1.What is cervical cancer
Cervical cancer occurs when there are cellular abnormalities in the lower part of the uterus, the cervix. More than 12,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States. Cervical cancer is usually caused by a virus. The earlier the disease is detected, the easier it is to cure.
2.Symptoms of cervical cancer
The abnormal cervical exfoliation cells are hard to detect at first, and the following symptoms will appear after the disease progresses: vaginal discharge, vaginal bleeding, postmenopausal bleeding, bleeding or pain during sexual intercourse.
3.The primary causative factor of cervical cancer: HPV (human papillomavirus)
HPV is a general term for a series of viruses, about 40 of which can infect the reproductive area and even cause cancer. This type of infection is usually self-healing, but once it becomes chronic, it can cause cytopathy or even cancer in the cervix. More than 90% of cervical cancers in the world are caused by HPV infection.
4.Symptoms of HPV infection
HPV infection usually has no obvious symptoms and can heal by itself. Some HPV can cause genital warts, but they do not necessarily develop into cervical cancer, but extra care should be taken to prevent genital warts from turning into cancer. The dangerous HPV virus can lurk in the body for years without being detected.
5.Who is more prone to HPV infection
Generally speaking, people who are at high risk of HPV infection and prone to cervical precancerous lesions are mainly concentrated in the following groups.
(1) Those who have multiple sexual partners or frequent sexual intercourse
(2) Women with low age of first intercourse
(3) Women whose male sexual partners have other sexual partners with cervical cancer
(4) Women with current or previous herpes simplex virus infection
(5) Women with HIV infection.
(6) Women with other sexually transmitted diseases, especially a combination of multiple sexually transmitted diseases
(7) Women who are receiving immunosuppressive therapy
(8) Women who smoke.
6.How HPV causes cervical cancer
HPV stays in the body for too long and causes cell abnormalities in the cervix. These precancerous lesions do not necessarily lead to cervical cancer. However, over time, the abnormal cells may become cancerous. Once cancer cells are generated, they will spread in the cervix and other parts of the body.
7. Other factors that can cause cervical cancer
Hispanics and African Americans are more likely to develop cervical cancer than white women. Women with the following habits also have a higher risk of developing the disease: smoking, having multiple children, taking birth control pills for a long time, being HIV-positive or having a weak immune system, etc.
8.Smear test for early cervical cancer
Smear test is the most effective means of early detection of cervical cancer. Abnormal cells can be detected by painless smear test. Women should have this test every 3 years since the age of 21; women aged 30-65 who receive both HPV and this test can have it every 5 years.
9.What to do if your smear test is abnormal
If the test results show a slight abnormality, another test may be done. Your doctor will order a colposcopy to confirm if the cervical tissue is diseased; if the abnormal cells are not cancerous, they can be removed or destroyed. Prevention of abnormal cells from becoming cancerous is usually very successful.
10. Early diagnosis: HPV genetic testing
In some cases, your doctor may order an additional HPV genetic test to check for high-risk HPV, which can be done along with a smear test for women over 30 years of age, and is also recommended for any women with abnormal smear test results.
11.Cervical cancer diagnosis: biopsy
Biopsy is a laboratory examination of the cervical tissue to determine whether the sample is cellular abnormalities, precancerous cells or cancerous cells. Biopsy is usually performed under local anesthesia, while cone biopsy requires general anesthesia.
12.Cervical cancer clinical stage
Stage 0 indicates that the cancer cells only exist on the surface of the cervix; Stage 1: the cancer has not yet spread to the whole cervix; Stage 2: the tumor has spread to the upper part of the vagina; Stage 3: it has spread to the lower part of the vagina and may obstruct urination; Stage 4: it has spread to the bladder, rectum or other parts.
13.Treatment method: Surgery
Surgery is recommended to remove the diseased tissue before the disease has progressed to stage 2. Usually this type of surgery involves removal of the uterus, cervix and other related tissues. The doctor may also remove the fallopian tubes, ovaries and lymph nodes near the tumor.
14.Treatment: Radiation therapy
External radiation uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells in the target area and eliminate any remaining cancer cells after surgery; internal radiation implants radioactive material into the tumor. Patients will usually combine radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The side effects are: blood cytopenia, abdominal pain and diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, etc.
15.Treatment method: chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to reach any part of the body directly. Chemotherapy is the main treatment after cervical cancer spreads to other organs. Considering the specific drugs and dosage, the side effects may be: fatigue, easy contusion, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite.
16.Cervical cancer and fertility
As the treatment will remove the uterus and ovaries, it may affect future fertility. If the disease is detected early, pregnancy is still possible after the surgery: cervical hysterectomy can remove the cervix and part of the vagina, but keep the uterus intact.
17. Survival rate of cervical cancer
The survival rate is related to the early detection of the disease. Depending on the clinical stage, 15%-93% of women will live for at least 5 years, but this is the data from 2000-2002. However, this data does not represent the actual situation of each individual.