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Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the condition where abnormal cells are growing on the cervix (the entrance to the womb from the vagina). Cervical cancer mainly affects women that are sexually active between the ages of 30-45. The majority of cases of cervical cancer are caused by the human papilloma virus, also known as HPV. There are hundreds of types of HPV, the majority of them harmless but 13 of these viruses can cause abnormal changes to the cervix and the cells. Other factors that contribute to the development of cervical cancer are, birth control pills (long term use can increase a woman’s chances of developing it), having many sexual partners (this increases the chances of catching the HPV virus), being sexually active from a young age, smoking, mental stress, childbirth at a young age (17 or under) and women who have had several pregnancies are more at risk than women who haven’t had any.

SYMPTOMS OF CERVICAL CANCER

At the beginning, women may not experience any symptoms at all which is why it is vital to go for regular smear test. As it develops, women may start to experience abnormal bleeding between their periods, longer and heavier periods, bleeding during sexual intercourse or pain during it, pelvic pain, thick vaginal discharge and blood appearing in the discharge.

Treatments

Surgery

This involves removing cancer during an operation and is sometimes used to treat cervical cancer. There are several types of surgery:

  • Conization — this removes a cone-shaped piece of tissue from your cervix and the canal of your cervix. The tissue is then viewed under a microscope to check for cancer cells. It can be used to both diagnose and treat cervical cancer.
  • Total hysterectomy — this is a surgery to remove the entire uterus including the cervix.
  • Radical hysterectomy —- this removes the uterus, cervix, vagina parts, as well as ligaments and tissues surrounding them.
  • Modified radical hysterectomy — removes the uterus, cervix, upper part of the vagina, and the ligaments and tissues. Not so many tissues or organs are removed during this surgery.
  • Radical trachelectomy — removes the cervix, tissue and lymph nodes and upper part of the vagina. In this surgery the ovaries and uterus are not removed.
  • Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy — removes both ovaries and fallopian tubes
  • Pelvic exenteration — removes the lower colon, rectum, bladder, cervix, vagina, ovaries and lymph nodes. Urine and stool flow from artificial openings called stoma into a collection bag.

Radiation Therapy

This type of therapy uses high-energy x-rays or other kinds of radiation that kills cancer cells.

  • External radiation — a machine sends radiation in the direction of the cancer. Thin beams of radiation are aimed at the tumour from different angles.
  • Internal radiation — placed directly into or near the cancer, radioactive substances sealed in needles, seeds, wires or catheters.

Chemotherapy

This is the use of drugs to stop cancer cells from growing by stopping them from dividing or killing them. The drugs enter the blood stream by taking it orally or through an injection in the vein or muscle. It then reaches throughout the body and finds the cancer cells. It can also be put directly into the cerebrospinal fluid, organ, or body cavity like the abdomen and affects the cancer cells in that region of the body.

Targeted Therapy

This is the use of drugs as well as other substances to find and attack specific cancer cells. It can be treated with the use of antibodies that can identify whether cells are cancerous or normal and can stop the substances that make cancer cells grow. They can be given by infusion and can be used to carry other drugs, toxins or radioactive materials to the cancer cells. Another kind of targeted therapy can prevent the growth of new blood vessels to stop tumours from growing.

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