Cervical cancer is the term used to describe tumors that can grow at the lower end of the womb called the cervix; the lower part of the uterus, the place where a baby grows during pregnancy. As far back as the 1960s, it was discovered that cervical cancer is nearly always caused by a long-term infection with particular viruses. Treatment usually consists of surgery (including local excision) in early stages, and chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in more advanced stages of the disease.
Most cervical cancer is caused by a virus called Human Papillomavirus, or HPV. You can get HPV by having sexual contact with someone who has it. Women who have many sexual partners (or who have sex with men who have had many other partners) have a greater risk of being infected. It must however be noted that you can have HVP for years without knowing it. Women who smoke are about twice as likely as non-smokers to get cervical cancer.
Symptoms
Most of the time, early cervical cancer has no symptoms until the cancer has progressed to an advanced stage, however, symptoms that may occur can include:
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods, after intercourse, or after menopause
• Continuous vaginal discharge, which may be pale, watery, pink, brown, bloody, or foul-smelling
• Periods become heavier and last longer than usual
Cervical cancer may spread to the bladder, intestines, lungs, and liver. Patients with cervical cancer do not usually have problems until the cancer is advanced and has spread. Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer may include: Back pain, bone pain or fractures, fatigue, leaking of urine or faeces from the vagina, leg pain, loss of appetite, pelvic pain, single swollen leg, weight loss
Signs and tests
Precancerous changes of the cervix and cervical cancer cannot be seen with the naked eye. Special tests and tools are needed to spot such conditions.
• Cancer screening using the Pap smear can identify precancerous and cancerous cells but do not make a final diagnosis.
• If abnormal changes are found, the cervix is usually examined under magnification; a magnified visual inspection of the cervix aided by using a dilute acetic acid (e.g. vinegar) solution to highlight abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix. This is called Colposcopy.
• Cone biopsy - surgery to remove a sample of abnormal tissue from the cervix for examination - may also be done.
If the woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer, the health care provider will order more tests to determine how far the cancer has spread. This is called staging and may be done through chest x-ray, CT scan of the pelvis, MRI of the pelvis, etc
Treatment
Treatment of cervical cancer depends on the stage of the cancer, the size and shape of the tumor, the woman's age and general health, her desire to have children in the future. Early cervical cancer can be cured by removing or destroying the precancerous or cancerous tissue. There are various surgical ways to do this without removing the uterus or damaging the cervix, so that a woman can still have children in the future.
Types of surgery for early cervical cancer include: Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) -- uses electricity to remove abnormal tissue, Cryotherapy -- freezes abnormal cells, Laser therapy -- uses light to burn abnormal tissue
Treatment for more advanced cervical cancer may include:
• Radical hysterectomy, which removes the uterus and much of the surrounding tissues, including lymph nodes and the upper part of the vagina.
• Pelvic exenteration, an extreme type of surgery in which all of the organs of the pelvis, including the bladder and rectum, are removed.
• Radiation may be used to treat cancer that has spread beyond the pelvis, or cancer that has returned. Radiation therapy is either external or internal.
Cervical cancer is second most common and the fifth deadliest cancer in women. A woman's risk of cervical cancer can be reduced by getting regular pap tests and pelvic exams. If abnormal cervical cell changes are found early, cancer can be prevented by removing or killing the changed cells before they turn into cancer. Now you know!
Revina Acheampong, PR Executive, L'AINE Services