Cervical Cancer

What is Cervical Cancer?

In India, cervical cancer contributes to approximately 6-29% of all cancers in women. Cervical cancer occurs in approximately 1 in 53 Indian women during their lifetime compared with 1 in 100 women in more developed regions of the world. Cervical cancer is a condition in which cancer cells appear in the cervix, which connects the uterus to the vagina. Cervical cancer usually takes a long time to develop. During this time, the cells in the cervix convert and grow rapidly. Cervical cancer generally develops very slowly, starting as a pre-cancerous condition called dysplasia. Dysplasia can be detected by a Pap smear. This is why it is so important for women to get regular Pap smears. Undetected, pre-cancerous changes can develop into cervical cancer and spread to the lungs, liver, bladder, and intestines. It can take a long time for pre-cancerous changes into cervical cancer.

Types of Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer is categorized based on the type of cell where it occurs. The most common types of cervical cancer are:

  • 1. Squamous cell carcinoma: This is the most common type of cervical cancer and is found in 80% to 90% of cases. It develops in the lining of the cervix.
  • 2. Adenocarcinoma: This type of cervical cancer occurs in gland cells that produce cervical mucus. About 10% to 20% of cervical cancers are adenocarcinomas.
  • 3. Mixed carcinoma: Generally, cervical cancer has features of squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.
What are the Causes of Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer is categorized based on the type of cell where it occurs. The most common types of cervical cancer are:

  • Most cervical cancer is caused by the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV).There are about 100 different strains of HPV is available. Only certain types cause cervical cancer.
  • Having many sexual partners or becoming sexually active early can also cause cervical cancer.
What are the Risk Factor of Cervical Cancer?

The risk of developing cervical cancer is directly associated with the risk of contracting HPV.

  • Having multiple sexual partners or having sex with a promiscuous partner.
  • History of sexually transmitted disease (STD).
  • Sexual intercourse at a young age – hormonal shifts that occur in adolescence appear to make the cervical cells more susceptible to infection with HPV.
  • Smoking decreases the ability of the immune system and women who smoke have a higher incidence of cervical cancer
  • Taking oral contraceptives for a long period
  • Having an unhealthy lifestyle and diet
  • More than 9 of every 10 cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV.
What are the Signs & symptoms of Cervical Cancer?

In its initial stages, cervical cancer normally does not have symptoms. That is why regular Pap tests are so important, particularly for sexually active women.

Signs and symptoms of cervical cancer include:

  • Vaginal discharge tinged with blood
  • Vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse
  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding: after menopause, between menstrual periods, or excessively heavy periods
  • Urinating more often
  • Pain during sexual intercourse
  • Swollen leg
  • Persistent pelvic and/or back pain
  • Pain during urination
  • Weight loss
  • Vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odor.
  • Foul-smelling vaginal discharge mixed with water and blood
How to Diagnose Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable forms of cancer, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively. Ifcervical canceris diagnosed inlater stages, it can be controlled with appropriate treatment and palliative care.

  • Cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable forms of cancer, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively. Ifcervical canceris diagnosed inlater stages, it can be controlled with appropriate treatment and palliative care.
  • This test is performed by scraping cells from the cervix. The cells are then sent to a lab where they are examined to detect any abnormalities.
  • If a Pap smear shows any cervical abnormalities, a colposcopy may be advised.
  • A colonoscopy test is used to examine the cervix, vagina, and vulva through a colposcope.
  • During the colposcopy, the expert may perform a cervical biopsy depending on what is found during the exam.
  • Endocervical curettage (ECC) is the second type of cervical biopsy that may be done during a colposcopy exam. During an ECC, the experts use a small brush to remove tissue from the endocervical canal, the narrow passageway through the cervix.
  • Imaging like body CT scan, body MRI, chest x-ray, and PET scan is often useful to determine if cancer has spread.
MANAGEMENT

Management of cervical cancer depends on the stage, patient co-morbidities, lymph node involvement, and risk factors for recurrence. Treatment may include surgery, Cone biopsy, Trachelectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Signs and symptoms of cervical cancer include:

  • Surgery - Some the cervical cancer treatments mayuse alone or in combination, and that depends on the stage of cervical cancer and other factors. Surgery can be the only treatment required if cervical cancer has not spread.
  • Cone biopsy - For the starting stage of cervical cancer, a cone biopsy with wide margins can be done. This is a fertility-preserving surgery. This surgery takes out the extocervix and endocervical canal using a scalpel. It is not an appropriate treatment if the tumor is large or deeply invasive or is found in the small blood vessels or lymphatic spaces (lymphovascular space invasion). Cone biopsy is preferred over a loop electrosurgical excision procedure.
  • Trachelectomy - This is a surgery that preserves fertility. It removes the cervix, upper vagina, and surrounding tissue. It is an appropriate treatment for an early-stage disease that cannot be treated with a cone biopsy. It is generally appropriate for early-stage cancer. A sampling of the regional lymph nodes (pelvic and/or paraaortic lymph nodes) can be performed at the same time.
  • Chemotherapy - is often prescribed before radiation therapy treatments as a way to shrink the tumor, which can make radiation therapy more effective. It is also prescribed for the treatment of cervical cancer when it has spread to other organs.
  • Radiation therapy – uses high-energy rays to damage cancer cells and stop their growth. As with surgery, the radiation affects cancer cells only in the treated area.
FOLLOW UP

• In patients with higher-risk cervical cancers, clinical follow-up may be performed every 3 months for the first 2 years, every 6 months for years 3 through 5, and then annually.

• For patients with low-risk cervical cancer, clinical assessment is less frequent and may be performed every 6 months for the first 2 years, and then annually.

Busting myths about cervical cancer
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Having a single partner, or not having sexual encounters for a long time, saves me from the hassle of a Pap test

Any woman with a cervix that has ever had any sexual activity no matter how many times, is at the risk of cervical cancer. Even if you had sex a long time ago, the virus can still stay in the system so you should continue taking a PAP tests, which is repeated every 3 years.

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Only older women suffer from cervical cancer

Cervical cancer doesn’t discriminate by age. Women of all ages who have had sex are at risk of developing the disease.

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Smoking and other factors increase the risk of cervical cancer

Women who smoke are about twice as likely as non-smokers to get cervical cancer. Smoking weakens your immune system, making it more difficult for your body to fight HPV infections on its own.

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HPV infection clears up on its own

Most people clear the HPV infection without ever knowing they were exposed. However, in some people, the infection persists and can lead to serious health problems, such as genital warts and several types of cancer, including cervical cancer.

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It is not possible to prevent cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is among the most preventable cancers. A simple pap smear test can help determine any kind of changes in the cells of the cervix and when any such change is detected, it is possible to start treatment early and prevent cancer from developing.

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