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Pap Smear
Late Stages
A Preventable Disease
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CERVICAL CANCER
Definition
The cervix is the opening between the vagina and the uterus. Cancer of the
cervix is a malignant tumor on the cervix. Pre-cancerous changes in the cells on
the top layer of the cervix are an early sign that cervical cancer may develop.
What is going on
in the body?
Cervical cancer is third most common cancer of the reproductive system that
strikes women in the US. It occurs most often among women ages 40 to 55.
Even though the cervix is located within a woman's vagina, its cells act very
much like skin cells. These cells are exposed to toxins, viruses, and bacteria
that may cause abnormal changes called cervical dysplasia.
Each stage of dysplasia is judged by the thickness of the layer of abnormal
cells. The earliest change that can be seen with a microscope is called mild
dysplasia. If not treated, these precancerous changes may become moderate and
then severe. The fourth, most severe stage of dysplasia is called carcinoma in
situ. After this occurs, cancer cells may invade deeper layers of the cervix or
spread to nearby sites. At that point, a woman has what is called invasive
cervical cancer. What are the
signs and symptoms of the disease?
Cervical cancer that is found early usually causes no symptoms. This is why an
annual Pap smear is so important. Pap smears and pelvic exams can
catch cancer in the early stages or can find precancerous changes of the cervix.
Some early warning signs are:
 | bleeding or spotting between periods
| bleeding or spotting after intercourse |
| vaginal discharge that is cloudy, bloody, or full of mucus
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Whether or not she has entered menopause, a woman should have her healthcare
provider evaluate any vaginal bleeding at unexpected times or any
bloodstained vaginal discharge.
Symptoms of more advanced cervical cancer include:
| loss of appetite
| weight loss
| fatigue
| back pain
| leg pain
| inability to control urine or bowel movements
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What are the
causes and risks of the disease?
Cervical cancer is
believed to be caused by the prescence of one or more strains of the Human
Papilloma Virus (HPV). Certain health
problems, lifestyle choices, and other factors may increase a woman's risk
for developing cervical cancer. These include:
| Exposure to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Women who have certain
types of HPV, including type 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, have a very high lifetime
risk of getting cancer of the cervix or vulva, the outer part of the vagina.
HPV is contracted through sexual intercourse or it may be passes own from
your mother. It is estimated that over 80 percent of women today have one
form of HPV. |
| Having
multiple sex partners. |
| Becoming sexually active at an early age, before the age of
18. |
| Poor
nutrition and other infections can also be a risk factor. |
| Having other sexually transmitted diseases.
| Having an abnormal Pap smear.
| Having had cancer of the vagina or vulva
| Having a sexual partner who has or had cancer of the penis
| Smoking
| Having a weakened immune system due to other infections and diseases.
| Being the daughter of a woman who took DES (diethylstibestrol) during pregnancy
What can be
done to prevent the disease?
Women should have annual Pap smears and pelvic exams. Women should start to
have Pap smears and pelvic exams when they reach the age of 16 or as soon as
they become sexually active. A woman can lower her risk for getting cervical
cancer by:
| Having an annual Pap Smear
| quitting smoking |
| waiting to have intercourse until age 18 to 20
| having only a few sexual partners in a lifetime
| using latex condoms and practicing safer sex with each sexual encounter How is the
disease diagnosed?
Cervical cancer is usually found during
a routine Pap smear. The health care provider
uses a small brush to scrape cells from a woman's cervix and vagina. These
cells are placed on a slide and sent to a laboratory, like Aloha
Laboratories, Inc. At the lab the cells are stained and then a special
technician called a Cytotechnologist examined the cells through a microscope
looking for any abnormal cells.
If abnormalities are found, the Pap smear may be repeated in 3 months
or the healthcare provider may choose to do a colposcopy.
A colposcope is a special microscope that allows the healthcare provider to closely
examine the cervix, vagina, and vulva. If an abnormality is seen, a cervical
biopsy may be taken. A biopsy would involve removing a larger sample of
cells from the area for microscopic study. What are the
long-term effects?
If abnormal cells are found early and treated, it may be possible to avoid
removing the uterus so that a woman can still have children. Unfortunately,
once cervical cancer occurs, more aggressive measures may be needed. If the
cancer is found and treated early, there is an excellent chance of cure. If
left untreated, it will spread to nearby organs and possibly the rest of the
body.
What are the
treatments?
A cone biopsy, where a portion of the center of the cervix is removed, or hysterectomy,
in which the entire uterus is removed, may be done when cervical cancer is caught
early. Cancer is more likely to come back in a woman treated with cone
biopsy . If the cancer has invaded deeper layers of the cervix and has
spread to the uterus, the treatments include the following:
| Modified radical hysterectomy. During this type of surgery, the uterus,
cervix, upper vagina, and surrounding tissue is removed. Depending on the
extent of the cancer and a woman's age, the ovaries may be left in place.
| Radiation
therapy is sometimes used before or after surgery to shrink the tumor
cells further.
| Sometimes a woman isn't a good candidate for surgery, because of her age
or other medical conditions. In this case, radiation therapy may be used
alone or with chemotherapy.
What happens
after treatment?
Curing cervical cancer depends on many factors, such as:
| the woman's overall health
| the woman's age when she was first diagnosed
| the type and growth of specific cancer cells
| how far the disease has spread
| the skill of the surgeon THE BEST WAY TO CATCH
CERVICAL CANCER EARLY IS TO HAVE AN ANNUAL PAP
SMEAR
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