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Cervical
Cancer
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Cervical
cancer symptoms of often non-existent or rare, which is
why this form of
cancer is so deadly. Especially during
the earliest stages of this disease, cervical
cancer
symptoms rarely show up at all. Early detection, though
crucial, is often impossible. This is the very reason
why it is important for all women to have Pap tests
regularly to determine if cervical
cancer is present.
Cervical
cancer symptoms do not begin until later stages
of the
cancer, and during this
time |
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the
cancer has
already spread to other areas of the pelvis and the
abdomen. This makes cervical
cancer considerably
difficult to treat. Any woman experiencing symptoms of
cervical
cancer should absolutely consult a physician
immediately. |
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Symptoms of
Cervical Cancer:
Bleeding--
The first sign of cervical
cancer is usually abnormal
vaginal bleeding. This bleeding usually would occur
directly after sexual intercourse, after menopause, or
between a woman's regular menstrual cycle. Oftentimes,
more than normal bleeding will also occur during a
woman's period. In addition, normal douching and a
pelvic exams can lead to bleeding if a woman has
cervical
cancer.
An abnormal
vaginal discharge has also been identified as one of the
symptoms of cervical
cancer. This discharge is unusual
and different than normal discharges caused by a woman's
menstrual cycle.
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Pain during intercourse is one of the
most noticeable symptoms of cervical
cancer.
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Pain in the pelvis usually relates to
the menstrual cycle, however, a mild to severe pain in
the pelvis may be indicative of cervical
cancer
If the
cancer has spread to the bladder,
a woman may experience pain during urination. A woman
experiencing any of the above symptoms of cervical
cancer should consult a doctor immediately. These signs
can actually be symptoms of another condition, such as a
sexually transmitted disease or a bladder
infection.
However, to be sure, a woman should make a doctors
appointment so that a physician can check for cervical
cancer symptoms. Early detection is especially
important, as this disease is most often successfully
treated during its earliest stages. Cervical
cancer
symptoms can often be overlooked, or some females may be
embarrassed about the way they are feeling. However,
cervical
cancer symptoms should be taken very seriously. |
Types Of Cervical Cancer:
Cervical
cancer is a
specific
cancer that begins within a
person's cervix, the area of a woman's
uterus that opens up at the beginning
area of the vagina. For the most part,
there are two main types of cervical
cancer. These two cervical
cancer types
include squamous cell
cancer and
adenocarcinoma. Squamous cells appear as
flat cells that cover the external
portion of one's cervix. Squamous cell
carcinoma is one of the types of
cervical
cancer that take place in a
variety of different organs. These
organs include a person's skin, lips,
mouth, esophagus, and vagina, to state a
few. It is comprised of a malignant
tumor made of "squamous epithelium." In
relation to diagnosis for this
particular member of cervical
cancer
types, a skin biopsy is most often
employed. Upon examination, the physical
appearance of the squamous cell
cancer
will differ depending upon the actual
depth of the cut in relation to the
biopsy. In general, therefore, a biopsy
ranging from the subcutaneous tissue and
basalar epithelium to the surface of the
whatever area is being examined is most
optimal.
However, an even deeper biopsy may be
even more representative of the
occurrence of
cancer. In relation to
types of cervical
cancer, squamous cell
carcinomas are often removable by way of
surgery, while some may also be treated
with the use of a cream medication as
well, though not quite as often.
Adenocarcinoma is the other of the main
cervical
cancer types. It is more
specifically stated as a
cancer of the
epithelium that stems from the glandular
tissue. |
The epithelium is that
which is comprised of the skin, glands,
as well as the tissues that line various
organs and cavities. As one of the
cervical
cancer types, adenocarcinoma is
that which may be found in various
regions of a person's
body. Examples
include the colon, the lungs, cervix,
prostate, vagina, as well as the
breasts, to name a few areas of concern.
Cells that cause adenocarcinoma include
those that set forth the creation of
mucus. Although this one of the types of
cervical
cancer is not as prevalent as
that of squamous cell
cancer, it has
risen in relation to its incidence over
the years. According to statistics,
about anywhere between 1 in 10 as well
as 1 in 20 cases of cervical
cancer have
shown to be adenocarcinoma.
There are, however, additional rarer
types of cervical
cancer as well. These
cervical
cancer types include that of
the lymphoma, for instance. This
particular cervical
cancer type is that
which causes
cancer of one's lymphatic
system. It is divided into two types as
well. These include Hodgkin's lymphoma
as well as Non Hodgkin's lymphoma. Due
to the fact that an individual's
lymphatic system spans the length of
one's
body, lymphoma may spawn from any
area possible. Due to this, it is quite
important for people to be aware of. All
of these cervical
cancer types are
pertinent when attempting to be aware of
the health that people attempt to
maintain as each day passes |
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Treatment Of Cervical Cancer,
Medical Treatment:
Cervical
Cancer-Most cases of cervical cancers can be
prevented, since they start with easily
detectable pre-cancerous changes. One of the
best ways to prevent cervical cancers is by
having regular Pap tests. If pre-cancerous
changes are detected, appropriate treatment can
prevent them from developing into invasive
cancers.Another way to prevent cervical cancers
it to avoid the risk factors. Abstaining from
sexual relations when one is very young, and
using appropriate precautions when engaging in
sexual activity will help to avoid HPV
infections. Quitting smoking will also help to
reduce the risk for cervical cancers. |
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Surgical Treatment:
Cervical
Cancer-Treatment for cervical
cancer depends on
the stage of the disease and the extent of its
spread. Three standard modes of treatment are
surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.A
radical hysterectomy removes the entire uterus,
the ovaries and the upper of the vagina that is
next to the cervix and the lymph nodes from the
pelvic region. |
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Radiation therapy,
which involves the
use of high energy x-rays to kill
cancer cells, can also be used for
treatment of cervical
cancer. In
external radiation therapy, the rays
are focused on the pelvic area from
a source that is outside the
body.
Alternatively, a pellet of radioactive
materials may be placed internally, near
the tumor. This is called Brach therapy
or interstitial radiotherapy. However,
radiation therapy to the pelvic region
has many effects. It could cause a
narrowing of the vagina that makes
intercourse painful. It may also stop
the ovaries from releasing eggs and
producing the female hormone estrogen.
When this happens, it causes premature
menopause in young women and they will
need estrogen replacement therapy. Many
women are treated with both surgery and
radiation therapy |
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Chemotherapy ,
or
the use of anticancer drugs to kill
the
cancer cells, is not a common
form of treatment for cervical
cancer because it is not as
effective as other methods.
Nevertheless, the effectiveness of
combination chemotherapy is being
tested in clinical trials.
When a woman
is diagnosed with recurrent cervical
cancer, an operation known as pelvic
exenteration is performed. In this
operation, besides the uterus,
cervix and vagina, the urinary
bladder, part of the colon and the
rectum are also removed. In such
cases, new openings will have to be
created for the urine and the feces
to pass out of the
body.
A new vagina may also be surgically
created
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