Cervical Cancer Treatment - Expert Gynecologic Oncologists
Cervical cancer refers to the cancer of the uterine cervix, i.e. the lower part of the uterus, which extends slightly into the top of the vagina. Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in Indian women and the second most frequent cancer worldwide.
SYMPTOMS OF CERVICAL CANCER:
Given below are the most common types of cervical cancer symptoms:
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Spotting or bleeding between periods
- Heavier or longer heavier menstrual periods than the usual
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Other abnormal vaginal discharge
- Back pain
- Fatigue
- Leg pain
- Pelvic pain
- Single swollen leg
- Weight loss
- Heavier periods than usual
- Vaginal bleeding after sex
- Vaginal bleeding after menopause
Many initial symptoms may coincide with other reproductive conditions, making it harder to spot the issue early on.
RISK FACTORS
Following are the most common risk factors associated with cervical cancer:
- Tobacco smoking
- Overweight
- HIV infection
- Current or Past Chlamydia infection
- Immune system suppression
- Long-term administration of oral contraceptives
- Having more than three full-term pregnancies
- Being pregnant before the age of 17
- Living in unhygienic conditions
- The family history of cervical cancer
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DIAGNOSIS OF CERVICAL CANCER
If there is suspicion of cervical cancer, the doctor will suggest you the examination of cervix with the help of special magnifying instrument called colposcope. The procedure is called colposcopy for checking abnormal cell growth in the area.
In this procedure, doctor will take a sample of cervical cells for biopsy or laboratory testing.
To obtain the tissue, the doctor can make use of:
- Punch biopsy that is done using a sharp tool for pinching off the sample cells from cervical tissue.
- Endocervical curettage that requires a small, spoon-shaped curet for scraping off a tissue sample from cervix.
In case the punch biopsy or endocervical curettage seems to be worrisome, the physician is likely to perform the following tests:
- Cone biopsy: It is a technique for letting a doctor obtain deeper layers of cervical cells for biopsy. It is done under the influence of general anesthesia.
- Electrical wire loop: In this technique, a thin, low-voltage electrical wire is used for obtaining a small tissue sample. It is done under local anesthesia.
STAGES OF CERVICAL CANCER
- Stage 0: In this stage, abnormal cervical cells are only present on the surface of the cervix in form of CIN 3. This stage, however, is not included in the FIGO system, as referred to as carcinoma in situ (CIS).
- Stage I: In this stage, a small number of tumours are present but have not spread to any tissue, lymph nodes, organs or distant body parts.
- Stage II: In this stage, the tumour begins to spread beyond the cervix and uterus. However, it has not invaded lower parts of the vagina or the pelvic walls.
- Stage III: In this stage, the cancer cells grow into the pelvic walls and even invade the lower part of the vagina. Now, the tumour also blocks ureter tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. However, there is no spreading of the tumour to the other body parts.
- Stage IV: It is the last or the most advanced stage of cancer. In this stage, cancer invades other parts of the body, including, bladder, rectum and other distant body parts.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Some common types of treatment options involve Surgery, Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy and Targeted Therapy.
Different types of doctors are involved in treating this condition:
- Gynecologic oncologist: A surgeon who specializes in curing female related cancers by surgical procedures.
- Radiation oncologist uses radiation therapy for treating different types of cancer, including cervical cancer.
- Medical oncologist uses chemotherapy and other procedures like targeted therapies for treating cervical cancer.
