Cervical cancer: general information
Cervical cancer is a malignant tumor on the cervix. It occurs in women of any age, so everyone needs to know everything about cervical cancer: what causes it, what types there are, how it manifests itself and how it is treated.
The link between human papillomavirus and cervical cancer has been unequivocally proven — HPV has been found in the vast majority of patients. Other risk factors include smoking, prolonged use of oral contraceptives, and a history of multiple pregnancies. Frequent change of sexual partners is also a possible cause, as it increases the likelihood of HPV infection.
Types of cervical cancer
The classification of cervical tumors includes several subspecies that differ in the structure of tumor cells. This determines how quickly cervical cancer can develop and how malignant the course of the disease will be. The main subspecies are adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. An accurate diagnosis is made after a biopsy.
Cervical cancer screening
In the early stages, the disease almost does not make itself felt. It is only when the process goes far that signs such as bleeding outside the menstrual cycle and pelvic pain appear. Because of this, many patients miss the onset of the disease when the effectiveness of cervical cancer treatment is optimal.
Therefore, it is necessary to undergo regular screenings: PAP smear is the most well-known and effective way to detect cancer early. When the pathology is detected, additional examinations are prescribed: biopsy, ultrasound and MRI to determine the size of the tumor, and PET-CT to search for metastases.
Is cervical cancer curable
How cervical cancer is treated — and whether it is treated in principle — is the main issue of concern to women who have learned about their diagnosis. The stories of those who have cured cervical cancer say that there is always hope. Doctors use an integrated approach — they combine different techniques to remove or destroy a tumor, while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible, and hence the ability to conceive and have children.
- One of the most effective ways to treat cervical cancer is surgery. Depending on the extent of the tumor, cervical removal or hysterectomy is used (removal of the uterus, along with the cervix, ovaries, part of the vagina, surrounding tissue and lymph nodes). There are several reasons why cervical cancer is not operated on — cervical removal is not always possible, and complete removal of the uterus is not recommended for young women.
- Radiation therapy is the destruction of tumor cells using ionizing radiation. Brachytherapy, the introduction of radioactive "grains" directly into the tumor, is now actively used. They act directly on the tumor, without harm to the body as a whole.
- Chemotherapy drugs Cisplatin and Topotecan are prescribed together with radiation therapy. A modern alternative to systemic chemotherapy is local, when drugs are injected into the arteries feeding the uterus and, consequently, the tumor. With this method, the damage to healthy organs is noticeably less.
The life expectancy of cervical cancer depends on many factors: the stage of tumor development, the presence of damage to neighboring organs, the presence of metastases, and the general condition of the patient. A doctor can make a prognosis only after examination, initiation of treatment and evaluation of its effectiveness.
