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Monday, October 31, 2011

Symptoms of Cervical Cancer. Signs and Symptoms of Cervical Cancer

Cervical Cancer Symptoms
Signs and Symptoms of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer symptoms vary from woman to woman. Some women will experience no symptoms, while others may have severe cervical cancer symptoms.

The symptoms of cervical cancer are general, meaning they are also the symptoms of many other medical conditions. Reporting symptoms to your doctor is the key for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Early Cervical Cancer Symptoms
In the early stages of cervical cancer, there are rarely any symptoms. Although cervical cancer can be diagnosed in its early stages by a routine Pap smear, usually no apparent symptoms would indicate cancer is present. This is why having a regular Pap smear is vital to early detection.

Cervical Cancer Symptoms in Later Stages
As cervical cancer progresses into more advanced stages, symptoms begin to appear. Cervical cancer symptoms include:

Pelvic pain. Persistent pelvic pain unrelated to other conditions, menstruation, or physical exertion can be a symptom of cervical cancer.

Pain during sexual intercourse. Some women with cervical cancer may experience pain during vaginal intercourse.

Abnormal vaginal bleeding. Abnormal vaginal bleeding is the most commonly experienced cervical cancer symptom. Women should be aware of post-coital bleeding (bleeding after sex), bleeding after douching, heavy periods, heavy spotting between periods, or an additional period during the monthly cycle. Any heavy, sudden onset of abnormal vaginal bleeding should be reported to your physician immediately.

Vaginal discharge. A vaginal discharge is a common symptom related to many women's conditions. In advanced cervical cancer, a vaginal discharge may be present and may or may not have an odor.

What to Do if You Have Cervical Cancer Symptoms
If you are experiencing cervical cancer symptoms, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. When you make your appointment, the receptionist will ask the reason for your visit. Be sure to inform him of your symptoms. This may determine how soon you see your doctor. If you feel uncomfortable speaking to the receptionist about your symptoms, ask to speak to a nurse.

Before your appointment, write down your symptoms. Include information such as when and how often you experience the symptoms, what medications (if any) alleviate the symptoms, and how long you have had the symptoms. All of this information help your doctor make a proper diagnosis.

What is Cervical Cancer?
Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer
Treatment of Cervical Cancer
Preventing Cervical Cancer

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Preventing Cervical Cancer. Cervical Cancer Prevention

Cervical Cancer Prevention
How to Reduce Your Risk of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer prevention should be a top priority for all women. Women can take several simple steps women to reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer. Small lifestyle adjustments combined with medical care go a long way in preventing cervical cancer.

1. Practice Safe Sex
Safe sex is not only essential for preventing pregnancy, but also for sexually transmitted diseases like the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a common sexually transmitted virus and is the primary cause of most cases of cervical cancer. You can reduce your risk of being infected with HPV by using a condom during sexual intercourse. A condom won't provide 100-percent protection against HPV, but studies show that condoms do provide some protection against HPV. You are much better off with your partner wearing a condom than not wearing one.

2. Limit How Many Sexual Partners You Have
Practicing safe sex is more than just wearing a condom. It also means limiting the amount of sexual partners you have in your lifetime. Having multiple sexual partners increases your risk of being infected with HPV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

3. Get Screened Regularly for Cervical Cancer
Getting a regular Pap smear is a highly effective way to reduce your risk of cervical cancer. The Pap smear is a simple test that can detect abnormal cervical changes long before they become cancerous. The key to the effectiveness of the Pap smear is having it done regularly. How often you need a Pap smear varies from woman to woman, based on age, previous pap smear results, and your cervical cancer risk factor. Always consult with your doctor about how often you should be having Pap smears.

If your Pap smear results are abnormal, be sure to follow up with your doctor's recommendations. This could mean more frequent Pap smears or a colposcopy, an exam that allows the cervix to be viewed more closely.

4. Be a Non-Smoker
Simply put, smoking offers no health benefits. It is common knowledge that smoking affects the lungs, but did you know that smoking can affect your cervix? Studies show that smoking can actually speed up the process of cervical damage caused by HPV. Quitting now greatly reduces your risk of several types of cancer, including cervical cancer.

5. Get Immunized Against HPV
HPV is a common sexually transmitted virus known to cause cervical cancer in women. Fortunately, there is an approved vaccine that not only protects against high risk strains, but also against two strains known to cause genital warts. Gardasil is available to women under 27, with a target age of 11 to 12 years of age. The vaccine is given in a series of three shots over a course of six months. It is most effective when given to young women before they become sexually active.

What is Cervical Cancer?
Symptoms of Cervical Cancer
Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer
Treatment of Cervical Cancer

Source:
"National Cancer Institute Fact Sheets." Human Papillomaviruses and Cancer: Questions and Answers. 06 June 2006. National Cancer Institute. 17 Aug 2007.

Treatment of Cervical Cancer. Treating Cervical Cancer

Treating Cervical Cancer
Cervical Cancer Treatment Options

Three treatments methods are commonly used to treat cervical cancer: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Sometimes they are used alone, and there are times when they are used in conjunction with one another.

The treatment method(s) chosen depend on several factors like type of cervical cancer, stage of the disease, general health of the patient, and if other treatments have been utilized.

Surgical Methods Used to Treat Cervical Cancer
Surgery is a common method used to treat cervical cancer. Many times, surgery is combined with other treatment methods, like chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The type of surgery chosen to treat cervical cancer depends on the stage and other factors.

Surgical treatments for cervical cancer include:

Lymphadenectomy Surgical removal of the lymph nodes. It is common in treating women with cervical cancer.

Radical Trachelectomy Removal of the cervix and its surrounding tissue while leaving the body of the uterus intact. A radical trachelectomy with lymphadenectomy is an option for young women with early stage disease who wish to maintain fertility.

Radical Hysterectomy Surgical removal of the uterus, cervix, and part of the vagina. In some cases, the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and lymph nodes are removed. A radical hysterectomy may be combine with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy Surgical removal of both ovaries and the fallopian tubes. This type of surgery accompanies a hysterectomy is some cases.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is prescribed to treat cervical cancer and also to help radiation therapy be more effective. Chemotherapy drugs work by killing cancer cells or preventing them from multiplying. Several chemotherapy drugs are available to treat cervical cancer and will be prescribed according to the stage of cancer, type of cervical cancer, and other health factors.

Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high energy beams to reduce the size of a tumor or to kill cancer cells. This type of treatment can be done internally with radioactive materials that are implanted in the uterus or externally with the use of a radiation therapy machines.

Often prescribed with chemotherapy, radiation therapy is an effective method of treating cervical cancer. It can however, be prescribed alone or before or after chemotherapy. Radiation treatment plans depend on stage of cervical cancer, other treatment methods used, and the general health of the patient.

What is Cervical Cancer?
Symptoms of Cervical Cancer
Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer
Preventing Cervical Cancer

Cervical Cancer Diagnosis. How is Cervical Cancer Diagnosed

Cervical Cancer Diagnosis
How is Cervical Cancer Diagnosed

Cervical Cancer Symptoms
Unlike other types of cancer, cervical cancer symptoms do not usually appear until the cancer has spread to an advanced stage. Because most women do not experience symptoms that prompt them to seek medical treatment, a regular Pap smear is essential for early detection.

The Pap Smear
The Pap smear plays a vital role in diagnosing cervical cancer. It is how most women discover they suffer from cervical dysplasia or cervical cancer. The Pap smear is a simple test that can reveal cervical abnormalities long before they progress into cancer.

All women should have a regular Pap smear, unless their physician has advised them they no longer need one. This may also include post-menopausal women and those who have had hysterectomies.

Colposcopy Exam
If Pap smear results reveal cervical abnormalities, a colposcopy is then scheduled. A colposcopy is an in-office exam that allows the doctor to view the cervix more closely with a colposcope. A colposcope is a lighted instrument that magnifies the cervix. It rests externally, outside of the vagina, during the exam. The images seen from the colposcope may be projected on a computer or television screen. You are not obligated to watch, but it may help you understand the exam better.

Cervical Biopsy and Endocervical Curettage
During the colposcopy, the doctor may perform a cervical biopsy depending on what is found during the exam. A cervical biopsy involves removing small amount of cervical tissue to be examined under a microscope. It takes only seconds for the doctor to gain a tissue sample and is only momentarily uncomfortable. Depending on the findings during the colposcopy, a few areas of the cervix may be biopsied.

Along with a cervical biopsy, an endocervical curettage (ECC) may also be done. During an ECC, the doctor uses a small brush to remove tissue from the endocervical canal, the narrow area between the uterus and cervix. An ECC can be moderately painful, but the pain disappears when the ECC is done.

Biopsy and ECC results usually take less than two weeks to return. Your doctor may have you schedule another visit to go over the results with you or he/she may call you by phone to inform you of the results.

Cone Biopsy and LEEP
There are times when a larger biopsy needs to be done to diagnose cervical cancer. In these cases, a cone biopsy may be performed. During a cone biopsy, a cone shaped piece of tissue is removed under general anesthesia. A cone biopsy is also used to remove pre-cancerous tissue from the cervix.

A loop electro surgical excision procedure (LEEP) is a procedure done under local anesthesia to remove tissue from the cervix. A LEEP uses an electrically charged wire loop to remove a tissue sample.

This method is more commonly used to treat high grade cervical dysplasia, rather than diagnose cervical cancer.

The Results are In
Once the biopsy results return, cervical cancer can either be ruled out or diagnosed. If a cervical cancer diagnosis is made, the next step is to determine what stage the cervical cancer is in. There are five cervical cancer stages and each represents how far advanced the cancer has spread.

Once the stage of cervical cancer has been determined, a treatment plan can then be developed.

What is Cervical Cancer?
Symptoms of Cervical Cancer
Treatment of Cervical Cancer
Preventing Cervical Cancer

Sources:
"What You Need to Know About Cervical Cancer." 03 March 2005. National Cancer Institute. 15 Aug 2007.
"How Cervical Cancer is Diagnosed." 04 Aug 2006. American Cancer Society. 15 Aug 2007.
"How is Cervical Cancer Staged?." Detailed Guide Cervical Cancer. 04 Aug 2006. American Cancer Society. 15 Aug 2007.

What is Cervical Cancer? Cervical Cancer 101

Cervical Cancer 101
What is Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer is a disease that affects the cervix in the female reproductive system. The cervix is the lower portion of the uterus that connects the upper vagina to the uterus. It is about two inches in length. During childbirth, the cervix dilates, allowing the baby to travel from the uterus to the vagina.

How Common is Cervical Cancer?
While cervical cancer used to be a common cause of cancer death among women in the United States, it is now much less common. In 2007, it is estimated that over 11,000 women will be diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer in 2007 within the United States. Over 40,000 will be diagnosed with non-invasive cervical cancer. Unfortunately, 3,670 women will die of the disease in 2007.

In underdeveloped countries, cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related death in women.

What are the Symptoms of Cervical Cancer?
In the early stages of cervical cancer, there usually are no symptoms. Cervical cancer symptoms begin to appear as the disease advances, invading deeper into the cervix and surrounding tissue. As the disease progresses, women may experience:

abnormal vaginal bleeding, including post-coital bleeding
pain during sexual intercourse, however this can be common and unrelated to cervical cancer
pelvic pain
heavy vaginal discharge

Read more about cervical cancer symptoms.

What are the Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer?
One of the main risks for developing cervical cancer being infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a common virus that is transmitted through sexual contact. Other cervical cancer risk factors include having sex at an early age, smoking cigarettes, having multiple sexual partners, and having a weakened immune system.

Keep in mind that risk factors only increase the likelihood of developing cervical cancer, they do not guarantee you will develop it.

Cervical Cancer Risk Factors
HPV and Cervical Cancer

How is Cervical Cancer Diagnosed?
The first step in diagnosing cervical cancer is through the Pap smear, a simple test that allows cervical cells to be examined under a microscope. If suspicious cells are found, then a colposcopy is performed. A colposcopy allows a doctor to view the cervix more closely. During the colpsocopy, a cervical biopsy may be done. If the biopsy finds cancerous cells, additional tests will be done to determine the stage of the disease.

How is Cervical Cancer Treated?
Cervical cancer is treated in several ways. The type of cervical cancer and the stage of the disease greatly affects what treatment methods are used.

Cervical cancer may be treated with surgery, such as a hysterectomy. Other forms forms of treatment include chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Treatment varies from patient to patient. One patient may only have surgery, while another may undergo several types of treatment. It all depends on the type and stage of cervical cancer.

Cervical Cancer Treatment Overview
Treating Cervical Cancer with Chemotherapy
• Radiation Therapy and Cervical Cancer

Symptoms of Cervical Cancer
Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer
Treatment of Cervical Cancer
Preventing Cervical Cancer

Sources:
"What You Need to Know About Cervical Cancer." 03 March 2005. National Cancer Institute. 21 June 2007.
"How Cervical Cancer is Diagnosed." 04 Aug 2006. American Cancer Society. 15 Aug 2007.
"How is Cervical Cancer Staged?" Detailed Guide Cervical Cancer. 04 Aug 2006. American Cancer Society. 15 Aug 2007.

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