Cervical cancer: causes, symptoms and treatment

Cervical cancer arises from the growth of abnormal cells in the cervix in abnormal quantities. The cervix (Cervix uteri) is the lower part of the uterus that connects the uterus to the vagina.

Early detection of cervical cancer will ensure a complete cure in most cases.

Cervical cancer symptoms

Unusual changes in the cells of the cervix cause symptoms only in rare cases, but if these changes develop into cervical cancer, symptoms of cervical cancer may include:

• Unusual bleeding from the vagina, or an inexplicable change in the menstrual cycle.
• Bleeding as a result of touching the cervix during sexual intercourse, for example, or as a result of inserting the female diaphragm to prevent pregnancy (Diaphragm).
• Feeling of pain during sexual relations.
• Blood-tinged vaginal discharge.

Cervical cancer causes and risk factors

Most cases of this cancer are caused by a virus called the papilloma virus (HPV).

Infection with this virus is transmitted when having sexual relations with a person who carries this virus, and there are many types of papillomavirus, and not all of them cause this cancer, some cause the formation of warts (Verrucae) in the genitals, and others do not cause any signs or symptoms to appear. for cervical cancer.

Risk factors of this cancer

Factors that increase the risk of cervix cancer include:

• smoking.
• Weakened immune system.
• Taking contraceptives for more than 5 years.
• The birth of more than 5 children.

Cervical cancer complications

Cervical cancers complications include:

• Renal failure.
• Blood clotting.
• bleeding.
• fistula.

Cervical cancer diagnosis

In the event of suspicion of this cancer, the doctor will ask the sick woman a number of questions regarding the family’s medical history, and then conduct a physical examination, and the doctor may need to conduct further tests, including:

1. Pap smear examination

It is a routine examination, its purpose is to detect any abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix and cervical cancer.

This test is done routinely, as it is a very easy procedure, as well as being the only way available to detect and treat changes in cervical cells before they turn into cervix cancer.

2. Colposcopy examination and biopsy of cervical tissue

Colposcopy and biopsy of the cervical tissue of a pregnant woman can be done to confirm a diagnosis of cervix cancer, to confirm the presence and location of cancer cells on the outside of the lining of the cervix.

3. Biopsy of the cervical mucosa (Curettage)

In order to detect the presence of cancer cells in the cervical canal.

4. Cone biopsy

or LEEP tissue excision, using these methods a sample of cervical tissue is taken for microscopic examination.

Cervical cancer treatment

When the cancer is detected in its early stages, the chances of a cure are great, and if it is detected at a very early stage, there is a chance that the patient will be able to become pregnant and have children after completing the treatment.

Treatment in most of its later stages consists in removing the cancerous cells, which leads to the inability to have children later.

Therapeutic methods used include:

Hysterectomy

removal of lymph nodes in the pelvic area, and it may be necessary to remove both ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Radiation therapy

Chemotherapy

The amount of treatments needed is determined by the amount of cancer cells that have grown, and there is also the possibility of combining a number of treatments.

Radiation therapy is the standard treatment method for certain stages of cervix cancer. Radiation is often combined with surgery. the use of high-frequency radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

The rays can come from a device outside the body, or from a radioactive substance (Radioisotopes) that is inserted through the vagina to the area of ​​the cervix, where the cancer cells are located, through small and tiny plastic tubes (Brachytherapy).

Translated from: webteb