World Gynecologic Oncology Day/September 20th

Cervical Cancer

Overview

Cervical cancer starts in the cells lining the cervix — the lower part of the uterus (womb). The cervix is the narrow part of the lower uterus, often referred to as the neck of the womb.

It mainly affects sexually active women aged between 30 and 45

Symptoms

The symptoms of cervical cancer are not always obvious, and it may not cause any at all until it’s reached an advanced stage.

The most common symptoms of cervical cancer are:

  • Bleeding between periods
  • Bleeding after sexual intercourse
  • Bleeding in postmenopausal women
  • Discomfort during sexual intercourse
  • Vaginal discharge with a strong odor
  • Vaginal discharge tinged with blood
  • Pelvic pain

Causes

It is certain that HPV plays a role. HPV is very common, and most women with the virus never develop cervical cancer. This means other factors — such as your environment or your lifestyle choices — also determine whether you’ll develop cervical cancer.

Scientists are not completely sure why cells become cancerous

However, some risk factors might increase the risk of developing cervical cancer. These include:

  • HPV: This is a sexually transmitted virus
  • Early sexual activity & many sexual partners
  • Smoking
  • A weak immune system

Treatment

Cervical cancer treatment options include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or combinations of these.

Deciding on the kind of treatment depends on several factors, such as the stage of the cancer, as well as age and overall state of health.

Treatment for early-stage cervical cancer, when the cancer remains within the cervix, has a good success rate. The further a cancer spreads from its original area, the lower the success rate tends to be.