Cervical Cancer Symptoms and Treatment
By: Alin ThomsTotal Views: 29, Word Count: 520,
Cervical cancer is a cancer that starts and develops in the cervix, it is the lower part of the uterus, which opens at the top of vagina. This cancer starts in the cells on the surface of the cervix. The cervix cell surface contains two types of cells - squamous and columnar.
Usualy Cervical Cancer develops very slowly. It starts with a pre-cancerous condition i.e. dysplasia. Pap smear is used to treat this pre cancerous condition, therefore it is essential for women to get regular pap smears. Cervical cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the world.
Symptoms of Cervical Cancer
The early symptoms of cervical cancer are not specific. However, the symptoms of the cervical cancer at an early stage are:
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods, after intercourse
- Period become heavier and usually lasts for long.
- Continuous vaginal discharge such as pale, watery, pink, brown, bloody or foul smelling.
- Bleeding after the menopause
Symptoms of Advanced Cervical Cancer stage are
1. Loss of appetite
2. Fatigue
3. Loss of weight
4. Back pain
5. Leg pain
6. Pelvic pain
7. Single Swollen pain
8. Leaking of urine
9. Bone fracture
However, these symptoms can be caused due to some other cancer or diseases. It is necessary to consult your doctor before coming to any type of conclusion.
Treatments for Cervical Cancer
Treatment of cervical cancer depends on the stage, size and location of the cancer, age and the general health of the woman. At the early stage, Cervical Cancer can be cured by removing the cancerous cells or tissues. Several surgical ways are performed to treat this cancer without damaging or removing the uterus.
Types of surgery that can be performed at the early stage of cervical cancer are.
LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure):-In this procedure, doctor uses electricity to remove abnormal tissue.
Radiation therapy:- In the radiation therapy, radiation is used to treat the cancer in which radiation is passed beyond the pelvis. Radiation therapy can either be internal or external. In the internal radiation therapy, a device filled with radioactive material is placed inside the woman vagina next to cervical. Whereas in the external radiation therapy, a large machine is set on the body to locate the cancer, it is very similar to X-ray.
Chemotherapy:- Chemotherapy involves use of drug to kill the cancerous cells. Some of the drugs that are used for the chemotherapy of cervical cancer are 5-FU, Cisplatin, Carboplatin, Paclitaxel, Infosfamide, and Cyclophosphamide. In some cases, chemotherapy is used before and after the surgery.
Cryotherapy :- The abnormal cells are freeze in this procedure
Laser therapy:- It is a procedure in which radiation beam is used to burn the abnormal tissues or cells.
However, in the recent years, deaths due to cervical cancer are rare, but one should not ignore this cancer. If you find any of the above symptoms then do consult your doctor as soon as possible for effective treatment in order to eradicate future complications.
About the Author
Dr.Alin Thoms is a well known cancer specialist ( oncologist) and has been in this field since from 1995. He uses radiotherapy or drugs to treat cancer. He has done B.A and B.M.B.ch from Oxford University. His special interests lies in - leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and chemotherapy and transplantation for these disorders. He is currently director of the North London Cancer Network.
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