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Cervical Cancer
Receiving a diagnosis of cervical cancer can be daunting, but learning about the disease enables women to make more informed decisions about their treatment. Cervical cancer occurs when cells of the cervix, the passageway in the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina, become cancerous. Early detection of precancerous and cancerous cervical cells through routine cervical screening tests – such as Pap smears or liquid-based cytology tests – can help optimize treatment and outcomes.
The compassionate oncology experts at Regional Cancer Care Associates have the experience, state-of-the-art technology, and latest therapies to treat patients with cervical cancer in New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, and the Washington, D.C., area.
Early Detection of Cervical Cancer
A Pap smear or other cervical screening test performed as part of a routine gynecologic wellness visit or in response to symptoms can detect precancerous cervical cells, which can be treated effectively through office-based noninvasive or minimally invasive procedures. Early-stage cervical cancer also can be treated very effectively. In fact, the 5-year survival rate for women diagnosed with Stage 1 cervical cancer in the United States is 92%.
Testing cervical cells for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV), either from the sample collected during the Pap test or from a separate sample, is another important step in the early detection of cervical cancer. That’s because two strains of the virus are linked to 90% of all cases of cervical cancer.
Cervical Cancer Risk Factors
Factors that increase the risk of developing cervical cancer include:
- Having been infected with certain strains of HPV
- A sexual history that began before age 18 and that includes many sexual partners, especially if a person engaged in high-risk behaviors, such as not consistently using a condom
- Smoking or being exposed to secondhand smoke
- A weakened immune system
- Having contracted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS
- Having contracted chlamydia
- Long-term use of oral contraceptives
- Having had three or more full-term pregnancies, particularly if pregnant before age 20
- Lower socioeconomic status and lack of access to quality healthcare
- A diet low in fruits and vegetables
Cervical Cancer Symptoms
Women may not experience any symptoms during the early stages of cervical cancer. Other women may experience one or more of the following:
- Pelvic pain during sexual intercourse
- Persistent pelvic and/or lower back discomfort
- Vaginal bleeding or spotting between periods, during or after sex, or after menopause
- Menstrual periods that are longer or heavier than normal
- Unusual or odorous vaginal fluid or discharge
Although these symptoms may be caused by something other than cervical cancer, they should be taken seriously and evaluated by a medical professional.
Cervical Cancer Treatments
There are several options for treating cervical cancer, with the optimal choice for each woman dependent on her age and overall health, any plans for future pregnancy, and stage and location of the cancer. Those options include:
Surgery
Surgery for early-stage cervical cancer may entail laser treatment to destroy cancer cells or conization, in which the portion of the cervix with cancerous lesions is removed. More advanced stages of cervical cancer may require a hysterectomy, in which the uterus and cervix are removed, or a trachelectomy, in which the cervix, the upper portion of the vagina, and surrounding tissues are removed but the uterus is left intact. In both surgeries, nearby lymph nodes may also be removed.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses oral or intravenous drugs to eliminate cancerous cells. Doctors administer chemotherapy drugs at pre-programmed times, making them effective at treating cancer anywhere in the body. This option is generally used in conjunction with other cervical cancer treatments in advanced stages of cervical cancer.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is often used to treat cervical cancer. This therapy employs high-energy rays to limit the growth of cancer cells and destroy them.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy targets cancer cells via certain drugs, antibodies, and vaccines that harness the power of the body’s immune system to identify and attack cancer.
Targeted Therapy
As medicine advances, scientists develop more convenient and effective treatments, such as targeted therapy. These drugs act very precisely to eliminate cancerous cells by detecting the proteins they produce that spread cancer growth. The drugs focus on the cancerous cells and leave healthy cells intact.