T
Taj For Doctors
Taj For DoctorsTaj Doctor
home

About Us

Taj Brands

Diseases Health Tips  HIV/AIDS News Contact Us

 
flick left flick upper right
menu upper

  All News
  Allergy
  Asthma
  Cardiology
  Clinical Research
  Critical Care
  Dentistry
  Dermatology
  Endocrinology
  Gastroenterology
  General
  Genetics / Biotech
  Men's Health
  Infectious Diseases
  Fitness/Lifestyle
  Nephrology
  Neurology
  Oncology/Haematology
  Ophthalmology
  Orthopaedics
  Otolaryngology
  Paediatrics
  Psychiatry
  Reproductive Health
  Respiratory Medicine
  Surgery
  Sex
  Urology
  Women's Health
>> Abortion
>> Agoraphobia
>> Birth control pills (Oral Contraceptives)
>> Cervical cancer
>> Female orgasmic disorder
>> Fibroadenoma (Breast lump)
>> Hormone replacement therapy
>> Mastectomy
>> Menopause
>> Menstrual problems
>> Pregnancy and a career
>> Travel during pregnancy
>> Ultrasound in pregnancy
menu lower
 
Women's Health >> cervical cancer back
Cervical cancer
 

What is cervical cancer?
What are the causes?
What are the symptoms?
How is the diagnosis made?
What is the treatment?
What is the prevention?

 
What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is a disease caused by the abnormal growth and division of cells that make up the cervix (the portion of the uterus attached to the top of the vagina). Ninety percent of the cervical cancers arise from the flattened or squamous cells covering the cervix. Most of the remaining 10% arise from the glandular, mucous-secreting cells of the cervical canal leading into the uterus.
 
What are the causes?

The development of cervical cancer is gradual and begins as a pre-cancerous condition called dysplasia. In this form it is 100% treatable, usually without the need for a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus). Dysplasia, depending on its severity, can resolve without treatment, particularly in young women. However, it often progresses to actual cancer called ‘carcinoma in situ’ (CIS) if it has not spread, or ‘microinvasive’ if it has spread only a few millimeters into the surrounding tissue but not into the lymph channels or blood vessels.

The risk factors for cervical cancer are:

* Infection with the virus that causes genital warts (humantaj for doctors papilloma virus or HPV) may increase the risk of developing dysplasia and subsequent cancer. Fortunately, not all women who have had HPV infection or genital warts develop cervical cancer. Other factors, such as smoking, may increase the risk of developing cervical cancer in those who have had HPV
* Early age at first sexual intercourse
* Multiple sexual partners or partners who have multiple partners
* There is a small increased risk of abnormal Pap smears among women who take birth control pills. It is because such women are more sexually active, are less likely to use condoms, and have more frequent Pap smears in order to be prescribed the birth control pill
* Women whose immune systems are weakened - such as those with HIV infection or women who have received organ transplants and are taking drugs to suppress the immune system - may be at a higher risk
* Infections with genital herpes or chronic chlamydia infections, both sexually transmitted diseases, may increase risk
 
What are the symptoms?

Most often, cervical cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages does not cause any symptoms. When there are symptoms, the most common are:

* Persistent vaginal discharge, which may be pale, watery, pink, brown, blood streaked, or dark and foul-smelling
* Abnormal vaginal bleeding, especially between menstrual periods, after intercourse or douching, and after menopause, which gradually becomes heavier and longer

Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer may include:

* Loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue
* Pelvic, back, or leg pain
* Leaking of urine or faeces from the vagina
* Bone fracture
 
How is the diagnosis made?

Invasive cervical cancer often appears as an irregular fleshy growth, often firm or hard, that tends to bleed easily. But even on pelvic examination by a doctor, pre-cancers and even early cancers of the cervix are often not visible to the naked eye. Special tests are necessary to diagnose cervical pre-cancers and cancers:

* Pap smears screen for cervical pre-cancers and cancers. The Pap smear test consists of cells wiped or brushed off the cervix and placed on a microscope slide. This is usually done at the time of a pelvic examination, though not every pelvic exam includes a Pap smear.
* Colposcopy is an examination of the cervix under magnification in order to locate an abnormality of the cervix
* Biopsy, colposcopy, or sometimes the use of LASER (a loop electrode) or other instrument allows a diagnosis to be made
* When cervical cancer is found, additional tests - such as X-rays, using an instrument to look into the bladder (cystoscopy), and rectum and colon (colonoscopy) - are used to determine how far the cancer has spread and what stage the disease is in
 
What is the treatment?

Treatment of cervical cancer depends on the type of cancer, the stage, the size and shape of the tumour, the age and general health of the woman, and her desire for future childbearing.

In its earliest stages, the disease is curable by removing or destroying the pre-cancerous or cancerous tissue. This can often be done in various ways without removing the uterus or damaging the cervix so that a woman is still capable of having children.

In other cases, a removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) is performed, with or without removal of the ovaries. In more advanced disease, a radical hysterectomy may be performed which removes the uterus and much of the surrounding tissues, including internal lymph nodes. In the most extreme surgery, called a pelvic exenteration, all of the organs of the pelvis, including the urinary bladder and rectum, are removed.

Radiation or chemotherapy may be used to treat cancer that has spread beyond the pelvis, or has recurred. A variety of chemotherapeutic drugs, or combinations of them, are used. Sometimes radiation and chemotherapy are used before or after surgery.
 
What is the prevention?

There are two ways to prevent cervical cancer - the first is totaj Women's Health  (Cervical cancer ) prevent infections with HPV, the second is to get regular Pap smears that will detect pre-cancerous conditions and HPV. Both of these can be treated and the progression to cervical cancer be arrested.

Precancers are completely curable when followed up properly. To reduce the chances of cervical cancer, girls less than 18 years of age should avoid sexual activity or always use condoms. HPV infection causes genital warts. These may be barely visible or several inches across. If a woman sees warts on her partner's genitals, she should avoid intercourse. To further reduce the risk of cervical cancer, women should limit the number of their sexual partners, avoid sexually promiscuous partners, and discontinue any tobacco use. Condoms may help prevent the transmission of HPV.

Annual pelvic examinations, including a pap smear, should begin when a woman becomes sexually active, or by the age of 20 in a non-sexually active woman. All abnormal findings should be followed up with colposcopy and biopsy.
 
 
Disclaimer - The contents of this site are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician for any doubts. 
flick flick right
 
 

         Copyright © 2004- 2019 TAJ Pharmaceuticals Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Site Requirements : Internet Explorer 5.0+ or Netscape 5.0+, Flash Player 5.0 & Real Player 8 Basic
To get in touch with us, call on 91-22-2637 4592, 91--22-2637 4593 or fax us at 91-22-2634 1274 

Terms and Conditions | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Feedback | FAQ