Details of Cervical Cancer

It is a type of cancer which occurs in hollow cylinder that connects the lower part of a woman’s uterus to her vagina.

May include:

• Unusual bleeding
• Vaginal discharge
• Pelvic pain
• Urgent urination
• Pain during urination

May include:

Human papillomavirus (HPV).

May include:

• Bladder tests.
• Screening tests like pap test, HPV DNA test. 
• Punch biopsy, Endocervical curettage. 
• Imaging tests such as CT, MRI, PET and X-rays.

Treatment options:

Chemotherapy: It uses high doses through veins and injections for treatment purpose.

Radiation therapy: It uses high-energy beams like X-rays or protons to kill the cancerous cells.

Immunotherapy: It is done to trigger the immune system to fight back against the cancerous cells.

Targeted therapy: It focuses on specific weaknesses present within cancer cells by blocking these weaknesses, targeted drug treatments can cause cancer cells to die.

Surgery: This is for early stage cancer.

Options:

• Cutting away the cancer only. For a very small cervical cancer, it might be possible to remove the cancer entirely with a cone biopsy. In this procedure, a cone-shaped piece of cervical tissue cut away keeping the rest of the cervix intact. This provides pregnancy possibilities in future.
• Trachelectomy. In this method, the cervix and some surrounding tissue are removed, keeping uterus safe and intact for future pregnancy.
• Hysterectomy. This involves removing the cervix, uterus, part of the vagina and nearby lymph node. But this also eliminates pregnancy options in future.