Cervical cancer treatment in India

Cervical cancer occurs when cells in the cervix grow out of control. A group of abnormal cells together can form a malignant (cancerous) tumor.

Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time. Before cancer appears in the cervix, the cells of the cervix go through changes known as dysplasia, in which cells that are not normal begin to appear in the cervical tissue. Later, cancer cells start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and to surrounding areas.

Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by a virus called Human Papillomavirus (HPV). HPV can cause cells in the cervix to grow abnormally and become cancerous.

1. What is cervical cancer ?

The cervix is the part of the female reproductive system that connects the uterus (womb) to the vagina. The main function of the cervix is to allow flow of menstrual blood from the uterus into the vagina and direct the sperms into the uterus during intercourse. Also plays important role in menstruation, pregnancy and labor. Cervical Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the cervix. If left untreated, these Cancerous cells spread very rapidly to the nearby tissues and other parts of the body and overall affects to the female reproductive system.

Cervix is the structure that dilates during childbirth to allow the baby to traverse the birth canal. This is the area where cervical cells are most likely to become cancerous. It is called the transformation zone.

Cervical cancer develops when abnormal cells in the lining of the cervix begin to multiply out of control and form pre-cancerous lesions. If not successfully treated at an early stage, cervical cancer is capable of invading through the wall of the uterus into adjacent areas and sometimes can spread through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system to parts of the body away from the uterus.

Most cervical cancers (80 to 90 percent) are Squamous cell cancers. Adenocarcinoma is the second most common type of cervical cancer, accounting for the remaining 10 to 20 percent of cases. Adenocarcinoma develops from the glands that produce mucus in the endocervix. While less common than squamous cell carcinoma, the incidence of adenocarcinoma is on the rise, particularly in younger women. Most cervical cancer is caused by a virus called human papillomavirus, or HPV. You can get HPV by having sexual contact with someone who has it. There are many types of the HPV virus. Not all types of HPV cause cervical cancer. Some of them cause genital warts, but other types may not cause any symptoms.

2. cervical cancer – Sign and Symptoms

What are the different Signs and Symptoms of Cervical Cancer?

Vaginal bleeding or spotting, especially in post-menopausal women is the most common symptom of cervical cancer. Sometimes there may be no symptoms until the disease has reached an advanced stage.

Some of the common signs and symptoms of cervical cancer may include:-

 Abnormal or untimely vaginal bleeding (after sex, after menopause)

 Abnormal vaginal discharge (white or blood tinged)

 Pain while having sex

 In advanced cases, the cancer may spread to the abdomen, lungs or elsewhere and symptoms related to the organ may be the first symptom of the cancer

Upon reaching an advanced stage, the different signs for cervical cancer may include:-

 Constant pain in the leg, pelvic region or back

 Problems while urinating because of blockage of kidney or ureter

 Weight loss

 Loss of appetite

 Anemia caused by excessive or abnormal vaginal bleeding

 Seepage of urine or stools through the vagina

 Fatigue

Upon reaching an advanced stage, the different signs for cervical cancer may include:-

 Constant pain in the leg, pelvic region or back

 Problems while urinating because of blockage of kidney or ureter

 Weight loss

 Loss of appetite

 Anemia caused by excessive or abnormal vaginal bleeding

 Seepage of urine or stools through the vagina

 Fatigue

 Causes of cervical cancer are given below.

The cause of cervical cancer is unknown. Human papilloma virus or HPV is considered to have a strong association with cervical cancer. There are many different types of HPV. It is sometimes called the genital wart virus as some types of HPV cause genital warts. In fact, the types that cause warts are not  the types that cause cervical cancer. HPV is passed on from person to another through sexual contact. Women who get cervical cancer have had past infections with HPV. High risk types of HPV can cause changes in the cells covering the cervix that make them more likely to become cancerous in time. But most women infected with these viruses do NOT develop cervical cancer. So other factors must also be needed.

 1. Human-Papilloma Virus (HPV)

 2. Smoking

Risk factors:

Having sex at an early age

Having many sexual partners

Having many pregnancies

Using birth control pills for 5 or more years

Consuming any form of tobacco

Prevention

Cervical cancer vaccine: Is the first vaccine ever designed to prevent cancer. It is recommended to girls aged 11 to 12 years as it allows a girl’s immune system to be activated before she’s likely to encounter HPV.

Delay sex: Waiting to have sex until you are older can help you avoid HPV. It also helps to limit your number of sexual partners and to avoid having sex with someone who has had many other sexual partners.

Use condoms: Condoms when used correctly can lower the HPV infection rate by about 70%. They can’t protect one completely because they don’t cover every possible HPV-infected area of the body, such as the skin of the genital or the anal area.

Important Tests

Pap test: Cells are collected from the surface of the cervix and checked on a slide.

HPV test: Doctors take DNA cells by swabbing the cervix. The HPV test is ideal for the detection of cervical cancer. It is slightly more accurate than the pap test, but is not recommended for woman below 30 years of age.

Colposcopy test: It enlarges the image of the cervical and the cells can be then seen clearly.

3. What are the available treatments for cervical cancer ?

The type of therapies given for the treatment of cervix cancer depends upon the condition of a patient, so the treatment plan can differ from one patient to another patient. Depending upon cancer type advanced therapies that are used to treat cervix cancer patients are Cryosurgical Ablation (CSA), Seed Knife Therapy (Brachytherapy), Combined Immunotherapy, This Treatment has been found very effective, with biggest advantage being Lesser Recurrence Rate and having minimal Side-Effects. Many of this therapies are not available in India and this therapies has been found very effective compared to traditional therapy.

Treatment for cervical cancer begins with seeking regular medical care throughout your life. Regular medical care allows your health care professional to best evaluate your risks of developing cervical cancer, perform routine Pap smear screening, and promptly order further diagnostic testing as needed. These measures greatly increase the chances of detecting cervical cancer in its earliest, most curable stage. This stage is called cervical dysplasia, a precancerous condition that is 100% treatable. The goal of cervical cancer treatment is to permanently cure the cancer or to bring about a complete remission of the disease. Remission means that there is no longer any sign of the disease in the body, although it may recur or relapse later. Cervical cancer treatment plans use a multifaceted approach and are individualized to the type of cancer and stage of advancement, your age, medical history, and coexisting diseases or conditions, and other factors.