What Is Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer is the type of cancer that occurs when the cells in the cervix undergo rapid proliferation. The cervix is the region that connects the uterus and vagina. Infection by HPV or Human Papilloma Virus causes cervical cancer in more than 90% of the cases.

Symptoms of Cervical Cancer

The symptoms of cervical cancer are not precisely visible until it has spread. The early symptoms include:

• Painful sexual intercourse
• Vaginal bleeding after intercourse or after a gynecologist’s exam
• Unfamiliar vaginal discharge

If cervical cancer has undergone metastasis already, the symptoms are:

• Difficulty in urinating
• Severe pain in the pelvic region
• Swollen legs
• Organ failure
• Unexplained weight loss
• Decrease in appetite

If you notice any such symptoms, book an appointment with the best cervical cancer doctors and get it checked at the earliest.

Causes of Cervical Cancer

There is no clear evidence as to what causes cervical cancer. However, HPV is found to be one of the leading causes. Besides, various environmental factors and lifestyle patterns can also contribute to cervical cancer. Some of the risk factors of cervical cancer include:

• Sexual Activity: Individuals who started having sexual intercourse at an early age (onset of menstruation) can increase the risk of cervical cancer.
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (Stds): Individuals having other STIs like syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV increases the risk of HPV infections.
• Weak Immune System: If an individual has an already weakened immune system can contract HPV infections.

Types of Cervical Cancer

The main types of cervical cancer are:

• Squamous Carcinoma: This form of cervical cancer affects the squamous cells of the cervix. These cells are present in the outer lining of the cervix that reaches up to the vagina.
• Adenocarcinoma: This form of cancer starts affecting the columnar-shaped cells in the cervical canal’s inner lining.

Diagnosis

The most significant development in cervical cancer screening is the broader application of the Papanicolaou (Pap) procedure and HPV monitoring. Pap smear tests should be done by women regularly. In this test, the doctor takes a swab from your cervix. The cells are then examined under a microscope for anything unusual. If anything unfamiliar is observed, a biopsy test is done to get a more precise result.

Another way to diagnose cervical cancer is colposcopy. In this test, the cervix cells are stained with acetic acid. Then a colposcope is used to examine the unusual cells for biopsy.

Treatment

The treatment procedure entirely depends on the stage of cancer. This also depends on your choice, like if you want to get pregnant in the future. The treatment options include:

• Early-stage Surgical Procedure: If cancer has affected a relatively smaller region, then that portion is surgically removed.
• Trachelectomy
• Hysterectomy

Consult Top-rated Cervical Cancer Doctors to ensure proper treatment and care.