What is Cervial Cancer?
Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cervix. The cervix is a hollow cylinder that connects the lower part of a woman’s uterus to her vagina. Most cervical cancers begin in cells on the surface of the cervix.
Cervical cancer was once a leading cause of death among American women. That has changed since screening tests became widely available.
Symptoms of cervical cancer
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).
Typical cervical cancer symptoms are:
- Unusual bleeding, such as in between periods, after sex, or after menopause
- Vaginal discharge that looks or smells different than usual
- Pain in the pelvis
- Needing to urinate more often
- Pain during urination
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor for an examination and tests.
Cervical Cancer Causes
Most cervical cancer cases are caused by the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV). This is the same virus that causes genital warts.
There are about 100 different strains of HPV. Only certain types cause cervical cancer. The two types that most commonly cause cancer are HPV-16 and HPV-18.
Being infected with a cancer-causing strain of HPV doesn’t mean you’ll get cervical cancer. Your immune system eliminates the vast majority of HPV infections, often within two years.
HPV can also cause other cancers in women and men. These include:
- Vulvar Cancer
- Vaginal Cancer
- Penile Cancer
- Anal Cancer
- Rectal Cancer
- Throat Cancer
Cervical Cancer Treatment
Cervical cancer is very treatable if you catch it early. The four main treatments are:
- surgery
- radiation therapy
- chemotherapy
- targeted therapy
Sometimes these treatments are combined to make them more effective.
Surgery The purpose of surgery is to remove as much of the cancer as possible. Sometimes the doctor can remove just the area of the cervix that contains cancer cells. For cancer that’s more widespread, surgery may involve removing the cervix and other organs in the pelvis.
Radiation Radiation kills cancer cells using high-energy X-ray beams. It can be delivered through a machine outside the body. It can also be delivered from inside the body using a metal tube placed in the uterus or vagina.
Chemotherapy Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Doctors give this treatment in cycles. You’ll get chemo for a period of time. You’ll then stop the treatment to give your body time to recover.
Targeted Therapy Bevacizumab (Avastin) is a newer drug that works in a different way from chemotherapy and radiation. It blocks the growth of new blood vessels that help the cancer grow and survive. This drug is often given together with chemotherapy.
Cervical Cancer Test
A Pap smear is a test doctors use to diagnose cervical cancer. To perform this test, your doctor collects a sample of cells from the surface of your cervix. These cells are then sent to a lab to be tested for precancerous or cancerous changes.
If these changes are found, your doctor may suggest a colposcopy, a procedure for examining your cervix. During this test, your doctor might take a biopsy, which is a sample of cervical cells.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)Trusted Source recommends the following screening schedule for women by age:
- Ages 21 to 29: Get a Pap smear once every three years.
- Ages 30 to 65: Get a Pap smear once every three years, get a high-risk HPV (hrHPV) test every five years, or get a Pap smear plus hrHPV test every five years.
