CERVICAL CANCER

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.Various strains of the human papillomavirus, also called HPV, play a role in causing most cervical cancers. HPV is a common infection that’s passed through sexual contact. When exposed to HPV, the body’s immune system typically prevents the virus from doing harm. In a small percentage of people, however, the virus survives for years. This contributes to the process that causes some cervical cells to become cancer cells.

Types of cervical cancer

There are two main types of cancer of the cervix: squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. About 80% to 90% of cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, while 10% to 20% are adenocarcinomas. You can also have a mix of both types.

What are the warning signs of cervical cancer?

• Watery or bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and can have a foul odor.
• Vaginal bleeding after sex, between menstrual periods or after menopause.
• Pain during sex.
• Difficult or painful urination, sometimes with blood in urine.
• Diarrhea, or pain or bleeding from your rectum when pooping.
• Fatigue, loss of weight and appetite.
• A general feeling of illness.
• Dull backache or swelling in your legs.
• Pelvic/abdominal pain.

Early stages of cervical cancer don’t usually involve symptoms and are hard to detect. The first signs of cervical cancer may take time to develop.

complications of cervical cancer

• Pain: Cancer can be painful when it spreads.
• Bladder and bowel changes: Cervical cancer can cause urinary problems like difficulty peeing. It can also cause constipation.
• Kidney damage: Kidney failure is a complication of advanced cervical cancer.
• Blood clots: Your risk for blood clots increases because blood becomes “sticky” when you have cancer. This may slow your blood flow and lead to a clot developing.
• Bleeding: You may experience bleeding from your vagina, rectum or bladder if cancer spreads to those organs.
• Fertility or pregnancy challenges: Depending on the treatment you have, you could lose the ability to get pregnant. Surgery on your cervix to remove cancer cells could also increase your chance of miscarriage with future pregnancies.
• Side effects of cancer treatment: Chemotherapy, radiation and other cancer treatments can cause unpleasant side effects like nausea and vomiting, fatigue and sexual dysfunction.

Tests to diagnose cervical cancer

The first step in that is typically a colposcopy. A colposcope magnifies the cells of your cervix so your healthcare provider can see irregular cells. If the cells look suspicious or unusual, they’ll remove a sample of cervical cells and send them to a lab for further testing.

• Punch biopsy: Your provider uses a cutting tool with a round top to cut out the precancerous cells.
• Endocervical curettage: A procedure that involves your provider scraping the lining of your cervix with a spoon-shaped tool called a curette.
• Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP): Your provider uses an electrical wire loop to remove the abnormal cervical tissue.
• Cone biopsy: Your provider removes a slightly larger, cone-shaped piece of tissue from your cervix.
• Liver and kidney function studies.
• Blood and urine tests.
• X-rays of your bladder, rectum, bowels and lungs.
• CT scans.
• MRI.

Treatment

The treatments for cervical cancer are radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

• External beam radiation therapy (EBRT): Aims high-powered radiation at cancer from a machine outside your body.
• Brachytherapy: Puts the radiation in or just near cancer.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy (chemo) uses drugs injected into your veins or taken by mouth to kill cancer cells.
• Laser surgery: This surgery uses a laser beam to burn off just the cancer cells.
• Cryosurgery: This surgery freezes cancer cells, destroying them.
• Hysterectomy: This surgery involves the removal of your uterus and cervix.
• Trachelectomy: This procedure removes your cervix and the upper part of your vagina but not your uterus.
• Pelvic exenteration: This is the same as a hysterectomy but also includes your bladder, vagina, rectum and part of your colon, depending on where the cancer has spread.
• Targeted drug treatment: Targeted drug treatment destroys specific cancer cells without damaging healthy cells.
• Immunotherapy: uses medicine to stimulate your immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.

Cervical cancer stages

• Stage 1: The cancer is small. It may have spread to the lymph nodes. It hasn’t spread to other parts of your body.
• Stage 2: The cancer is larger. It may have spread outside of the uterus and cervix or to the lymph nodes. It still hasn’t reached other parts of your body.
• Stage 3: The cancer has spread to the lower part of the vagina or to the pelvis. It may be blocking the ureters, the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. It hasn’t spread to other parts of your body.
• Stage 4: The cancer may have spread outside of the pelvis to organs like your lungs, bones, or liver.

Prevention

• Get the HPV vaccine.
• Use condoms or other barrier methods when you have sex.
• Limit your sexual partners.
• Stop smoking and using tobacco products.

HPV vaccine

The approved age for getting vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has been steadily rising since the vaccine was introduced in 2006. The HPV vaccine’s safety has remained excellent, and the benefits are proven. It lowers your risk of getting certain cancers, especially cervical cancer. There has been a significant reduction in precancerous lesions and genital warts among people 15 to 24 years old, as well as 87% fewer cases of cervical cancer in women who were immunized between ages 12 and 13, compared with those who were not. That’s important because nearly all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV.

Many women with cervical cancer don’t realize they have the disease early on because it usually doesn’t cause symptoms until the late stages. When symptoms do appear, they’re easily mistaken for common conditions like menstrual periods and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

If you notice any of these symptoms, see your doctor for an exam. 

Emotional and mental health support 

Cervical cancer can cause not only physical challenges but also emotional and mental health struggles, such as anxiety, stress, and depression. If you have been diagnosed with cervical cancer, it is important to prioritize your overall well-being by seeking support.