Is cervical cancer curable?
Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that happens when cells in a women’s cervix change. Cervix is the lowest part of the uterus that attaches to the vagina. Cervical cancer can affect the deeper tissues of the cervix and may spread to the other parts of the human body like the lungs, liver, rectum, vagina, and bladder. Cervical cancer is mostly caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), which is avoidable with a vaccine. Cervical cancer grows gradually so there is a chance to find it on time and to treat it before it causes serious issues. It kills fewer women each year. Women 35 to 44 are usually affected by this cancer. But 15% of new cases are in women over age 65. Women who are not getting proper screening regularly easily getting this curse cancer. The body’s immune system customarily prevents the virus of cervical cancer from doing harm, when exposed to HPV. you can easily control cervical cancer by having proper screening tests regularly. You can take a vaccine that protects you from the infection of HPV.
Types of cervical cancer
There are different types of cervical cancer. By understanding these types you can more effectively diagnose cancer and can have proper treatment. The main types of cervical cancer are:
Squamous cell carcinoma: This type of cancer initiates in the thin, flat cells lining the outer part of the cervix which overhang into the vagina. This type of cancer found in more than 90% of cases.
Adenocarcinoma: This type of cervical cancer initiates in the pillar-shaped glandular cells that rule the cervical canal. This cancer forms in the cells that generate mucus.
Mixed carcinoma: This type of cancer has symptoms and causes like the above two cancer types. It has the same features as squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma cancer.
Symptoms
At the start cervical cancer do not produce any symptom. You can feel its symptoms until it’s for along. The symptoms include:
- Bleeding in the vagina after intercourse between periods and after the menopause.
- You can feel pelvic pain and can also feel pain during intercourse.
- Bloody vaginal discharge that has a bad odor.
- You may feel waterly vaginal discharge too, it also has a bad foul odor. This is totally unusual.
- You can feel fatigued randomly.
- Bone pain is a prominent symptom of cervical cancer.
- Women also face trouble while peeing.
- Swelling legs are also the symptoms of this cancer.
- Kidney failure and lack of appetite are usual.
You should make an urgent appointment with your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms to control your cervical cancer. You should call your doctor as soon as possible after the bleeding menopause because it is not normal.
Causes of cervical cancer
Cervical cancer starts when healthy cells in the cervix expand changes in their DNA. A cell’s DNA accommodates the orders that tell a cell what to do.
Healthy cells grow and eventually die at a set time. The change tells the cell to grow and multiply in an uncontrollable mood, or they don’t die. The collection of abnormal cells form a mass called a tumor. Cancer cells occupy near tissues and can break out from a tumor to spread anywhere in the body.
This cancer begins when tissues make changes. Most cases of cervical cancer are because of the infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). different types of human papillomavirus can cause genital warts, skin disorders, and skin warts. This is not clear what are certain causes of cervical cancer. But human papillomavirus plays a specific role in this regard. HPV is very common but humans with the virus never generate cancer. Other factors like lifestyle and environment also determine whether you will develop cervical cancer or not.
Risk factors
You may be at higher risk of getting cervical cancer if you, start having intercourse before age 16 or within a year in which your period’s process starts. Having intercourse at an early age develops the risk of HPV. You may face cervical cancer if you have several sexual partners. the greater number of partners you have, the greater chance you may have of cervical cancer If you take birth control pills continuously for more than 5 years, there is a risk that you will have cervical cancer. The drug called diethylstilbestrol (DES) taken by a pregnant lady increases the chances of cancer. Smoking also generates cervical cancer.it is associated with squamous cell cervical cancer. Women who have a weakened immune system may face this cancer.
Diagnoses and exams
The most important advantage in cervical cancer screening is the wide use of the Papanicolaou test and also high-risk HPV testing. Regular pelvic exam of women is a part of a pap smear. Doctors collect cells from the surface of your cervix and give it to the technician. The technician test these cells under a microscope. If doctors and technicians note any problem in the cells they will take out some cervical tissue with a procedure called a biopsy.
Colposcopy exam also includes in it. It is like a pelvic exam. The doctor uses it if pap smears notice any unusual problem in the cell. They splash your cervix with a less harmful dye or acetic acid so the cell can see easily. Then they use a microscope called a colposcopy, Which magnifies you cervix about 8 to 15 time to check for unusual cell for biopsy. Women usually have this procedure from a gynecologist.
Prevention
You can reduce the risk of cervical cancer by proper prevention. You can ask your doctor for an HPV vaccine. Taking the vaccine to prevent HPV can reduce the risk of cervical cancer and many other HPV related cancer. You should ask your doctor whether an HPV vaccine is appropriate for you or not.
You should have a routine pap test because it detects precancerous conditions of the cervix. Practicing safe sex reduces the causes of cervical cancer. If you don’t want to become a victim of cervical cancer you should not adopt smoking habits.
