CERVICAL
CANCER
Cervical
cancer: malignant cancer of the cervix uteri or cervical area. It may present
with vaginal bleeding but symptoms may be absent until the cancer is in its
advanced stages, which has made cervical cancer the focus of intense screening
efforts using the Pap smear. In developed countries, the widespread use of
cervical screening programs has reduced the incidence of invasive cervical
cancer by 50% or more.
Symptoms
The early stages of cervical cancer may be completely asymptomatic.Vaginal
bleeding, contact bleeding or (rarely) a vaginal mass may indicate the presence
of malignancy. Also, moderate pain during sexual intercourse and vaginal discharge
are symptoms of cervical cancer. In advanced disease, metastases may be present
in the abdomen, lungs or elsewhere.Symptoms
of advanced cervical cancer may include: loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue,
pelvic pain, back pain, leg pain, single swollen leg, heavy bleeding from
the vagina, leaking of urine or feces from the vagina, and bone fractures.
Causes
Cervical cancer is a carcinoma, typically composed of squamous cells, and
is similar in some respects to squamous cell cancers of the head and neck
and anus. All three of these diseases may be associated with human papillomavirus
infection. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a necessary factor
in the development of nearly all cases of cervical cancer.The
American Cancer Society provides the following list of risk factors for cervical
cancer: human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, smoking, HIV infection, chlamydia
infection, dietary factors, hormonal contraception, multiple pregnancies,
use of the hormonal drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) and a family history of
cervical cancer/
Prevention
The widespread introduction of the Papanicolaou
test, or pap smear for cervical cancer screening has been credited with dramatically
reducing the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in developed countries.The
pap smear suggests the presence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (premalignant
changes in the cervix) before a cancer has developed, allowing for further
workup. Recommendations for how often a Pap smear should be done vary from
once a year to once every five years. The American Cancer Society recommends
that cervical cancer screening should begin approximately three years after
the onset of vaginal intercourse and/or no later than twenty-one years of
age. If premalignant disease or cervical cancer is detected early, it can
be treated relatively noninvasively, and without impairing fertility.
Treatments
Microinvasive cancer (stage IA) is usually treated by hysterectomy (removal
of the whole uterus including part of the vagina). For stage IA2, the lymph
nodes are removed as well. An alternative for patients who desire to remain
fertile is a local surgical procedure such as a loop electrical excision procedure
(LEEP) or cone biopsy.On June 15, 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration
approved the use of a combination of two chemotherapy drugs, hycamtin and
cisplatin for women with late-stage (IVB) cervical cancer treatment.Combination
treatment has significant risk of neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia
side effects. Hycamtin is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.(1)
source
(1) wikipedia