In the early stages, cervical cancer usually has no symptoms. Symptoms of cervical cancer is the most common vaginal bleeding that occurs after sex, outside the menstrual period, or after menopause. Although there is bleeding, does not necessarily mean you are suffering from cervical cancer. To ascertain the cause of your condition, ask your doctor immediately. If cervical cancer is suspected, a referral to see a specialist will be provided.
Human Papillomavirus as Major Cause of Cervical Cancer
Nearly all cases of cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus, or HPV. HPV is a collection of viruses that cause warts on the hands, feet, and genitals. HPV is very common sexually transmitted and can be a cause of cervical cancer. There are many types of HPV and most are harmless virus. But there are some types of HPV that interfere with the cells of the cervix to be able to function normally and could eventually lead to cancer.
Of the many types of HPV, there are two types of HPV that most dangerous virus, HPV 16 and HPV 18. These two types of virus that cause 70 percent of cervical cancer cases. Many women do not realize has been infected because these HPV types cause no symptoms. It is important to realize that these infections often occur, although many infected women do not develop cancer.
Condoms can protect you from HPV during sex, but not always perfectly in preventing infection. When infected with HPV, a woman's immune system to prevent the virus to injure the uterus, but in some women, HPV virus can last for years. This resulted in cells that are on the surface of the cervix change into cancer cells.
Vaccines to prevent HPV infection risk of causing cancer is already available. HPV vaccination that currently there is a bivalent vaccine for HPV 16 and 18 or kuadrivalen vaccine for HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18.
Importance Steps to Detect Cervical Cancer Screening
Over the years, the cell wall surface of the cervix undergo many changes. These cells can slowly turn into cancer, but the cell changes in the cervix can be detected early. Treatment when the cells are still in the stage of pre-cancers can be done so that the risk of cervical cancer can be reduced.
Screening for cervical cancer is also known as a Pap smear or Pap test. Pap smear is useful to detect if any abnormal cells that could potentially turn into cancer cells. When performing a pap smear, a sample of cells taken from the cervix and examined under a microscope.
Cervical screening is not a test for diagnosing cervical cancer. This test is useful for checking the health of the cells in the cervix and detect if any abnormal cells. With the detection and removal of abnormal cells, cervical cancer can be prevented to the fullest. In most women, the test will show normal results. But about 5 percent of tests showed abnormal changes in cervical cells.
These changes mostly do not lead to cancer and abnormal cells may return to normal by itself. But in some cases, the cells that are abnormal need to be removed because of the potential to become cancerous.
Abnormal Pap test result does not mean someone is suffering from cervical cancer. Most abnormal results are caused by infection or their risk of cancer cells that can be handled with ease. Advised in women who have been sexually active and aged 25-49 years examined every three years. While women aged 50-64 may be checked every five years. Call your doctor to find out more about the investigation.
Determining the level of Stage Cervical Cancer Treatment
Treatment of cervical cancer depends on several factors. Cervical cancer can be treated with surgery if the diagnosis is made at an early stage. In some cases, only the cervix and uterus are removed can be left alone. If more, the uterus needs to be removed entirely. The process operation for removal of the uterus is called hysterectomy.
While radiotherapy is an alternative measure for early stage cervical cancer. In certain cases, radiotherapy is also used alongside surgery. For cases of advanced cervical cancer, are usually treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy methods. Some treatment can have serious side effects and long term, including of whom are premature menopause and infertility.
Side Effects of Cancer and Treatment
Complications often occur in women suffering from cervical cancer. Complications can arise as a direct result of the cancer or the side effects of the treatment performed. Eg for radiotherapy, surgery, or chemotherapy. Complications of cervical cancer are:
- Complications light: a small vaginal bleeding and / or frequent urination.
- Severe complications: severe bleeding and even kidney failure.
The future of cervical cancer sufferers is determined by the stage of diagnosis of cervical cancer received. Stage cervical cancer stages from one to four that describe the level of development and spread of cancer. Expectancy survive at least five years after being diagnosed with cervical cancer, grouped into the status of the stadium:
- Stage 1 - 80-99 percent
- Stage 2 - 60-90 percent
- Stage 3 - 30-50 percent
- Stage 4-20 percent
Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer
If cervical cancer is detected early, treatment success rates are higher. Referral to a gynecologist or physician specialist female reproductive system will be given if the pap smear shows abnormal cells in the cervix. In most cases, the presence of abnormal cells does not mean cervical cancer. References to the gynecologist is also provided in case of abnormal vaginal bleeding to see if there are any abnormal changes in the cervix.
- Colposcopy procedures. Colposcopy is an examination of the cervix to look for abnormalities. The doctor will use a special magnifying glass to see the vulva, vagina, and cervix. This process uses a microscope with a small light at the end. If visible abnormalities in the colposcopy, a small sample of tissue is removed from the cervix and examined under a microscope to see if there are cancer cells in it. This entire process will be done by a doctor gynecologist.
- Biopsy Cone (Cone Biopsy). A minor surgical procedure called a cone biopsy (cone biopsy) may be necessary. The term is taken from the cone biopsy tissue taken from the cone-shaped cervix. The cells of this tissue will be examined under a microscope to check whether there are cancer cells. This procedure is done in the hospital with the use of local anesthesia. The side effects are bleeding that may occur up to one month after surgery. In addition, the menstrual period may also be painful. If cervical cancer cells and cells contain potentially cancerous, further action is needed to ensure that all the abnormal cells lifted.
With the biopsy, the patient can find out if cervical cancer and whether it has spread. If indeed there is a cervical cancer, a further examination to see the extent of spread of the cancer are:
- Blood tests: conducted to check the condition of the liver, kidney, and bone marrow.
- Examination of the pelvic organs: the uterus, vagina, rectum, and bladder will be examined whether there is cancer.
- CT scan: scanning the condition of the body parts in the computer to obtain three-dimensional images. Useful to see the growing cancer and whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
- Chest X-ray: to see if the cancer has spread to the lungs.
- MRI scan: scanning wearing a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce images of the body. Useful to see if the cancer has spread and how far it has spread.
- PET scan: if combined with CT scans, can see the spread of cancer and also check a person's response to treatment is done.
Stage of cancer can be determined after all the tests are completed. Stadium used to describe how far the cancer has spread. If the higher stage of cancer, the spread of which occurred more widely. Here is the stage of cervical cancer by spreading:
Stage 0: pre-cancer stage. There are no cancer cells in the cervix, but there are biological changes that have the potential to become cancerous. This stage is often referred to as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or carcinoma in situ (CIS).
- Stage 1: The cancer is still in the cervix and has not spread.
- Stage 2: the cancer has spread beyond the cervix and surrounding tissues. But it has not reached the pelvic wall or the bottom of the vagina.
- Stage 3: The cancer has spread to the walls of the stage and / or to the bottom of the vagina.
- Stage 4: The cancer has spread to the bowel, bladder, or other organs, like the lungs.
Prevention of Cervical Cancer
The main way to prevent cervical cancer is to prevent contracting the HPV virus. It is estimated that approximately 99 percent of cervical cancer cases are caused by this virus. Steps that can be done to reduce the risk of cervical cancer include having sex with the secure, faithful to your partner, routine cervical screening, vaccination, and stop smoking.
Most cases of cervical cancer associated with certain types of HPV infection. The spread of this virus occurs through unprotected sexual intercourse, use a condom during intercourse to reduce the risk of contracting HPV.
The risk of contracting HPV also increases with the number of sexual partners a person. Women who have only one spouse could also become infected if their partner had multiple sexual partners other.
Screening for cervical cancer or pap smear is a method to detect cells that have the potential to become cancerous. Cervical Pap smear is not a test for cancer. This test only checks the health of the cells in the cervix. Most of the results of tests on women showed normal results. Do pap smear regularly. Women who had sex and mainly 25-49 years old, it is advisable to do a test every three years. For women aged 50-64, are advised to test every five years.
HPV, or human papillomavirus vaccination to protect women from infection main types of viruses that cause cervical cancer. The vaccine will be more effective if given to girls before sexually active. Although the HPV vaccine can reduce the risk of cervical cancer, but the vaccine does not guarantee you are free from this disease. You still should undergo routine Pap smears despite getting vaccinated.
Risk of cervical cancer can also be reduced by abstaining from smoking. People who smoke are more difficult to eliminate HPV infection from the body. Infection is potentially cancerous.
Symptoms of Cervical Cancer
Symptoms of cervical cancer can not always be seen clearly, there is even the possibility of the symptoms do not show up at all. Often, the onset of the disease occurs when cancer has entered last stage. Therefore, perform routine pap smear is very important to 'catch' the pre-cancerous cells and prevent the development of cervical cancer.
Bleeding In Vagina
Abnormal bleeding from the vagina, including spots are often visible symptom of cervical cancer. Bleeding usually occurs after sex, outside the menstrual period or after menopause. See your doctor for a check in case of abnormal bleeding more than once.
Other symptoms that might Appears
In addition to abnormal bleeding, other symptoms that may appear are:
- Without stopping discharge from the vagina with a strange odor or different than usual, pink, white, brown, or contain blood.
- The pain every time sexual intercourse.
- Changes in the menstrual cycle without a known cause, such as menses more than 7 days to 3 months or more, or bleeding in very much.
Cancer at later stages will spread beyond the cervix leading to surrounding tissues and organs. At this stage, the symptoms that occur will be different, among others:
- The occurrence of hematuria or blood in the urine.
- Troubled urination due to obstruction of the kidney or ureter.
- Changes in bowel habits and small.
- Weight loss.
- Swelling in one leg.
- Pain in the bones.
- Loss of appetite.
If you experience symptoms such as those mentioned above, you should immediately see a doctor. Particularly regarding abnormal bleeding in the vagina that can be caused by many things, not always caused by cervical cancer. But these symptoms should be examined by a doctor to understand the cause.
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