The fourth most common reproductive cancer affecting women’s health around the globe is cervical cancer. In the United States alone, around 14,000 people get diagnosed with cervical cancer per year and nearly 4,000 patients die of cervical cancer annually. Here is the all about cervical cancer causes and symptoms.
So, what are the usual cervical cancer causes and how can it be prevented? Is cervical cancer curable? In this article, we all tell you everything you must know about cervical cancer.
Cervical Cancer: An Overview
The uterus’s lower end is the cervix, and it acts as the connecting link between the vagina and the uterus. Cervix is where the baby thrives during pregnancy. Cancer that originates in the cells of a woman’s cervix is known as cervical cancer. This cancer generally spreads slowly and can take years before showing any signs. So, if diagnosed early, the cancer can be completely removed. However, once the cancer has spread to surrounding areas, treatment becomes tricky.
Now scroll down to know the cervical cancer causes and what to do when you have cervical cancer.
Types of Cervical Cancer
Depending on the kind of cell where the cancer originated, cervical cancers can be of the following two types:
- Adenocarcinoma: This type of cervical cancer targets the glandular cells of a woman’s endocervix. The other names for cervical adenocarcinoma are clear cell adenocarcinoma, mesonephroma, and clear cell carcinoma. Cervical adenocarcinoma is uncommon.
- Squamous cell carcinoma: Almost 90% of cervical cancers are discovered to be squamous cell carcinomas. These cancers are seen developing from cells in the person’s ectocervix.
In rare cases, cervical cancer can have features of both adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. This type of cervical cancer is termed adenosquamous carcinoma or mixed carcinoma.
Signs and Symptoms of Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer may have zero symptoms in the early stage, making it tough to be detected. Once the cancer cells spread, symptoms start appearing. However, some women experience certain symptoms even during the early stage of cervical cancer and those are:
- bleeding from the vagina after having coitus
- pelvic pain while having intercourse
- abnormal vaginal bleeding even after reaching menopause
- irregular bleeding between periods
- having longer or heavier bleeding during periods
- watery and foul-smelling vaginal discharge
- presence of blood in vaginal discharge
If the cancer has attacked other parts of the female body, the patient may experience the following advanced cervical cancer signs:
- feeling fatigued despite sleeping soundly
- abdominal pain
- dull and persistent backache
- lack of appetite
- sudden weight loss
- bleeding from the rectal area when trying to pass stool
- painful and difficult bowel movements
- noticing blood in the urine
- swollen legs
- painful urination
The above-mentioned symptoms can also be of other types of cancer or some chronic illness. The only way of knowing what is wrong with your health is by booking an appointment with your healthcare provider.
Causes of Cervical Cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, cervical cancer is caused by the notorious HPV virus which is one of the sexually transmitted infections. HPV can travel from one person’s body to another when they come in sexual contact (oral, vaginal, or anal) and this virus increases the risk of cervical cancer. When the HPV virus enters your body, your body might be able to fight the HPV infection. If your immune system fails to defeat the virus, it can convert the healthy cells in the cervix into cancerous cells.
Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer
Gynecological screenings are necessary for cervical cancer diagnosis. Abnormal Pap test results indicate that you may have cervical cancer. So, your doctor will thoroughly examine the cervix and collect a sample of cervical tissue. Then biopsy will be done to complete the diagnosis. If the biopsy result shows there are cancerous cells, further tests are done to understand if the disease has metastasized.
Cervical Cancer Risk Factors
Research has revealed that the risk of getting cervical cancer increases if:
- you have unprotected sex with multiple partners
- you are a smoker
- you do not have Pap tests at regular intervals
- you have consumed oral contraceptives for a long time
- you had more than three full-term pregnancies
- your immune system is not strong
Treatment for Cervical Cancer
A person diagnosed with cervical cancer should go to an accomplished gynecologic oncologist. A gynecologic oncologist is doctor specializing in treating cancers of reproductive organs in females. A treatment plan is curated based on the general health of the patient and the stage of the cervical cancer.
These are the treatment options for cervical cancer:
- Radiation therapy: using energy beams for killing the cancer cells
- Chemotherapy: injecting drugs through the veins or administering orally
- Operation: Laser surgery, radical hysterectomy, cryosurgery and cone biopsy are the surgical procedures for treating cervical cancer.
- Immunotherapy: using medicines that will stimulate the woman’s immune system so that it destroys the cancer cells
- Targeted therapy: drug treatment targeting only the cancerous cells without causing any harm to the healthy cells
Tips for Cervical Cancer Prevention
When it comes to preventing cervical cancer, regular screenings are a must. Women must also know the common HPV symptomsso that they can seek medical assistance. As 90% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV, taking the HPV vaccine and the HPV test will lower a person’s chances of getting cervical cancer.
These are some other things you can do:
- Use protection when getting intimate with your sexual partner
- Avoid having intercourse with multiple people
- Quit smoking
To Sum Up
We may conclude by saying that being diagnosed with cervical cancer is a traumatic experience for any person. To expand the lifespan of the patient, the cervical cancer treatment should begin immediately. Healthy individuals, on the other hand, should not neglect cervical cancer screening, especially once they reach 50.
The silver lining is that the death rate from cervical cancer has started to decline, thanks to Cervical Health Awareness campaigns that educate people to opt for regular screenings and take the HPV vaccine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are the early signs and symptoms of cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer develops slowly and may not have any symptoms initially. So, most people don’t even realize they have it until it reaches an advanced stage. However, some early symptoms cervical cancer include pain in the pelvis, vaginal discharge, and bleeding after having sex.
Q. How can regular screenings help in detecting cervical cancer symptoms?
Regular cancer screening is mandatory to prevent cervical cancer from spreading to nearby organs and maximize the chances of survival.
