Cervical Cancer
What causes Cervical Cancer?
Cervical Cancer is caused by HPV. There are several different types of HPV and only some of them cause Cervical Cancer.
HPV types 6 and 11 are low risk types. They are rarely found in cervical cancer. Instead, these types typically cause genital warts.
HPV types 33, 35, 39, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, and 68 are intermediate risk types. They are found in approximately 25% of cervical cancers. These types are rarer than the high-risk types of HPV.
HPV types 16, 18, 31, and 45 are considered high-risk types. They are found in approximately 75% of cervical cancers. The most common of the high-risk types of HPV are 16 and 18.
Who is most at risk for developing it?
Studies have shown that women who were sexually active before the age of 18 and women who have had multiple partners have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer. Women also have a higher risk if their sexual partners started having sexual intercourse at a young age, have had multiple partners, or have been married to women with cervical cancer.
Smoking increases the risk of cervical cancer. The amount of increased risk is linked to how many cigarettes were smoked and how frequently.
Women born to mothers who were administered the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) while they were pregnant to prevent miscarriage have an increased risk of Cervical Cancer. DES was used to prevent miscarriage from about 1940 to 1970.
Women with weak immune systems are at an increased risk for developing Cervical Cancer. This would include women with HIV and organ transplant patients.
Some medical researchers think that using birth control pills put women at a higher risk for Cervical Cancer. This has not been proven. It is important to note the two of the main risk factors for Cervical Cancer, having sexual intercourse at a young age and having multiple sex partners, might be more common with women who use birth control pills compared to women who do not.
All women can develop Cervical Cancer if they have the specific types of HPV that can cause Cervical Cancer. However, women who do not get regular pap smears are at a higher risk for getting Cervical Cancer. Regular pap smears act to detect HPV and precancerous cells, which can turn into Cervical Cancer. Since the development of the Pap smear in the twentieth century, the number of women dying from Cervical Cancer has been reduced dramatically.
How can Cervical Cancer be prevented?
The best tools for Cervical Cancer prevention are early detection (through pap smears and physical exams) and treatment of precancerous tissue. It is important for women to establish an appropriate care schedule with their doctor. The recommendation of care will be based on age, medical history, and risk factors.
How do I know if I have Cervical Cancer?
Your doctor will perform one or more tests on you to detect and diagnose Cervical Cancer.
What are the signs and symptoms?
There may not be any signs and symptoms of early Cervical Cancer. This is why it is so important to have pap smears so that your doctor can detect any abnormal cells.
Pelvic pain and vaginal bleeding are possible signs of Cervical Cancer. It is important to contact your doctor if you experience any vaginal bleeding, pain during sexual intercourse, pelvic pain, or abnormal vaginal discharge.
What tests will the doctor carry out to see if I have Cervical Cancer?
Your doctor will perform one or more of the following tests on you in order to detect and diagnose Cervical Cancer.
Pap Smear: In this procedure, cells are collected from the surface of the cervix and vagina. This is done by using a brush, piece of cotton, or tiny wooden stick to scrape cells from the cervix and the vagina. Once the cells have been collected, they are examined underneath a microscope to see if they are abnormal.
Colposcopy: A colposcopy is a procedure in which a colposcope (lighted magnifying instrument) is inserted into the cervix through the vagina. Tissue samples may be collected for biopsy during this procedure.
Biopsy: A biopsy is a procedure that may be done after abnormal cells have been detected through a pap smear. This required that a tissue sample be cut from the cervix and examined underneath a microscope. A biopsy requiring a small tissue amount can typically be done in a doctor’s office. However, a cervical cone biopsy will most likely be done in a hospital. A cervical cone biopsy involves the removal of a larger, cone-shaped amount of tissue.
Pelvic Exam: A pelvic exam is a physical exam in which a doctor will place one or two fingers from one hand into the vagina and the other hand will be placed on top of the lower abdomen. This will allow the doctor to check the size, shape, and position of the ovaries and uterus. A speculum will be placed into the vagina and cervix so that the doctor can visually check for any signs of disease.
Endocervical Curettage: During this procedure, a curette is used to collect cells or tissue from the cervical canal. Tissue samples for biopsy might be taken at this time. This is sometimes done along with a colposcopy.
What kind of doctor do I see if I suspect I have Cervical Cancer?
Once your doctor diagnoses you with Cervical Cancer, you will be referred to a gyno-oncologist.
How curable is Cervical Cancer?
The recovery rate for Cervical Cancer is dependant on a few different factors. It depends on what stage the Cervical Cancer is in, what type of cervical cancer, and the size of the tumor. When Cervical Cancer is detected in an early stage, there cure rate is 80% to 90 %.
The five-year survival rate for Stage I Cervical Cancer is about 80% to 95%. The five-year survival rate for Stage II Cervical Cancer is about 60% to 80%. The five-year survival rate for Stage III Cervical Cancer is about 30% to 50%. The five-year survival rate for Stage IVA Cervical Cancer is about 15% to 20%. The five-year survival rate for Stage IVB Cervical Cancer is less than 5%.
How quickly does the disease progress or spread?
It is impossible to say how quickly Cervical Cancer progresses. No two women are the same. Some cancers spread at a slow rate while others spread quickly.
