All You should Know About Cervical Cancer

The word cancer is enough to give us sleepless nights no matter what the type is. Cervical Cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in a woman's cervix (lower part of the uterus that connects the vagina). It is a major cause of suffering and premature death among women in developing countries. Cervical Cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. Around 570000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and about 311000 women died of cervical cancer in 2018 worldwide. Fortunately, cervical cancer treatment in India has been very effective and secure due to the high-quality standard therapy and the knowledge of specialists. To understand more about Cervical cancer, first of all, you have to know what exactly it is.

What is Cervical Cancer?

This is a type of cancer that occurs in the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina, it occurs in the cells of the cervix. Cervical Cancer affects the deeper tissues of the cervix and may spread to other parts of the body like the lungs, liver, bladder, vagina, and rectum.

Most cervical cancer is caused by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) which is prevented by a vaccine.

Cervical Cancer grows slowly, so there is enough time to consult the best oncologist in India and get treated before it causes serious problems. Regular screening can prevent cervical cancer. The two main types of cervical cancer are squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Most cervical cancer is caused by various strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) which is a sexually transmitted infection.

What are the types of Cervical Cancer?

As discussed above let us understand what exactly the two types of Cervical Cancer are:

• Squamous cell carcinoma: This type is formed in the lining of the cervix. It is found in up to 90% of cases.
• Adenocarcinoma: This is formed in the cell that produces mucus.
• Mixed Carcinoma: This type is a mixture of two other types.

What are the symptoms of Cervical Cancer?

At an early stage generally, you will experience no signs and symptoms. At advanced stages few symptoms can be experienced like:

• Vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods, or after menopause
• Watery, bloody vaginal discharge
• Pain during intercourse or pelvic pain

What are the risk factors of Cervical Cancer?

While consulting the cervical cancer specialist in India, they will discuss various habits that can become the reason for cervical cancer are:

• Multiple sexual partners
• Early sexual activity
• Other sexually transmitted infections (STI)
• A weakened immune system
• Smoking

How to prevent Cervical Cancer?

Here is the good news for patients that Cervical Cancer is among those cancers that are almost preventable. The doctors in top cancer hospitals in India are providing preventive screenings for cervical cancer that includes the HPV vaccine and the Pap smear test. With the help of a Pap smear test, pre-cancerous changes can be detected and you can immediately get the treatment done before the development of cancer. The HPV vaccine can also be taken at an early age to prevent getting HPV infection. To jot the preventive measures in points:

• Take the HPV vaccine at an early age.
• Be regular with Pap smear tests.
• Practice safe sex.
• Quit smoking.

Know more about Pap smear tests:

This test is often used to test cervical cancer in women. It reveals any changes in the cervical cells that may turn into cancer later. Consider getting regular screening after 21 years of age to find the growth of cancerous cells in the cervix at an early stage. Early detection can be cured.

Know more about the HPV vaccine:

Most cases of Cervical Cancer are spread through sexual contact which is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV). The HPV vaccine given to girls and women before they are exposed to the virus can prevent most cases of Cervical Cancer.

To summarize:

As discussed, Cervical Cancer can be prevented by following a few steps but if you are already living with Cervical Cancer it can be a bit challenging for you and your loved ones. You might be anxious about how it will affect your everyday life. Expressing your concern openly to your doctor can help. Sometimes consulting a single doctor will not give you confidence in the treatment options, in such cases getting a second opinion for cancer treatment in India can address your concerns and help you decide on the right cervical cancer treatment as soon as possible.