Cervical Cancer - Treatment Overview

What is Cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is a cancer found in the entrance of womb or uterus also known as cancer of cervix. The cervix can be called as a narrow portion of the lower uterus, which is called as the neck of the uterus or womb. This kind of cancer is found among women of age beyond 30. As per the American Cancer Society estimate by the end of 2015 about 12,900 women will be found suffering from this kind of cancer on an annual basis. And as per NHS (National Health Service) UK, in this country around 3000 women are seen suffering from the same. The WHO estimate 200,000 women all across the world are seen losing their life with this menace. 

What causes it? 

The cervical cancer starts when your healthy cells get certain genetic changes, which makes them to convert into abnormal cells. The healthy cells are then seen growing at the established rate, which eventually dies down at the given time. With the accumulation of the abnormal cells you end up getting the tumour or mass. The cancer cells simply invade the close one tissues and thus can wreck off from the tumour, which simply spreads all over your body. It is still not clear what really brings out cervical cancer; however, the HPV plays a vital role in it, which is very much common among the women having viruses of developing cervical cancer. 

What are the symptoms of cervical Cancer?

You hardly find any signs or symptoms of cervical cancer during its initial stage. However, when it grows within the uterus and other areas, the woman suffering from the same will experience certain symptoms, which are as under: 

·         You experience vaginal bleeding after having intercourse, between the periods or after the menopause.

·         You experience a heavy watery and bloody vaginal discharge that come along with some foul odour

·         You experience pelvic pain or experience some pain during intercourse

How is cervical cancer diagnosed?

On suspecting the presence of cervical cancer, your doctor will have a complete examination of your cervix. The doctor using a special magnifying instrument called colposcope, which is employed to find out the presence of abnormal cells. During this test, the doctor will collect the sample of the affected cells for the biopsy. In order to find out the tissue, the doctor will use the following options:

·         Punch biopsy

·         Endocervical curettage

·         Electrical wire loop

·         Cone biopsy

What is the treatment for cervical Cancer?

The treatment for cervical cancer would for a number of factors, which include the stage of the cancer and other health issues. The following are the options for the treatment of cervical cancer:

·         Surgery: If the cervical cancer is found in the initial stage, the doctors choose the surgical option called hysterectomy to remove the uterus. However, with this surgical option, the women lose the opportunity to become pregnant. This surgery is further divided into two types- simple hysterectomy and radical hysterectomy. The former is used as the option for early stage cancer wherein the entire uterus and cervix are removed, while in the latter case, the surgeon removes the uterus, cervix and the lymph nodes and certain portion of vagina is removed that are affected by cancer. 

·         Radiation Therapy: With the help of high power energy beams like X rays, you end up killing the cancer cells. This therapy is employed alone or could be used with the procedure of chemotherapy before going for the surgery in order to shrink the tumour or after the surgical procedure in order to get rid of the cancer cells. The radiation therapy can be given either internally, externally or both ways.

·         Chemotherapy: This method also uses certain medications, which is carried out by injecting your vein in order to kill the cancer cells. With the help of low doses of chemotherapy along with radiation therapy, the doctors treat the cancer. However, the higher chemotherapy doses can help in regulating the advance level of cervical cancer, which cannot be curable. 

Conclusion

As per estimate, the number of women suffering from cervical cancer is growing with every passing year. Though it becomes difficult to define them in the early stage, however, with conscious lifestyle one can end up getting the right solution on time.