CERVICAL CANCER – BE AWARE DO NOT FEAR

 

We tend to put our health last in the hectic realms of life when every minute is a tornado of activity and duties. But here’s my question: Have you ever stopped to think about the tremendous power and grit within you? Yes, you have the strength to overcome any challenge, including cervical cancer.

Although the word “cancer” is often met with feelings of powerlessness and resignation, the truth is that 30–50% of all cancers are avoidable. Cancer of the uterine cervix is one of the avoidable types of cancer. Cervical cancer is second among female cancers in incidence in India. India has greater incidence and fatality rates for cervical cancer than global estimates. Cervical cancer survival rates in India are significantly lower than those in both Western nations (66%) and its neighboring Asian countries (China (67%) and Thailand (61%)).

Vaccination against HPV has been endorsed as the key strategy for eradicating cervical cancer by the World Health Organisation. Studies have shown that vaccinating girls against HPV before they reach age 15 is the most effective way to prevent the spread of the virus. As the first country to implement a statewide HPV vaccination program, Australia targeted preteen girls in 2007. Australia achieved the lowest incidence and fatality rates from cervical cancer worldwide by 2020.

 

Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System

 

The female reproductive system comprises the cervix, vagina, cervix, uterus, and ovaries. The cervix is the lower, thin end of the uterus, which connects the uterine body to the vagina. A fetus develops inside the uterus, a pear-shaped, hollow organ.

The cervix is divided into ectocervix within the vagina and an endocervix outside the vagina. The junction of the endocervix and ectocervix is a common site for the development of cervical cancer.

 

What are the signs & symptoms?

 

Precancers and early stages of cervical cancer often present no symptoms in women. CC symptoms and signs are not noticeable until the disease has progressed further. In the later stages of CC, symptoms may become more severe.

  • Irregular, inter-menstrual (between periods) bleeding. 

  • Bleeding in the uterus that isn’t normal after a sexual encounter or a pelvic check, or bleeding after menopause. 

  • Between periods or after menopause, a woman may have vaginal pain or smelly discharge containing some blood. 

  • Pain during sex Pain in the back, legs, or pelvis. 

  • Weakness, losing weight, and not wanting to eat. 

 

Diagnosis


If your doctor thinks you might have cervical cancer, they will probably start by closely examining your cervix. A colposcopy is a special magnifying tool used to look for abnormal cells.

During the colposcopic check, your doctor will probably take a sample of cells from the cervix (called a “biopsy”) to test in the lab. To get tissue from you, your doctor may:

  • Small samples of cervical tissue can be taken with a punch biopsy. 

  • Endocervical curettage involves scraping a tissue sample from the cervix with a small, spoon-shaped device (curet) or a thin brush.

 

Staging

 

If your doctor suspects cervical cancer, additional testing will be done to identify how far along your cancer’s development is. The stage of your cancer is crucial in determining how you will be treated.

Procedures included in staging exams are:

  • Imaging tests: Exams, including X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and PET scans, can show your doctor if cancer has progressed beyond the cervix.

  • Visual inspection of your bladder and rectum: To visually examine your bladder and rectum, your physician may use specialized scopes.

 

Screening Tests

 

Both the HPV test and the Pap test are diagnostic screening procedures that can assist in the early detection of cervical cancer or its prevention.

  • Cervical abnormalities are detectable with the human papillomavirus (HPV) test. 

  • Cervical precancers, or changes in the cervix’s cell composition, are what the Pap test (or Pap smear) screens for.

 

Screening Options

 

The recommended age to begin Pap screening is 21. If your Pap test returns negative, your doctor may recommend waiting three years before scheduling another exam. 

You have three choices if you are between 30 and 65. Find out from your doctor which test is most appropriate for you.

  • Only an HPV test is required, and if the results are normal, your doctor may recommend waiting five years before ordering another screening. 

  • If the results of both the Pap test and the HPV test are negative, your doctor may recommend waiting five years before ordering another screening. 

  • If your Pap test results are normal, your doctor may recommend waiting three years before ordering another.

If you are over 65 and have consistently negative results from screening tests, your doctor may decide that you no longer need to be checked. You have not previously been diagnosed with cervical precancer or had your cervix removed as part of a total hysterectomy for diseases other than cancer, such as fibroids.

 

HPV Vaccine

 

The HPV vaccine offers protection from the most common virus strains responsible for cervical cancer. Additionally, HPV has been linked to various other cancers in both sexes.

  • Preteens as young as 9 can get the HPV vaccine. However, it’s most effective between the ages of 11 and 12.

  • If you are not being vaccinated, you should get the HPV vaccine no later than age 26.

  • Getting the HPV vaccine after age 26 is not necessarily a good idea. Some unvaccinated adults between the ages of 27 and 45 may decide to obtain the HPV vaccine after discussing the risks of contracting HPV with their doctor. As more persons in this age group will previously have been exposed to HPV, the vaccine’s efficacy decreases.

The HPV vaccine can protect against future HPV infections but cannot cure pre existing conditions. Because of this, the HPV vaccination is most effective when administered before the first HPV infection. Despite receiving an HPV vaccine, you should still undergo regular cervical cancer screenings.

 

Treatment

 

Cervical cancer treatment options vary based on several circumstances, including the cancer’s stage, the patient’s overall health, and the patient’s personal preferences. Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination may be used to treat the disease.

 

Surgery

 

Surgery is the standard treatment for cervical cancer in its early stages. The extent of your cancer, its stage, and your desire to conceive are all factors that should be considered when deciding which operation is ideal for you.

Some potential choices are:

  • Surgery to cut out only cancer: A cone biopsy might obliterate a tiny cervical cancer. In this treatment, a cone-shaped piece of cervix tissue is removed, but the rest of the cervix stays the same. With this choice, you might be able to think about getting pregnant.

  • Trachelectomy is surgery to remove the cervix: In the early stages of cervical cancer, a severe trachelectomy may remove the cervix and some of the tissue around it. After this surgery, the uterus is still there, so it may be possible to get pregnant.

  • Hysterectomy is surgery to remove the cervix and uterus: This can cure early-stage cervical cancer and stop it from returning. Most cervical cancers in their early stages are handled with a radical hysterectomy, which removes the cervix, uterus, part of the vagina, and lymph nodes in the area. But if you take out the uterus, you can’t get pregnant.

If cervical cancer is detected early, a hysterectomy requiring numerous small incisions in the abdomen rather than one large one may be an option. Minimally invasive surgeries result in faster patient recoveries and shorter hospital stays. 


However, some studies conducted by best cancer hospital in India have shown that a minimally invasive hysterectomy may not be as beneficial as a full hysterectomy. Talk to your doctor about the pros and downsides of minimally invasive surgery if you’re contemplating it.

 

Preparing for your appointment

 

If you’re experiencing any concerning symptoms, seeing a doctor is important. A gynecologic oncologist specializes in female reproductive-sector cancers and may be consulted if cervical cancer is suspected.

You may learn more about what to bring to your appointment and what to anticipate from your doctor below.

 

What you can do

  • Take note of any precautions you need to take before your appointment, such as avoiding solid food the day before. 

  • Add down all of your symptoms, even if you think they have nothing to do with why you’re here today. 

  • Key medical information, including other conditions, should be written down. 

  • Add pertinent details about yourself, such as when and how you first experienced sexual activity, how many partners you’ve had, and whether or not you’ve ever used protection during sexual activity. 

  • Organize your medication, vitamins, and supplements by listing everything you take. 

  • Bring a friend or family member to the doctor’s appointment to ensure you remember everything. 

  • Document any inquiries you have for your physician.

 

Wrapping up

 

Cervical cancer is scary, but the road to recovery is paved with courage, optimism, and resolve. Some of the Best Ayurvedic cancer hospital in India, a country renowned for its ancient wisdom and holistic treatment traditions. These facilities provide patients with a holistic and individualized approach to recovery by combining conventional medicine with the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda. 

Ayurvedic cancer treatment in India provides hope to people looking for an alternative approach to treating cervical cancer through herbal treatments, lifestyle adjustments, and therapies that address the mind, body, and spirit.

Let us keep these ideals in mind as we face the trials of life and find ways to strengthen ourselves and others around us.