Cervical Cancer

Definition

Cervical Cancer is the third most common cancer of female reproductive system. It is classified as either pre-invasive or invasive. Pre-invasive has ranges from minimal cervical dysplasia, in which the lower third of the epithelium contains abnormal cells, in which the full thickness of epithelium contains abnormally proliferating cells also known as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. In invasive carcinoma, cancer cells penetrate the basement membrane and can spread directly to contiguous pelvic structures. If you have Preinvasive cancer, then it is curable 75% to 90% of the time with early detection and proper treatment. But if untreated, then it may lead to invasive cervical cancer. But in almost all cases of cervical cancer, the histologic type is squamous cell carcinoma, which varies from well-differentiated cells to highly anaplastic spindle cells.

Causes of Cervical Cancer

• Frequent intercourse at a young age
• Multiple pregnancies
• Exposure to sexually transmitted diseases
• Smoking
• Multiple sexual partners

Symptoms of Cervical Cancer Symptoms

Preinvasive cervical cancer produces no symptoms. Early invasive cervical cancer may causes abnormal vaginal bleeding, and postcoital pain and bleeding. It may also causes pelvic pain, vaginal leakage of urine and feces from a fistula, anorexia, and anemia.

Treatment of Cervical Cancer

• You can treat Preinvasive with total excisional biopsy, laser destruction,  or, rarely, hysterectomy.
• You can treat invasive with hysterectomy and radiation therapy.

There are two kinds of radiation treatment such as a device loaded with radioactive pellets which is placed into the vagina near the cancer and kept in place for a certain period of time, or an external device which beams radiation into the target areas during visits to the radiotherapist. A variety of chemotherapeutic drugs, or combinations of them, are used. But sometimes radiation and chemotherapy are used before or after surgery.

• If you assist with a biopsy, drape and prepare the patient as for routine Pap test and pelvic examination. Have a container of formaldehyde ready to preserve the specimen during transfer to the pathology laboratory. Explain to the patient that she may feel pressure, minor abdominal cramps, or a pinch from the punch forceps. Reassure her that pain will be minimal because the cervix has few nerve endings.
• For the treatment of cervical cancer, then girls who less than 18 years of age should avoid sexual activity or always use condoms. HPV infection causes genital warts. These may be barely visible or several inches across.