Cervical Cancer

Common Symptoms

• Foul-smelling persistent vaginal discharge
• Abnormal bleeding such as post-coital bleeding, inter-menstrual bleeding, or postmenopausal bleeding
• In advanced stages, urinary and bowel problems may occur

Cause

HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) infection is responsible for 80-90% of cervical cancer cases worldwide.

Risk Factors

Cervical cancer does not run in families or get transmitted through genes. Risk factors include:

• Multiple sexual partners
• Early age at first coitus
• Early childbirth
• Husband with multiple sexual partners
• Women suffering from sexually transmitted diseases

How to Protect Yourself

Vaccination and screening are essential tools for protection. Cervical cancer has a long natural history, beginning with precancerous changes in the cervix. Screening can detect these changes, and treatment can prevent progression to cancer.

Regular screening for married women and vaccinating girls before sexual activity are key preventive measures.

Screening Methods

Several methods are available for screening, including:

• PAP smear and LBC: Cytology tests where superficial scrapings of the cervix are tested
• HPV DNA testing: Detects presence of HPV infection
• VIA, VILI, and colposcopy: Detect abnormal changes in the cervix

Treatment

For precancer stages, the disease can be cured without removing the uterus through methods like:

• Cryotherapy
• LEEP
• Cold knife conization

For early-stage cancer, Radical hysterectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy is the treatment of choice. In advanced stages, radiotherapy along with chemotherapy is given.

Follow-Up

Prolonged follow-up is required after treatment to detect recurrence early. Recurrence is rare in early stages but common in advanced stages, even after treatment.