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| Cervical Cancer |
Cervical cancer or Cancer of the cervix occurs when abnormal cells in the cervix (a narrow opening that leads from the vagina to the uterus) grows out of control, the abnormal cell growth has the ability to spread to other part of the body. About 90% of cervical cancer is been attributed to Human papillomavirus (HPV) and the remaining causes by different factors, however not all HPV causes cervical cancer and not everyone who has the virus developed the cancer. Most adults have been infected with HPV at some time. An infection may go away on its own, but sometimes it can cause genital warts or lead to cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer account for about 266,00 deaths globally and is the fourth most common cause of cancer death among woman with developing country accounting for about 70% of cervical cancer cases. It is the most common cause of death in low-income countries. Squamous cells account for about 80% to 90% of cervical cancer and the remaining 10% to 20% is Adenocarcinoma cells and a few other cells are accountable for the remaining.
Pap smear screening has caused a sharp reduce in the incidence of cervical cancer over the years. HPV can be transmitted sexually. Vaccines are effective and protective that it has proved successful against different strains causing HPV, it prevent against about 90% of cervical cancer, however regular pap smear test is vital to steer clear against cervical cancer as it gives update against the cells of your cervix.
The risk of having cervical cancer is reduced when you have few sexual partners, and you protect yourself during sex by using condoms. Several treatment options are available for cervical cancer, which consist of combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. It is important to have a regular pap smear test because early detection is key to survival.
What causes cervical cancer? / Risk factors
Cervical cancer is caused by different factors but HPV is responsible for almost 90% of all cases, here are all the major causes and risk factor responsible for cervical cancer.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Human papillomavirus is responsible for almost 90% of cervical cancer, it’s been researched that there are over 100 types of HPV however only about 13 of them can cause cervical cancer. HPV is most times sexually transmitted with increased risk of multiple sexual partners which increase the chances of getting the virus through sex.
- Multiple sexual partners
Multiple sexual partner increases the risk of having HPV has it is sexually transmitted
- Smoking
Smoking has been attributed to different type of cancers, reason been that is is a risk factor and can also cause cervical cancer.
- Taking birth control pills for a long period of time
Long time oral contraceptive use has been linked with cervical cancer, women who take it for a longer period of time is at risk. However stopping the pill will return back the body to normal if no damage had been done
- Early sexual exposure
Women who engage in sexual intercourse at a very young age are more prone to having cervical cancer.
- Weak immune system (HIV/AIDS)
Weak immunity due to any immunosuppressant diseases or individuals taking immunosuppressant drugs due to organ transplant is at increased risk of cervical cancer.
- Overweight
Overweight individuals are prone to various health challenges and cervical cancer is one of them. Being overweight is also a risk factor.
- Some sexually transmitted diseases (STD)
Some types of STDs increases the chances of a woman having cervical cancer. This types of STDs includes Syphilis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
- Multiple pregnancies more than three times
Young mothers who had their baby below or at 17 years are more prone to having cervical cancer compare to mother of about 25 years. However multiple pregnancies more than 3 times increase the risk of the cancer compare to woman who had never been pregnant.
Signs and Symptoms of cervical Cancer
In its early stage it shows no significant sign but only pap smear test could discover the abnormality. Cervical cancer comes with some characteristic signs and symptoms and they are:
- Pain in the pelvic region
- Bleeding even after menopause
- Vaginal bleeding after sex
- Painful intercourse
- Increased vaginal discharge with foul odor
- Bleeding after douching
- Increase urination and pain during urination
- Longer and heavy menstrual bleeding
What are the stages of cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer stages refers to the extent to which the cancerous tissues had spread to the lymph nodes and distance covered, it also important to know the stages so as to plan the treatment plan. Cervical cancer stages measurement is a system designed by FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) and the AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer).
Cervical cancer is classified into five different stages from (0 to IV) as follows:
Stage 0:
At this stage the cancer cells had not spread or invade neighboring region of the body. The abnormal cells are still on the surface of the cervix.
Stage I:
At this stage a small tumor has appear but it has not spread to any nodes and surrounding tissue.
Stage II:
At this stage the cancer had spread beyond the cervix into the uterus but has not invaded the pelvic walls or the walls of the lower part of the vagina.
Stage III:
The cancer had grown and spread into the lower part of the vagina and walls of the pelvic blocking the ureters. There is still no spread into other part of the body.
Stage IV:
At this stage the cancer is in its advance form, it has spread into the surrounding tissue and organ and other part of the body.
Diagnosis of cervical cancer
With advance in technology and medicine there are several distinctive ways in which cervical cancer can be diagnosed. The following procedures and test can be used for its diagnosis:
- Pap smear
- Biopsy
- Pelvic ultrasound
- Computer tomography scan (CT scan)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI scan)
Treatment for cervical cancer
- Surgery:
The treatment of cervical cancer at its early stage is usually through surgery when it has not spread beyond the cervix. This procedure removes the growing tumor, however extra measure is taken using radiotherapy to shrink the cancer cells if the doctor believes the cancer cells might grow again
- Radiation therapy
This involves the use of high energy X-rays or radiation to destroy cancerous cells. Radiation is used to treat cancer about 40% of all cancer patient undergoes radiotherapy. It is use to treat advance form of cancer.
- Chemotherapy
This uses of chemical medications to treat and destroy the cancerous cells. This procedure targets the cancer cells in the cervix. Chemotherapy is also an option used for people with advance stage of cancer.
ALSO READ COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF RADIOTHERAPY AND CHEMOTHERAPY
How can I avoid Cervical cancer? / Prevention of cervical cancer
Vaccine is available for prevention of HPV and other important steps must be taken to avoid cervical cancer. Cervical cancer can be prevented by doing the following on a regular basis and living a healthy lifestyle.
- Take Human papillomavirus vaccine
Due to some strain of HPV that had been established to result in cervical cancer, one of the best way to avoid and prevent yourself from cervical cancer is to get yourself vaccinated against HPV. This step drastically reduce your chances of having HPV the develop into cancer.
- Undertake Regular cervical screening
Early detection is key to survival as this help to quickly treat and prevent the spreading of the cancer cells. So getting screened through pap smear or scan.
- Practice safer sex, use condoms
The causal virus (HPV) had been liked to sex, practicing safer sex by using protection in form of condom is a good way to protect and prevent yourself against cervical cancer.
- Have fewer sexual partners
The risk of having HPV and cervical cancer increases with multiple sexual partners. Reducing the number of sexual partners and staying faithful is also an important way to reduce the chances of getting HPV and cervical cancer.
- Stop smoking
Several research has link smoking to different types of cancer, and women who smoke and have HPV have an increase risk of developing cervical cancer. To avoid this you must protect yourself and stop smoking to reduce the risk of cervical cancer.
- Avoid sexual intercourse at a early age
Early onset of sexual intercourse in a female will increase her risk of developing cervical cancer, the more she delays the onset of sexual intercourse the her chances of not developing the cancer. However there is an association between multiple birth and cervical cancer the numbers of pregnancy increases the chances of cervical cancer.
What is the survival rate for cervical cancer?
There is a 80 to 90 percent survival rate if the cancer is detected early and this reduce as the stages advanced at the advanced stage the chances to survival is very small at about 15 to 20 percent. Surviving any form of cancer early detection is key take your time and get screened.
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