How to identify cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. It is characterized by the appearance of malignant neoplasms on the mucous membrane of the cervix. They, in turn, are formed from a precancerous tumor of the cervix. In the absence of timely treatment, such a tumor not only grows rapidly, but is also capable of subsequently metastasizing to other organs.
To avoid this, you need to know how to check your cervix for cancer. There are also factors that significantly increase the likelihood of this type of cancer, and monitoring them is another way to protect your health.
Cervical cancer: causes
As with any cancer, cervical cancer has certain risk factors. They are often the causes of cervical cancer. These factors include:
- sexual activity started before the age of 16;
- pregnancy and childbirth postponed until the age of 16;
- frequent abortions;
- a large number of sexual partners;
- inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system;
- long-term use of hormonal contraceptives;
- smoking;
In addition, old age and exposure to chemical carcinogens and radiation can also become risk factors, as in other forms of cancer.
The main cause of cervical cancer is considered to be the human papillomavirus (HPV). Scientists have established a direct link between these diseases — HPV is diagnosed in 100% of patients with cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer: symptoms
How to detect cervical cancer? The disease has characteristic symptoms, especially evident in the later stages. The main symptoms include:
- lower abdominal pain;
- feeling of heaviness in the pelvic region;
- disorders of the bladder and intestines;
- painful urination;
- characteristic discharge (white, transparent or bloody);
- bleeding;
- urinary retention;
- pain during sexual intercourse;
- swelling of the extremities and external genitalia.
A less characteristic, general symptomatology will also help to determine a precancerous tumor of the cervix. It includes weight loss, weakness and poor appetite, dizziness, and fever.
Diagnostics
If the symptoms of the disease are fixed, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive diagnostic examination. It begins with an examination by a gynecologist. The examination includes a finger examination of the vagina and colposcopy (examination of the internal condition of the cervix using a special colposcope device). As a result, the doctor determines the presence of tumors on the cervix.
If a tumor is detected, a biopsy is prescribed — the removal of a fragment of the neoplasm, which is subjected to laboratory examination. A biopsy shows whether the tumor is malignant. If this is the case, the patient needs to see an oncologist.
There is also a specialized preventive test for the detection of cervical cancer, which every woman over the age of 40 should undergo. The test involves a cytological examination of a smear taken from the surface of the cervix. The smear is treated with a special dye, followed by its microscopic examination.
