Published on Oct 10, 2014 and last reviewed on Aug 03, 2023 - 3 min read
Abstract
This article discusses in detail about cervical cancer, one of the most common illnesses in women these days.
Introduction:
Every year, many women above the age of 40 are being diagnosed and treated for cervical cancer. If detected early, this disease can be treated. Every woman needs to be consciously aware of this condition, and timely screening helps identify this illness earlier. Thus, your doctor will be able to give you the right treatment and halt the progress of the disease to other parts of the body.
It is important to know that this disease is quite widespread today and every woman can get it.
Conclusion:
Women need to keep in mind that not only those who have a history of cancer in their families are prone to this disease, but every woman who is sexually active should remain alert and keep herself checked for possibilities of this condition. Also, women need not be afraid of this condition, as it is preventable and treatable when diagnosed in time.
The primary cause of cervical cancer is the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that passes from one person to the other, usually during sexual intercourse. Different types of human papillomavirus can cause changes in the woman's cervix and lead to cervical cancer over time.
People between their late teens and mid-30s are more prone to developing cervical cancer. People who are younger than 20 rarely develop cervical cancer. It is frequently diagnosed in women between 35 and 44 years old.
The most common early sign seen during cervical cancer is abnormal bleeding after vaginal sex, bleeding between periods, or bleeding after menopause. The other early sign involves itching or burning sensations in the vagina, unexplained fatigue, low back or abdominal pain, or abdominal bloating. If the symptoms are noticed early, the diagnosis will become easy, and cervical cancer can be cured too.
The pain due to cervical cancer may not be felt much early. This is because cervical cancer tends to spreads at a slower rate. However, as cancer progresses, it spreads to nearby organs and tissues, which may lead to pain in the pelvis region and cause issues related to urination.
Cervical cancer can be detected by abnormal cells in the cervix through a pap test. The human papillomavirus (HPV) test can be done by testing the collected sample from the cervix to detect the presence of any infection associated with HPV, which is the leading cause of cervical cancer.
No, cervical cancer is usually not associated with weight gain. However, unexplained weight loss is the most common finding that leads to loss of appetite. This problem occurs regardless of the amount of food consumed by a person.
Cervical cancer is usually diagnosed in women between ages 35 and 44, with the average age diagnosed at 50. It is rarely seen in women who are younger than 20 years. As a result, many older women do not recognize or realize the risk of cervical cancer development.
Diagnosis of cervical cancer cannot be made through a blood test. However, it is an important test to detect the levels of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in the blood. A Pap test is usually done to diagnose cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer tends to develop at a languid pace. The development of cancer cells may take years for the abnormal changes to transform into cancerous cells and severe conditions. In addition, it may develop faster in individuals with weaker immune systems.
Cervical cancer, if left untreated, can spread to other body parts, making the condition severe. It can be difficult to cure if identified at a later stage. The abnormal changes can take years to become invasive cancer cells.
Stage 1 is mainly confined to the cervix and is considered curable. Stage 1 cervical cancer can be cured in patients through radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. It is easy to treat cervical cancer in stage 1.
The cancers with the lowest survival rate are pancreatic cancer, mesothelioma, and brain cancer. The highest five-year survival is seen in patients with melanoma of the skin, testicular cancer, and prostate cancer. Unfortunately, these cancers are estimated to have a lower survival rate, meaning life expectancy is less.
Conization is also known as cone biopsy of the cervix; a surgical procedure performed when cancer spreads to the lymph nodes. The initial regeneration of the cervix is expected to happen six months after the excision, which is dependent on the cervical volume excised. The greater the cone and the less cervical tissue left, the less the degree of cervical regeneration.
The typical symptom of cervical cancer that occurs during cervical cancer is the spread of cancer to lymph nodes which may feel swollen or stiff. It can spread to the lymph nodes between the hip bone. However, the abnormal cells might take time to spread to other body parts.
Cervical cancer at an early stage is curable when treated with radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. Advanced cervical cancer is harder to cure. The five-year survival rate from cervical cancer is about 66 percent.
Last reviewed at:
03 Aug 2023 - 3 min read
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Query: Hi doctor, I have a few warts on my leg and a barely noticeable wart on my penis. My doctor said that they look like HPV. He advised me to apply antifungal and steroid cream and wear condoms. The cream was not very effective even after four days. Can it be something other than HPV? Will condoms prev... Read Full »
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