Cervical cancer
Cervical disease can
progress to cervical cancer. This happens when cells get out of control and can
no longer perform their normal functions. Only malignant (cancer) cells spread.
They travel throughout the body with blood and lymph fluid (yellow fluid
derived from tissue fluids found throughout the body).
They also spread
directly through tissues near the cervix. If cancer cells are found before they
have spread, treatment is more likely to be successful.
Who is at risk?
Women between the
ages of 35 and 50 are at risk of developing cervical cancer because it develops
after the abnormal cells have been there for several years. Women who have had
a sexually transmitted viral infection (such as genital warts), who have had
sex before age 18, or who have had many sexual partners are also at risk of
developing cervical cancer.
What are the symptoms?
Unfortunately, there
are often no warning signs of cervical cancer; however, the following symptoms
can be potential warning signs:
- Abnormal bleeding, spotting, or discharge from the vagina after intercourse, between periods, or after menopause
- Watery, bloody discharge from your vagina; it may be heavy and have an unpleasant odor.
- With advanced cancer, there may be a pain, problems urinating and swelling in the legs.
What else could these symptoms mean?
These symptoms may
also mean that you have dysplasia, a type of cervical disease that occurs when
the cells on the surface of the cervix change. Benign normal cells are replaced
by abnormal cells. Cells with dysplasia are not cancerous, but these cells can
become cancerous if left untreated.
How is cervical cancer diagnosed?
Cervical cancer is
diagnosed using a Pap smear. Using a small wooden spatula, brush, or cotton
swab, the doctor gently scrapes the entire surface of the cervix to collect
cells, and also takes a sample of cells from the cervical canal by inserting
the brush. Cells are sent to a laboratory for microscopic analysis. A negative
result means your cervix is normal.
A positive result does
not necessarily indicate cancer or even dysplasia; but other tests such as a
biopsy are needed. A biopsy is a procedure in which small pieces of cervical
tissue are removed for examination. A biopsy can most often be done in a
doctor's office or clinic. You may experience mild spasms or a tingling
sensation. This test will determine if the cancer exists and has spread to the
uterus.
How is cervical cancer treated?
Treatment for
cervical cancer depends on the size of the tumor and how far it has spread (if
any).
Some treatment
options include:
Dilation and
curettage involves gently scraping the lining of your uterus to obtain tissue
samples to determine if the cancer has spread to your uterus.
A radical
hysterectomy is a procedure in which the surgeon removes the uterus (including
the cervix), the upper part of the vagina, surrounding tissues, lymph nodes,
and fallopian tubes. The ovaries can be left in place for younger women.
Radiation therapy includes both machine exposure and internal exposure to radioactive materials implanted in the uterus or upper vagina. These implants remain in the uterus for several days while you are in the hospital. Side effects may include diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and fatigue.
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