Jennifer Matthews: At thirty-two years old, Lisa Ferreira was ready to begin a new phase in her life.
Lisa Ferreira: I'm recently married. We both wanted to start having a family soon.
Jennifer Matthews: Then she learned she had invasive cervical cancer. The traditional surgery would leave her infertile.
Lisa Ferreira: That would've -- it would've been very tough.
Jennifer Matthews: That's when Lisa heard about a new procedure called a "Radical Vaginal Trachelectomy". Doctors remove the cancerous areas but leave the uterus and part of the cervix.
Alexander Burnett: And that way patients, young patients, who haven't had children, or desire to have more children, potentially have that option left.
Lisa Ferreira: Hearing about this was almost like a lifesaver. Now, hopefully I'll be able to have children and just to go on.
Jennifer Matthews: Lisa spent just two days in the hospital -- half as long as hysterectomy patients. And more important to her, doctors say she'll be ready to conceive just as soon as she heals.
Lisa Ferreira: Both my husband and I are over 30, so we really don't want to wait. And luckily we shouldn't have to wait too long.
Jennifer Matthews: And her mother won't have to wait too long to be a grandmother.
This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.
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