Cancer
Cervical Cancer
Cancer of the cervix, a very common kind of cancer in women, is a disease in which cancer cells are found in the tissues of the cervix -- the opening of the uterus (womb). The cervix connects the uterus to the vagina (birth canal). Cancer of the cervix usually grows slowly over a period of time. Before cancer cells are found on the cervix, the tissues of the cervix go through changes in which cells that are not normal begin to appear (called dysplasia).
Symptoms of cervical cancer
There are usually no symptoms associated with cancer of the cervix. It is therefore very important that you visit your doctor regularly for tests that will detect this form of cancer. The first of these is a Pap smear, which is done during your routine annual gynecological examination. The doctor uses a piece of cotton, a brush, or a small wooden stick to gently scrape the outside of the cervix to pick up some cells that can be examined under a microscope. You may feel some pressure, but this is usually not a painful procedure.
Risk factors for developing cervical cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, strong risk factors include:
- early age at first intercourse
- a history of multiple sexual partners
- genital human papillomavirus infection or other sexually transmitted disease (STD)
- the presence of other genital tract neoplasia, and prior squamous intraepithelial lesion.
- Also, women who have had many children and/or are long-term users of oral contraceptives have an increased risk for cervical cancer, as are women over age 60.
- Other risk factors include active or passive ("second-hand") smoking, poor nutrition, and/or a current or past sexual partner with risk factors for STD, immune system disease or are HIV positive.
Treatment for cervical cancer
Treatments for cancer of the cervix depend on the stage of disease, the size of the tumor, age, overall physical condition, and a woman’s desire to have children. There are three kinds of treatment for women with cancer of the cervix: surgery (removing the cancer in an operation); radiation therapy (using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells); and chemotherapy (using drugs to kill cancer cells). Treatment for cervical cancer during pregnancy may be delayed depending on the stage of the cancer and how many months of pregnancy remain.
