One of the most prevalent gynecology diseases in women in underdeveloped nations is cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.
More than 85% of cervical cancer-related deaths have been reported in developing, low-income, and middle-income nations. In India, this disease affects approximately 1.2 lakh women annually, and the fatality rate is over 50%. The second most frequent malignancy among indian women between the ages of 15 and 44 is cervical cancer.
The human papilloma virus (HPV), which is typically spread through sexual contact, is linked to cervical cancer frequently. Cervical cells are susceptible to precancerous alterations brought on by HPV, which can ultimately result in cervical cancer. When administered at a young age, the HPV vaccine is very effective at protecting against HPV infection and preventing cervical cancer. Although cervical cancer can be a slowly progressing condition, if it is not found early, it may spread to the belly, liver, bladder, or lungs.
Symptoms and Signs
Early on, the disease usually goes unnoticed because there are no symptoms, and it may take years before the first indicators appear. Stage 1 cervical cancer symptoms and indicators include, among others:
- Post coital bleeding i.e. Vaginal bleeding after intercourse
- Irregular or breakthrough bleeding between periods or post menopausal bleed
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge or pain during intercourse
- Painful urination
- Diarrhea
- Bleeding from the rectum
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
Diagnosis
By looking for pre-cancer indications and anomalies, gynaecological screening with the pap test is typically efficient in finding the majority of cases of cervical cancer. To specifically check for the HPV virus in the cervical cells, other tests including HPV molecular testing. A biopsy is carried out to obtain tissue samples for a thorough evaluation of a suspected cancer using a variety of procedures, such as punch biopsy or endocervical curettage. To ascertain whether the disease has spread to other organs of the body, other procedures include blood and urine testing, liver and kidney function evaluations, and radiographic examinations of the bladder, rectum, bowels, and abdominal cavity.
Stages
Cervical cancer is also split into four stages: stage I, stage II, stage III, and stage IV, similar to most other malignancies. Stage I indicates that the cancer is confined to the cervix and has not progressed to other areas and is largely undetectable without symptoms. Stage II refers to the infection’s expansion past the cervix and uterus but not yet to the pelvic wall. At stage III, the cancer can extend to the lower vagina and pelvic wall, and at stage IV, it invades the bladder, rectum, or other body components like your bones or lungs.
Prevention
The morbidity and mortality from this dreaded illness will be greatly decreased by raising knowledge of the symptoms and signs of cervical cancer, early identification by pap smear screening, and molecular diagnostics. Therefore, it is essential for each of us to be knowledgeable and to seek the advice of gynaecologists for the proper screening and disease prevention.
Ms Kalinga