-third of recurrent cancer patients will survive cancer free five years after treatment.