Cervical Cancer

The bad news is that cervical cancer is the third most common type of cancer in women. Fortunately, regular annual pap smears have reduced the rate of cervical cancer for women in the United States. If caught early, cervical cancer is treatable, making the argument for yearly pap smears even more convincing.

Your cervix is located at the lower part of your uterus, or womb. It is the cervix that connects the vagina to the uterus. The lower part of the cervix is called the ectocervix. The upper part connecting to the uterus is the endocervix. Cervical cancer usually develops where the ectocervix and the endocervix connect.

The beginning of cervical cancer occurs in the lining. The cervix cells begin to change into pre-cancerous cells that will eventually develop into cancer. These changes can be detected in a pap smear before the cancer even begins and are 100% treatable. Precancerous changes are described as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), dysplasia and sqamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL).

If a woman does not get regular pap smears, the pre-cancerous condition will develop into cervical cancer, soon spreading to the bladder, lungs, liver and intestines. This can take years, making it all the more important to see your gynecologist yearly.

The human papillomavirus, or HPV is known to be the cause of cervical cancer. This virus is common and is spread through sexual intercourse. Not every form of HPV is dangerous, however several of the HPV strains lead to cervical cancer.

Risk Factors of Cervical Cancer

There are several risk factors that may lead a woman to developing cervical cancer. They are:

Long term birth control use.
Genital herpes or chronic Chlamydia infections.
Weak immune system.
Sexual intercourse at an early age or with multiple partners.
Women whose mothers took Diethylstilbestrol during pregnancy in the 1970's.

Cervical Cancer Symptoms

Cervical cancer can be present without any symptoms. However, there are some signs that help to detect the possibility of this cancer:

Vaginal discharge that may be watery, pink, brown, bloody or smelly.
Heavy periods or long periods.
Bleeding between periods, after menopause or after sexual intercourse.
Leaking of urine.
Pelvic, leg or bone pain.
Fatigue.
Weight loss.

There are two main types of cervical cancer. One is Squamous Cell Carcinoma and the other is Adenocarcinoma. Sqamous Cell Carcinoma counts for approximately 80 to 90% of all cervical cancer.

Treatment for cervical cancer varies depending on the type and severity of the cancer as well as the age and stage of life the patient is in. Early pre-cancerous or cancerous tissue can be removed without taking out the uterus if a woman wishes to have future pregnancies. If the cervical cancer has spread, a hysterectomy may be necessary. Extreme cases may also involve removing surrounding tissue, lymph nodes and possibly even the bladder and rectum. If cancer has spread, chemotherapy or radiation may be used.

In June 2006, a new vaccine called Gardasil was approved by the FDA to prevent an infection of two types of HPV. Both of which can lead to cervical cancer. This may prevent the early stages of cervical cancer to form.

To reduce your risk for developing cervical cancer, be sure you get a pap smear annually and do not sleep with multiple partners. And remember, when you sleep with someone, you are also sleeping with everyone else that person has been with - so be sure to practice abstinence or safe sex, using a condom for every encounter.

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