Cervical cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in tissues of the cervix (the organ connecting the uterus and vagina). There are many types of cervical cancer. The most common type, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), constitutes about 80 to 85 per cent of all cervical cancers.
The other types of cervical cancer, such as adenocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma, adenosquamous, adenosarcoma, melanoma and lymphoma, are much rarer types of cervical cancer that are not generally related to HPV. The latter types of cervical cancer are not as preventable as SCC.
Anything that increases your chance of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get cancer, not having risk factors does not mean that you will not get cancer.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is the major risk factor in the development of this cancer. These viruses are transmitted during sexual intercourse, as well as oral or anal sex.
All women who engage in sexual activity are at risk of developing cervical cancer. Some sexual behaviours, such as multiple sexual partners, having partners who have had multiple sex partners, and having sex at an early age further increase the risk. Other risk factors include:
Early cervical cancer may have no symptoms. You may experience the following symptoms:
While the Pap smear is an effective cervical cancer screening test, confirmation of the diagnosis of cervical cancer or pre-cancer requires a biopsy of the cervix. This is often done through colposcopy, a magnified visual inspection of the cervix aided by using a dilute acidic solution to highlight abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix. It is a painless 15-minute outpatient procedure.
Further diagnostic procedures include Loop Electrical Excision Procedure (LEEP), cone biopsies, and punch biopsies.
Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time. HPV infection can cause the cells of the cervix to go through changes known as dysplasia, in which abnormal cells begin to appear in the cervical tissue. Over time, the abnormal cells may become cancer cells and start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and to surrounding areas.
CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) refers to lesions that do not invade the tissue of the cervix. It is at the superficial surface of the surface. CIN lesions are graded as I (mild), II (moderate) and III (severe). CIN III is a precancerous lesion.
It is important to note that not all ladies with HPV infections develop CIN, and not all ladies who have CIN develop cervical cancer. Many HPV infections are cleared rapidly by the immune system, just like any other infections.
Staging is a term that describes how far an invasive cervical cancer has spread. Stage I cervical cancer has invaded into the cervix, but has not extended outside of the cervix. Stage II cancer has spread to the upper vagina, or into the tissue to the sides of the cervix (the parametria). Stage III cancer has spread to the lower part of vagina and to the sidewall of the pelvis or has caused blockage of the kidney. Stage IV disease means that cancer has extended to other organs such as the bowel or bladder, or has spread to other organs such as the distant lymph nodes, liver, lung and bones.
Cervical cancer is treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Depending on the stage and type of the cancer, you may need more than one type of treatment.
Early cervical cancer usually have no signs or symptoms. However, it can be detected early with regular check ups. The earlier the detection, the higher the chance of successful treatment.
The Pap test, also called the Pap smear, is a cervical cancer screening test. This is done in an outpatient setting. The test is conducted by using a plastic or metal instrument, called a speculum, to widen the vagina. The doctor or nurse will then examine the vagina and cervix, and collect a few cells from the cervix and the area around it with a swab. These cells are then placed on a slide and sent to laboratory to be checked for abnormal cells. The high risk HPV (hrHPV) test can also be done on these cells to look for the type of HPV virus that causes cervical cancer.
Women should begin having cervical cancer screening at age 21, or within three years of first sexual activity – whichever happens first.
You can lower your risk of getting cervical cancer with the following steps:
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