Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Cervical cancer can be a serious and life-threatening condition, but early detection and proper treatment can improve the chances of success.
Here's what you need to know about the causes, risk factors, symptoms, tests and treatment options for cervical cancer.
What are the causes and risk factors?Cervical cancer is caused by abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix. Most cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a common sexually transmitted infection. Other risk factors for cervical cancer include smoking, a weakened immune system, a family history of cervical cancer, and long-term use of birth control pills.
What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?In the early stages, cervical cancer may not cause any symptoms. However, as the cancer grows, it can cause symptoms such as abnormal vaginal bleeding, bleeding after sexual intercourse, pelvic pain, and unusual vaginal discharge.
How is cervical cancer diagnosed?There are several tests used to detect cervical cancer. They include:
A Pap smear is a simple test that involves collecting cells from the cervix to look for abnormal changes.
An HPV test is used to detect the presence of HPV, which can increase the risk of developing cervical cancer.
A colposcopy is a procedure that uses a special microscope to examine the cervix.
A biopsy involves removing a small sample of tissue from the cervix for examination under a microscope.
Diagnosis and staging of cancer is the first step. This will determine the type of treatment and its duration. A treatment plan is drawn up based on the diagnosis, the stage and the overall health of the individual. This will give the best results.
What are the treatment options available?The treatment options for cervical cancer depend on several factors, including the stage of the cancer and the patient's overall health. Treatment options may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these treatments.
In early stages, surgery is the most common treatment option, which may include a hysterectomy, which involves the removal of the uterus and cervix, or a trachelectomy, which removes only the cervix and a small portion of the upper vagina.
Radiation therapy is often used in combination with surgery or chemotherapy, and it involves using high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells.
Chemotherapy involves using drugs to kill cancer cells and is often used in combination with surgery or radiation therapy.
In the early stages, cervical cancer is highly treatable, and the survival rate is high. So, it is very important that the disease is diagnosed early. This is possible only with regular check-ups and screenings as there may be no symptoms in the early stages.
Women can reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer by getting regular Pap smears and HPV tests, practicing safe sex, quitting smoking, and maintaining a healthy immune system.
If you have any concerns or symptoms, or think you may be in the high-risk group, consult our expert oncologists for a check-up and screening.
We can help detect cervical cancer early to start the best treatment methodology early to give you the best results.