Cervical Cancer: Symptoms, Stages, Risk Factors

Introduction

Cervical cancer is a disease in which body cells in the cervix or the uterus' lower part are malfunctioning. The cervix is that canal that leads to the vagina. To understand what cervical cancer is, it is important to note what a cervix is first. It is the birth canal that leads to the vagina.

Main Item

Cervical cancer occurs when body cells in the cervix act up until they develop a tumor. When normal cells transform themselves to cancer cells, cervical cancer sets in. Though it is obviously scary to have cervical cancer, the good news is it can be prevented. One must first know the risk factors or chances that she will develop cervical cancer.

Risk Factors of Cervical Cancer Include

• HPVs or Human Papillomaviruses - HPV is a collection of viruses that put the cervix in danger. Infections like this are common and can be passed through sexual intercourse.
• Old age - Those who are over 40 are more prone to getting cervical cancer.
• Not having Pap tests - Those who regularly go for Pap tests have the greater chances to prevent cervical cancer for the very reason that Pap tests detect precancerous cells.
• Weak immune system - Enough said.
• Smoking nonstop - Women who have HPV infection but are not smokers are less likely to develop cervical cancer.
• Promiscuity - Women who have a lot of sex partners have greater chances to have cervical cancer.

Symptoms of Cervical Cancer Can Include

• Pelvic pain
• Pain during sex
• Excess vaginal discharge
• Vaginal bleeding that is irregular, abnormal and happens after menopause or in between periods.

The moment the symptoms set in, a woman has to go to a doctor for the diagnosis. Here are some procedures for the proper diagnosis:

• Colposcopy - This is when a doctor uses a colposcope to look at the cervical tissues.
• Biopsy - This is when a doctor removes tissues and check for cancer cells. There are four types of biopsy: punch biopsy, LEEP, endocervical curettage and conization.

Stages of Cervical Cancer

• Stage 0 is when cancer is located on the top layer of cells
• stage 1 is when the cancer is found in the cervix. Nearby tissues are affected when it is already stage 2
• stage 3 is when the cancer extends to the vagina's lower part.
• stage 4 is when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body like bladder and rectum.

Once cervical cancer is detected, it is mandatory that the woman goes out and looks for second opinion. If cervical cancer is still confirmed, then she must subject herself to the proper treatment. She may be treated through chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery or even a combination of all these methods.

• 1. Surgery - Surgery is used to treat the cervix and body parts adjacent to it.
• 2. Radiation Therapy - This is when high-energy rays go destroy cervical cancer cells. There are two kinds of radiation: external and internal.
• 3. Chemotherapy - Chemotherapy is defined as the treatment wherein anticancer drugs try to combat cancer cells.