Cervical Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Diagnosis and Awareness

Cervical cancer is a major threat among female populace of all the corners of the world. It is mainly cervical cancer; it occurs at the lower region of the uterus and is closely associated with HPV. Since this disease affects the quality of life and its life expectancy Hence, there is a need to inform the public, and hence be aware of the causes, symptoms and treatment option and ways of management and prevention of this disease.

Causes

The precipitating factor for cervical cancer is the long-standing infection with high-risk subtypes of HPV, especially types 16 and 18. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease and virtually all sexually active persons become infected with HPV at some time during their lifetime. However, conversing up to five to ten years some of these HPV infections remain persistent and can cause precancerous changes in the cervical cells.

Other factors that may increase the risk of cervical cancer include:

Smoking: There are several proven associations between tobacco use and cancer; one of those it cervical cancer.
Weakened Immune System: Other factors that may contribute include; HIV/AIDS, immunosuppressive drugs or chemotherapy.
Long-term Use of Birth Control Pills: yet the risk may be amplified when used for a long-term or in high doses, but the advantages to many women normally overshadow the risks.
Multiple Full-Term Pregnancies: This can have impact on the cervical cells in future.
Early Sexual Activity: Sexual debut at an early age enhances the chances of contacting HPV.

symptoms

Even, cervical cancer in early phases may not produce symptoms and that is why Pap smears remain essential. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include:

Vaginal bleeding; spotting irregularities which may include; bleeding between the normal menstrual cycles, after sexual intercourse and after the usual post menopausal age.
Abnormal vaginal secretions (which may include a white, clear, bloody, brown or foul smelling discharge)
Pelvic pain or discomfort
Pain during intercourse
However, any woman who experiences any of these signs should consult a doctor immediately as they are signs of other ailments as well.

Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer

Screening for Cervical Cancer
1. Pap Smear (Pap Test)
The test called Pap smear remains one of the most effective early screening methods for cervical cancer. In this process, a doctor removes cells from cervix and looks for abnormality in the same cells. Pap testing are advised to start at age 21 and the test repeated every three years till the age of 29 is reached. Pap and HPV testing in women between the ages of three zero and sixty five should be done once in five years.

2. HPV Testing
Because some types of HPV are associated with cervical cancer, HPV testing is typically done with the Pap smear in women over thirty years of age. This test identifies certain HPV types that are associated with cervical cancer so as to inform diagnosis and management.

3. VIA stands for Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid.
In some areas especially where access to Pap testing is very hard, then visual inspection with acetic acid is used. This involves washing the cervix with vinegar solution as this will turn the abnormal area a gray color.

Diagnostic Procedures
If screening tests come out abnormal, other diagnostic tests may be required.

1. Colposcopy
Colposcopy is a screening test done after abnormal Pap smear examination, during which cervical examination is conducted with the help of a machine called colposcope. In the course of this process the providers may remove a tissue sample of the suspicious areas for analysis.

2. Biopsy
A biopsy entails the removal of small amount of cervical tissue that will be used to analysis under the microscope. There are several types of biopsies:

Endocervical curettage (ECC): Vaginal cervix or scraping them in order to obtain some tissue samples that will be needed in analysis.
Cone biopsy: Excision of a cylindrical portion of the tissue of the cervix, which is applied if there is uncertainty as to the penetration of the unknown cells.
3. Imaging Tests
If cervical cancer is suspected, then MRI, CT or PET can be used to stage cancer and determine its spread throughout the body.

Staging of Cervical Cancer
It helps in the staging of the disease in order to know the level of the disease and type of treatment to offer. Currently, the most widely used staging system for cervical cancer is FI GO where cancer is staged as I to IV depending on its extend.

Importance of Early Detection
Cervical cancer has high probabilities of being treated if detected early. Screening tests should help detect any precancerous changes before they develop into cancer, in which cases there are measures that may be taken to avoid this. Awareness and practicing more on HPV vaccination will also help in reducing cervical cancer.

Treatment

Management of cervical cancer varies with the disease stage, patient’s general health, and her wishes. Common treatment options include:

Surgery: This may require the woman to have a conization of the cervix or hysterectomy or the excision of other nearby tissues depending on the extent of cancer.
Radiation Therapy: When used together with chemotherapy, especially in later stages, radiation can be directed at cancer cells.
Chemotherapy: It is a medication applied to cease or eradicate cancer cells and may be applied in combination with surgery, radiation treatment, immunotherapy or hormone treatment.
Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy: That is why newer treatments are being worked on that primarily act on proteins and cellular signaling and pathways in cancer cells or recruit the body’s immune system to destroy cancer cells.
Overwhelming follow up and monitoring is highly recommendable for all patients under treatment.

Awareness and Prevention

Since cervical cancer has recognizable symptoms, awareness and subsequent education are key measures towards the disease’s prevention. Here are key measures to consider: HPV Vaccination: Gardasil and Cervarix are two types of vaccines that prevent the onset of most recurrent high-risk HPV types. Officials say that vaccination is most effective if taken prior to its subjects engaging in sexual activity, though the vaccine can continue to benefit individuals up to the age of 26, if not older. Regular Screening: Pap tests and HPV tests can identify cervical changes that may lead to cancer or early cervical cancer. It is recommended that women should start screening for cervical cancer at age 21 and then should carry on according to the doctor’s advice. Healthy Lifestyle Choices: A number of risk factors associated with cervical cancer can be prevented; these include not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in safe sex practices.

Conclusion

Cervical cancer is a disease that could be prevented and treated once it is discovered early. This paper aims at identifying the cause of endometriosis, raising awareness of the symptoms, seeking understand the treatment options available, and heightening awareness so that the incidence of the condition can be decreased and the prognosis of affected women improved. A part of this process includes; routine medical exams and clear talks on sexual status.