New studies suggest that non-invasive radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer may be linked with recurrence of the disease and lower survival rates.

Cervical cancer is a dangerous disease that kills thousands of women every year. According to the American Cancer Society, over 13,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed every year in the United States and nearly 4,200 women die yearly from the disease.

Routine pap smears help catch the disease early, which greatly improves the survival chances of affected women. In some cases, a radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer is the method of treatment. The surgery removes the uterus, cervix, and parts of the vagina. In some cases, the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and nearby lymph nodes are removed as well.

A radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer will often be conducted laparoscopically, meaning that minimally invasive techniques are used to conduct the surgery through a small incision in the abdomen. Sometimes, a robotic arm may be used in the procedure to hold tools. Laparoscopic procedures are generally preferred to open procedures because they are associated with a quicker recovery and fewer complications.

“Minimally invasive surgery was adopted as an alternative to open radical hysterectomy before high-quality evidence regarding its impact on survival was available,” said Dr. Jose Alejandro Rauh-Hain of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, according to Web MD.

However, recent studies suggest that patients who are treated with a laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer may have a higher chance of having their cancer return and kill them.

Dr. Rauh-Hain, who helped lead the recent study, was reportedly surprised when the results of his study showed that that non-invasive radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer “negatively affected oncologic outcomes for women with early stage cervical cancer.”

Dr. Rauh-Hain conducted the study with co-lead researcher Dr. Alexander Melamed who works as a gynecological oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

“Personally, I will not offer minimally invasive radical hysterectomy to patients who come to me for cervical cancer treatment, until compelling new research demonstrates a minimally invasive approach that does not carry these risks,” Dr. Melamed said in a MGH news release.

The two doctors’ study analyzed data gathered from two large cancer databases. The goal was the compare survival rates of women who underwent an open or laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer.

The results of the study showed that, over a 45 month median follow up period, the mortality rate was higher in women who underwent a laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer. Specifically, the four-year mortality rate was 9.1 percent in women who underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer compared to a four-year mortality rate in women who underwent an open radical hysterectomy.

Dr. Melamed noted that their study was the second time that an international clinical trial found similar results regarding methods for radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer. Both studies were published this October in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The results of these studies may prompt more gynecological oncologists to follow Dr. Melamed’s lead and return to a more traditional approach when treating women with a radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer.

Join a Free Cervical Cancer after Hysterectomy Lawsuit Investigation

If your cervical cancer progressed after laparoscopic radical hysterectomy, or if your loved one died after such surgery, you may have a legal claim. See if you qualify to file a cervical cancer after hysterectomy lawsuit by filling out the form on this page now.

Learn More