Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that affects the cells in the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. It occurs when the cells on the cervix begin to change and become abnormal, often due to prolonged infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection. This cancer slowly develops in your body. Cervical cancer can be prevented and treated if detected early.
What is the symptoms of Cervical Cancer?
As cervical cancer has different stages, early stages of it often don’t show symptoms, making detection difficult. As cervical cancer progresses, the warning signs of cervical cancer start showing.
- Abnormal Vaginal Discharge: You may notice a watery or bloody discharge that may be heavy or have a bad smell.
- Unusual Vaginal Bleeding: Bleeding after sex can be a sign of.
- Painful Sex: Pain during sex.
If cervical cancer has spread to nearby tissues or organs, the following symptoms may occur:
1. Difficulties while urinating, sometimes you may notice blood in the urine
2. Pain or bleeding from the rectum during bowel movements
3. Feeling weak or tired
4. Unintentional weight loss
3. Loss of Appetite
4. Feeling unwell
5. Dull back pain
6. Leg swelling
7. Pain in the pelvic or abdominal area.
Types of Cervical Cancer
There are two main types of cervical cancer, which are based on the cell of origin. These two types of cervical cancer include:
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of cancer that arises from the squamous cells that line the outer layer of the cervix. Characterized by their thin, flat, and scale-like appearance under microscopic examination, these cells are the origin of the most common form of cervical cancer.
- Adenocarcinoma: Adenocarcinoma of the cervix originates in the glandular cells lining the endocervix, the innermost part of the cervix that connects to the uterus. Research suggests that this type of cancer may be more aggressive than others.
Other than these two types, Adenosquamous carcinoma is a rare and uncommon type of cervical cancer. This contains a combination of both squamous and glandular cancer cells. Despite its unique composition, adenosquamous carcinoma is typically treated using a similar approach to that of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.
Understanding the type of cervical cancer is essential for determining the best course of treatment.
Cause of Cervical Cancer
The primary cause of cervical cancer is Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection. HPV spreads through:
- Anal sex
- Oral sex
- Vaginal sex
Most people contract HPV at some point in their life, but their bodies usually fight off the infection. However, if the infection persists, it can alter cervical cells, leading to cancer. Early detection of these high-risk strains is crucial for preventing this cancer.
Stages of Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer develops through various stages. The stages are:
Stage 1: In stage 1, the cancer cells are only found in the neck of the cervix. Cancer hasn’t spread to deeper cervical tissue.
Stage 2: Here the cancer has spread beyond the cervix and uterus but hasn’t spread to the pelvic wall or lower vagina.
Stage 3: In stage 3, the cancer progress to the lower part of the vagina and it attack the pelvic wall, the ureters, and nearby lymph nodes.
Stage 4: Cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the bladder, rectum, bones or lungs.
Cervical Cancer Complications
Early detection and treatment are crucial to preventing life-threatening complications. Regular Pap smears and HPV tests are essential. Cervical cancer complications include:
1. Pain: Cancer can cause pain in your cervical area when it spreads.
2. Bladder and Bowel Changes: Urinary problems, constipation, and difficulty peeing.
3. Kidney Damage: Advanced cervical cancer can lead to kidney failure, a potentially life-threatening complication.
4. Blood Clots: Cancer can cause blood to become thicker and stickier, increasing the risk of blood clots. This change in blood consistency can slow down blood flow, potentially leading to the formation of a clot.
5. Fertility or Pregnancy Challenges: Treatment of cervical cancer can create fertility issues. Undergoing surgery to remove cancer cells from the cervix may increase the risk of miscarriage in future pregnancies.
6. Side effects of treatment: Cancer treatment, including chemotherapy and radiation, can lead to various side effects. Common issues include, Nausea and vomiting, Fatigue or Sexual dysfunction.
Who is at risk of Cervical Cancer?
Cancer itself is a dangerous condition and cervical cancer can occur due to various factors. Here are some risk factors that you should keep in mind:
1. Screening history: Irregular Pap tests increase cervical cancer risk.
2. HPV infection: Certain HPV types cause cervical cancer.
3. Sexual history: Early sexual intercourse before 18 and multiple sex partners increase the HPV risk, which will lead to cervical cancer.
4. Weakened immune system: If you have a weak immune system then you may face difficulties in fighting infections.
5. Smoking: Smoking increases your risk of developing this cancer.
6. HIV Infection: Having HIV also increases the risk of developing cervical cancer.
How is Cervical Cancer diagnosed?
It is a slow-developing disease that can take years to form. Before becoming cancerous, cervical cells undergo significant changes, transforming from normal to abnormal. Regular cancer screenings, specifically Pap tests, play a crucial role in detecting cervical cancer in its early stages. The primary goal of these screenings is to identify abnormal cell changes before they progress to cancer.
A Pap test, also known as a Pap smear, involves examining cervical cells under a microscope for signs of precancerous changes or other irregularities.
If your Pap test results are abnormal, further testing is necessary to determine the cause. This may include an HPV test, which specifically checks for high-risk HPV strains that can lead to cancer.
If your cervical cancer screening results are abnormal, your healthcare provider will recommend additional testing to confirm the diagnosis.
- Colposcopy: A colposcope, a specialized microscope, enlarges the cells of your cervix, allowing your healthcare provider to examine them closely. If abnormal cells are detected, a sample will be collected and sent to a laboratory for detailed analysis.
To collect a tissue sample from your cervix, your healthcare provider may use one of the following methods:
- Punch Biopsy: A cutting tool with a round edge is used to remove a sample of precancerous cells from the cervix.
- Endocervical Curettage (ECC): A spoon-shaped tool (curette) is gently inserted into the cervix to scrape and collect a tissue sample from the cervical lining.
- Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP): An electrical wire loop is used to precisely remove abnormal cervical tissue.
- Cone Biopsy: A slightly larger, cone-shaped sample of tissue is removed from the cervix, providing more tissue for examination.
Treatment of Cervical Cancer
The treatment plan considers many factors such as the stage of cancer, your age, your overall health or future childbearing plans. Options for the Treatment of Cervical cancer include:
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is used to kill the cancer cells on the cervix with energy beams. Two types of radiation therapy are:
- External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT): Delivers high-powered radiation beams from a machine outside the body to target cancer cells.
- Brachytherapy: Places radiation directly in or near the cancer.
- Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Via injected into veins or taken orally, these drugs are effective for killing cells throughout the body. Multiple drugs can be combined, and treatment is often given in cycles. Cycle length and frequency depend on the drug and cancer location.
Surgery
Surgical options are also there for the treatment of cervical cancer. Common Surgical Procedures include:
- Laser Surgery: This process uses a laser beam to destroy cancer cells.
- Cryosurgery: This procedure freezes and destroys abnormal or cancerous cells, providing an effective treatment option.
- Hysterectomy: Hysterectomy is a surgical process that removes the uterus and cervix.
- Trachelectomy: This surgical procedure involves removing the cervix and the upper portion of the vagina while preserving the uterus.
- Pelvic Exenteration: A major surgical procedure that involves removing the uterus, cervix, vagina, and potentially parts of the bladder, rectum, and colon, depending on the spread of cancer.
- Targeted Therapy
Targeted drug treatment clears specific cancer cells while sparing healthy cells. This innovative approach works by identifying and targeting proteins that regulate cancer cell growth. Scientists can design more effective targeted therapies that selectively destroy these proteins when they know more about cancer cells.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that utilize the power of your immune system to recognize and break cancer cells. Cancer cells often pretend themselves as healthy cells to avoid detection. Immunotherapy blocks the signals that help cancer cells hide. This helps your body recognize and fight the cancer cells.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
- What is cervical cancer?
Answer: IT is a type of cancer that occurs in the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus in the female reproductive system.
- What causes cervical cancer?
Answer: Cervical cancer is primarily caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection.
- What are the treatment options for cervical cancer?
Answer: Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
- Can cervical cancer be prevented?
Answer: IT can be prevented through regular Pap tests, HPV vaccination, and practicing safe sex.