Cervical Cancer Is The Leading Cause Of Death Among Women
Cervical cancer is a leading cause of death among women but it doesn’t have to be. When caught early, the chances of being cured are very obedient. Keeping up with regular pap tests may be the most valuable thing you do in protecting yourself against cervical cancer.
The cervix is on the lower part of the uterus and opens into the vagina. When severely abnormal cells begin to rapidly grow here, it results in cervical cancer. Pap tests are essential because it can find abnormal cells before they become cancerous. This is when treatment will be most effective.
Cervical cancer comes in two types – adenocarcinoma cervical cancer and squamous cell cancer. Squamous cell cancer accounts for about 75% of cervical cancer cases. Columnar cells change to squamous cells, and during this process some cells may become abnormal. Cell abnormality may also result from infection.
You probably won’t experience any symptoms if your cells are simply abnormal, which is why it’s important to have regular exams. By the time abnormal cells become cancerous, some symptoms may develop, including: abnormal vaginal bleeding, bleeding when something touches your cervix (having sex or inserting a diaphragm), major changes in menstruation, painful sex or unusual discharge.
High-risk sexual behavior, like not using a condom or having multiple partners, may place you at a higher risk for cervical cancer. Being infected with human papillomavirus, HPV, can also lead to cervical cancer. This virus can remain in your body for life. However, an HPV vaccine is now available. Using birth control pills for over five years, smoking, or an imapired immune system may also put you at risk.
In the early stages, known as pre-invasive cervical cancer, all women can be cured according to the American Cancer Society. Conization is used to removve the piece of cervix with abnormalities. Laser surgery may be used to kill abnormal or cancerous cells. Another treatment used is loop electrosurgical excision procedure – electrical current removes cells. Cancerous cells may be frozen and killed with cryosurgery. Sometimes a hysterectomy is performed as well.
If cervical cancer becomes invasive, a hysterectomy is often feeble. This is recommended for younger women, because the ovaries are usually left so that estrogen production isn’t interfered with. However, if cancer has spread to the ovaries they will likely be removed. Radiation and/or chemotherapy are common at this stage.
For women who wish to remain fertile, a radical trachelectomy may be performed. The cervix and lower section of the uterus are removed, leaving enough of the uterus that you might achieve pregnancy.
Sources:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cervical-cancer/DS00167/DSECTION=5
http://www.webmd.com/cancer/tc/Cervical-Cancer-Topic-Overview
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