What you need to know about cervical cancer?

We’re all aware that we should regularly examine our breast in the shower or have a mammography done after 40 years of age, but we fail to practice the same caution when it comes to our cervix. Cervical cancer is now considered the most common cause of cancer mortality in India. According to the deputy regional director at the WHO regional office for Southeast Asia, ‘the risk of a woman dying from cervical cancer is higher than her risk of dying during child birth.’

That’s a scary statement.  But cervical cancer is preventable.

How does cervical cancer develop?

Cervical cancer starts as a change in cells called dysplasia. This is detectable by Pap smears. It takes many years for these changed cells to develop into cancer as it starts in the lower part of the uterus orcervix. When normal cells undergo a mutational change they start growing at an accelerated rate.

Most cervical cancers are caused by Human Papilloma virus that cause the mutation. The virus commonly spreads through sexual contact. There are various types (strains) of HPV some which cause cancer, other cause genital warts and some others have no effect at all.

Are there any risk factors?

Having one of the following does increase your chances of developing cervical cancer

ü  Sex at an early age

ü Multiple sexual partners

ü  Having a partner or many partners who are active in high- risk sexual activities

ü  Smoking

ü  Weakened immunity

ü  Multiple pregnancies

ü  Poor hygiene

 

What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?

Early cervical cancer does not exhibit any symptoms, however if you experience one of the following visit your physician:

ü  Abnormal vaginal bleeding between mesntrual periods, during sexual intercourse or after menopause.

ü  Continuous vaginal discharge that is pale, watery or foul smelling.

ü  Change in menstrual flow

ü Pelvic pain or discomfort.

ü  Leakage of urine or faeces from vagina.

How to diagnose cervical cancer?

Early cervical cancer cannot be detected by the naked eye. A pap smear is the one of the best ways to detect cancer early.

Following an abnormal pap smear the cervix is viewed microscopically with a colposcope and a biopsy may be taken.

Once cervical cancer is confirmed tests are conducted to check for its spread through the body and this process is called staging. Some of these tests include Chest x-ray, CT scan of the pelvis, Cystoscopy, Intravenous pyelogram (IVP) and MRI of the pelvis.

 

Can cervical cancer be treated?

Sure it can be treated. The treatment however depends of the size of the tumour, its stage, the age of the woman and also intentions towards future pregnancies.

During the beginning stages, precancerous lesions can be treated with Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) which uses electricity to remove tissue, cryotherapy which  freezes abnormal cells and laser therapy which uses light to burn abnormal tissue.

Apart from this if a woman does not intend to get pregnant or is having recurrent precancerous lesions despite the above forms of treatment then hysterectomy( removal of the uterus) is advised.

Various forms of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are advised depending on the spread of the cancer.

 

The best form of treatment for cervical cancer is prevention. Join us for another post tomorrow on what you can do to prevent cervical cancer in the form of vaccination and screening. If you have any questions do mail we would like to hear your thoughts on the subject.