Identifying and Treating Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancers originate as a non-malignant irregularity of cells on the surface of the cervix. These abnormal cells comprise of dysplasia, squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) and carcinoma in situ. When unnoticed or untreated, these pre-invasive anomalies ultimately could attack the normal cervical cells. Due to this cancer could consequently develop that would invade adjacent tissues or lymph nodes and probably metastasize to other areas in the body.

Cervical Cancer Symptoms:

In case the normal cervical cells have not been attacked by these lesions, the treatments involved would be comparatively simple and uncomplicated. Pre-cancerous variations in the cervix generally are not painful and are usually asymptomatic and are spotted only following a pelvic examination and a Pap smear test. The Pap smear test is done for scraping cell samples from the outer part and the canal of the cervix to be sent for microscopic analysis for detecting malignant or pre-malignant conditions in the cervix.

Symptoms generally surface only after the irregular cervical cells turn malignant and attack tissues in its close proximity. When this occurs, the most prevalent sign is irregular bleeding that would begin and halt in-between normal menstrual cycles or might happen following sexual intercourse, when one douches or during the course of a pelvic examination. Bleeding during periods might be prolonged and have a heavier flow than normal.

Post-menopausal bleeding also might be an indicator of cervical cancer. An increase in the secretion of vaginal discharge is yet another sign of the presence of cervical cancer.

Cervical Cancer Treatment:

Cervical cancer is treated in several ways that include:

• LEEP or Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure – During this uncomplicated procedure conducted at the doctor’s clinic under the influence of local anesthesia, an electrically charge wire loop is employed for removal of the outer part of the cervix that contains the irregular tissue. This extracted tissue is then sent for microscopic analysis for corroborating that there are no traces of remnant cancer. In most women, a single LEEP procedure is enough for curing them and they could soon return to carrying out day-to-day activities.
• Cryosurgery – This procedure involves the freezing and killing of the anomalous cells present on the cervix. During this procedure conducted at the doctor’s clinic not involving the need for anesthesia, a silver probe that has previously undergone cooling using liquid nitrogen is placed against the cervix for freeze-killing the outer anomalous cell layer on the cervix.
• Cryosurgery Hysterectomy – In this major surgical procedure the uterus is removed via the abdomen or vagina and the patient would need to stay overnight at the hospital subsequent to the procedure. There are limited reasons for conducting hysterectomy for treating pre-malignant lesions. It is at times employed for women that had have experienced more than one recurrence and do not have adequate tissue needed for performing another LEEP procedure.

Invasive Cancer Treatment

Invasive cancer is treated on the basis of the extent or spread of the tumor. When the tumor is small-sized and restricted to the cervix, only then either a radical hysterectomy or radiation therapy would be performed. In case the tumors are large-sized or spread to the adjoining tissues or lymph nodes then a more concentrated form of therapy is needed like radiation therapy that at times includes the chemotherapy drugs also being added during the procedure.

• Radical Hysterectomy – This involves the surgical excision of the uterus, the upper segment of the vagina, the ligament and the connective tissues that help in holding the uterus in its place. A general course of action during a radical hysterectomy is the removal of the lymph nodes in the pelvic region, as minuscule-sized cancer cells could metastasize to those lymph nodes and spread to the ligaments holding the uterus. The ovaries are spared during radical hysterectomy and preserving the ovarian function is deemed one of the advantages of this approach which is vital for women in the younger age bracket. Subsequent to a radical hysterectomy procedure, there is bound be a stoppage of menstrual periods and the imminent sterility, though the production of the female hormone estrogen would still carry on in the body. With the appropriate selection of patients for this kind of procedure, the curative rate is a promising, 85-95%.
• Radiation Therapy – During this treatment high-power energy beams are focussed on the malignant area for obliterating cancer cells and impeding their further spread. A localised treatment that functions by targeting cancer cells in one spot. The radiation is emitted from a large machine known as external radiation or derived from radioactive materials that are placed within the cervix known as implant radiation. There are few patients that are offered both the forms of radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy – A single or a combination of drugs given either orally or intravenously in cycles for annihilating cancer cells that have metastasized. A systematic treatment that involves the drugs flowing thorough the bloodstream in the body.
• Biological Therapy – During this treatment, substances intended for fortifying the woman’s immune system are used. It could be used in treating cancer that has spread past the cervix and reached other areas of the body. Interferon is the most prevalent type of biological therapy for treating cervical cancer and could be given along with chemotherapy. In majority of the cases interferon is given on an outpatient basis.

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