Cervical cancer is a growth of cells that start in the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina (Cervix). Majority of cervical cancer is due to the human papilloma virus (HPV). Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), play a role in causing most cervical cancers.
The most common being HPV 16 and HPV 18 subtypes. HPV is a common infection that’s passed mainly through sexual contact, including oral sex. How does HPV cause cervical Cancer?
When exposed to HPV, the body’s immune system typically prevents the virus from doing harm. In a small percentage of people, however, the virus survives for years. If the body cannot eliminate the virus, it contributes to the process that causes some cervical cells to become
cancer cells.
Cervical cancer begins when healthy cells in the cervix develop changes in their DNA. A cell’s DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. The changes tell the cells to multiply quickly. The cells continue living when healthy cells die as part of their natural life cycle. This causes too many cells. The cells might form a mass called a tumor. The cells can invade and destroy healthy body tissue. In time, the cells can break away and spread to other parts of the body.
1. Risk Factors
Smoking tobacco. Smoking increases the risk of cervical cancer. When HPV infections happen in people who smoke, the infections tend to last longer and are less likely to go away. HPV causes most cervical cancers. High number of sexual partners. The greater your number of sexual partners, and the greater your partner’s number of sexual partners, the greater your chance of getting HPV. Early sexual activity.
Having sex at an early age increases your risk of HPV. Other sexually transmitted infections ( STIs) increases the risk of HPV, which can lead to cervical cancer. Other STIs that increase the risk include herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV/AIDS. You may be more likely to develop cervical cancer if your immune system is weakened by another health condition and you have HPV.
Exposure to miscarriage prevention medicine. If your parent took a medicine called diethylstilbestrol, also known as DES, while pregnant, your risk of cervical cancer might be increased. This medicine was used in the 1950s to prevent miscarriage. It’s linked to a type of cervical cancer called clear cell adenocarcinoma.
To reduce your risk of cervical cancer:
- Receiving a vaccination to prevent HPV infection may reduce your risk of cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers Ask your health care team if an HPV vaccine is right for you.
- Have routine Pap tests: Pap tests can detect precancerous conditions of the cervix. These conditions can be monitored or treated to prevent cervical cancer.
- Practice safe sex: Reduce your risk of cervical cancer by taking measures to prevent sexually transmitted infections. This may include using a condom every time you have sex and limiting the number of sexual partners you have.
- Don’t smoke: If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, talk to a health care professional about ways to help you quit.
2. Types of Cervical Cancer
Cervical Cancer is divided into different types based on the location and the cells affected. The main types of cervical
Cancer are:
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma: This type of cervical cancer begins in thin, flat cells called squamous cells. The squamous cells line the outer part of the cervix. Most cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas and are mainly due to HPV. It is mainly seen in young women.
- Adenocarcinoma: This type of cervical cancer begins in the column-shaped gland cells that line the cervical canal. It is not commonly associated with HPV and more common in elderly patients
3. What are the Symptoms?
In its initial stages it may not have any symptoms, but as it grows it may cause some symptoms, such as:
• Vaginal bleeding after intercourse.
• Vaginal bleeding occurring after menopause.
• Menstrual bleeding that is heavier and lasts longer than usual.
• Watery, bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odor.
• Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse.
As the disease progress, then the symptoms worsen which will manifest as:
- Swelling of the feet and legs – as it blocks the uterus.
- Cough and shortness of breath – as it spreads to the lungs.
- Yellowness of the eyes – as it spread to the liver.
- Back pain – as it spreads to the bones.
4. Staging
To properly treat any cancer, doctors must understand to which areas the cancer has spread. This is called staging and it involves:
√ Undergoing an MRI – it helps to understand how the disease is in the pelvis .
√ CT scans – it will rule out spread of the cervical cancer to the lungs, liver, bones and any other organ besides the cervix .
√ PET-CT scan – it scans the whole body at once from head to toes to see where the cancer is located and has spread to.
5. How to Treat Cervical Cancer
When cervical cancer happens, treatment depends on the stage. At a very early stage, cervical cancer can be treated with surgery to remove the cancerous cells. This involves removal of the whole uterus with/without ovaries depending on the doctor-patient discussion.
As the cancer progresses surgery is not feasible, the treatment options involve a combination of the therapies:
1. Chemotherapy and targeted and immuno-therapy medicines.
2. Radiation therapy with powerful energy beams may be used.
3. Combined radiation with low-dose chemotherapy.