Fire Both Barrels

Five new studies show both chemotherapy and radiation are needed to treat cervical cancer

For just the fourth time in the past 10 years, the National Cancer Institute last week called for an immediate change in the way doctors treat a particular type of cancer. The disease in question is cancer of the cervix, located at the opening of the uterus. Researchers at the institute recommended attacking moderately advanced cases with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation rather than the current standard of radiation alone. This new thinking is based on the results of five as-yet-unpublished studies of 1,900 women with cervical cancer, which show that simultaneous chemotherapy and radiation reduced the women's risk of...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!