Cervical cancer

Although cervical cancer is a threatening disease, and the number of cases increases each year worldwide, early diagnosis has a positive impact on controlling the percentage of the disease.

This article discusses the nature of cervical cancer, cervical cancer causes, symptoms, diagnosis, screening, cervical cancer treatment, and prevention.

What is cervical cancer? 

Cervical cancer begins in the cervix: it is the lowest part of the uterus, and it connects the uterus and the vagina. And like other types of cancer, cervical cancer occurs as a result of abnormal growth of the cervical cells.

Cervical cancer causes

Human Papillomavirus (is the main cause of cervical cancer); other causes include early sexual contact, multiple sexual partners, and administration of oral contraceptives.

Signs and Symptoms of Cervical Cancer

One of the first warning signs of cervical cancer is Abnormal vaginal bleeding; other cervical cancer signs and symptoms:

·       Vaginal discomfort, malodorous discharge, and dysuria

·       Hematuria, constipation, fistula, and ureteral obstruction–in case of rectum and bladder tumor invasion

·       Leg edema, pain, and hydronephrosis

·       Distant metastasis: extra-pelvic lymph nodes, lung, liver, and bone (in the late cervical cancer stages).

 Diagnosis of cervical cancer

Physical Examination: 

The physical examination is normal in the early cervical cancer stages, but after the disease progressed, physical examination can show:

      ·   Gross erosion, ulcer or mass in the cervix, which may extend to the vagina

• External mass or blood in the rectum
• Pelvic metastasis 
• Hepatomegaly (liver enlargement)
• Pleural effusion (in the lungs) or bronchial obstruction
• Leg edema.

Cervical cancer pictures

                                                                                                       

 Pap testing: is a cervical cancer test; if it shows a positive result, the patient must undergo: 

Colposcopy, biopsy, conization of the cervix, cystoscopy, proctosigmoidoscopy, and chest x-ray.

Screening

The purpose of screening is to detect cervical cancer early, as soon as possible, to cure it before any progression. The screening tools: vaginal and cervical smear, Pap test, and the HPV DNA test.

Recommendations for specific patient age groups:

•          Age < 25 years: no screening is required
•         Age (30 to 65 years): Human Papillomavirus test and a cytology specimen are preferred every five years, or a cytology specimen alone every three years
•         Age> 65 years: no screening if prior screening is negative, and the patient is not high risk.

Treatment 

• Surgery: simple hysterectomy and radical hysterectomy.
• Radiation
• Chemotherapy

The physician can choose a suitable cervical cancer treatment according to the patient case and the disease stage.

 Prevention

Because Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer, vaccination against HPV is our priority in preventing cervical cancer.

What we can conclude at the end of the article, is that screening and preventive measures can decrease the incidence of cervical cancer and increase the overall survival, because of the early detection of the disease.