Cervical Cancer: An Overview
A cancer is a growth abnormality that happens with cells. Cells are continually being born, reproducing their replacements and dying out. There are innumerable cells in the human body and there are different types of tissues all over the body. At times there is an anomaly with these growth and death patterns. When the cells start over reproducing, it can transform into cells that start latching into healthy tissue and begin to spread and multiply rapidly, there are many reasons for this happening and almost every part of the body can be affected by cancer. A cancer is normally named after the place where it first starts off, so if a cancer starts at the lungs, but spreads to the liver, it will be treated as a lung cancer and not a liver cancer. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.
Cervical cancer
Also known as the cancer that affect the cervix of the uterus. The uterus is composed of two major parts, the upper and lower parts. The upper part is the body, this is where fetus grows and the lower part is called the cervix, opens into the vagina, the birth canal. Cervical cancer starts at the lining walls of the cervix, cells slowly begin to change and the change is a lot more gradual than most cancers. Cells first transform into pre-cancer cells called dysplasia, this transformation from to full blown cancer can sometimes take years.
Types of cervical cancer
Cancer of the cervix can be categorized in to two major categorized for the most part.
Squamous cell carcinomas: Squamous cells are the uppermost layer of cells. The cancer occuring in this layer of cells are called squamous cell carcinomas. The most common form of cancer to the cervix, it has been found that almost 80% to 90% of all cases are of this type.
Adenocarcinomas: There are a number of mucus cells that line the walls of the cervix and cancers that stem out of them are called adenocarcinomas. It is rare, but there are other forms of cancers that can affect the cervix, of these only adenosquamous is a primary cancer and it exhibits features of both the above mentioned simultaneously.
Prevalence
In 2015 the total number of new cases of cervical cancer reported are expected to be over 12,900. deaths are estimated at around 4,100. Most cervical cancer cases are diagnosed well before they become full blown cancer and most cases are found in women within 50 years of age.
Cervical cancer
Also known as the cancer that affect the cervix of the uterus. The uterus is composed of two major parts, the upper and lower parts. The upper part is the body, this is where fetus grows and the lower part is called the cervix, opens into the vagina, the birth canal. Cervical cancer starts at the lining walls of the cervix, cells slowly begin to change and the change is a lot more gradual than most cancers. Cells first transform into pre-cancer cells called dysplasia, this transformation from to full blown cancer can sometimes take years.
Types of cervical cancer
Cancer of the cervix can be categorized in to two major categorized for the most part.
Squamous cell carcinomas: Squamous cells are the uppermost layer of cells. The cancer occuring in this layer of cells are called squamous cell carcinomas. The most common form of cancer to the cervix, it has been found that almost 80% to 90% of all cases are of this type.
Adenocarcinomas: There are a number of mucus cells that line the walls of the cervix and cancers that stem out of them are called adenocarcinomas. It is rare, but there are other forms of cancers that can affect the cervix, of these only adenosquamous is a primary cancer and it exhibits features of both the above mentioned simultaneously.
Prevalence
In 2015 the total number of new cases of cervical cancer reported are expected to be over 12,900. deaths are estimated at around 4,100. Most cervical cancer cases are diagnosed well before they become full blown cancer and most cases are found in women within 50 years of age.
Cervical Cancer - What You Need to Know
Cervical cancer is one of those cancers that only women get. You will want to be screened to make sure you don't have it. Here, you will learn about some of those screening methods and what to expect. Learn about what cervical cancer is, ways to help prevent yourself from getting it and what the survival rate of it is if you do get it.
What Is Cervical Cancer?
The cervix is the lower part of the uterus. Most cervical cancers begin in the cells that line the cervix. The normal cells of the cervix slowly develop into precancerous cells. It takes time for the precancerous cells to turn into cancerous cells, and this is why it's so important to get regular screenings.
Screening for Cervical Cancer
There are two tests which are performed to screen for cervical cancer - a Pap smear and an HPV test. The Pap smear tests for precancerous cells. The HPV test looks for the human papillomavirus which can lead to cancer.
The Pap test is recommended for women ages 21-65. It is done right in your doctor or gynecologist's office. A speculum (a metal or plastic instrument) is placed inside the vagina and used to widen it and then a few swabs are taken and tested in a lab to make sure they are not abnormal.
The HPV test is done similarly, but the lab will test for the human papillomavirus.
The new recommendations from the American College of Gynecology (ACOG) is to have a Pap smear performed every three years starting at the age of 21. If you are at higher risk, meaning you have had precancerous cells in a prior test, then your doctor will recommend more frequent screenings. The Pap test is the most accurate screening test there is for cervical cancer. It does not detect any other gynecological cancers, though, so for any abnormal symptoms you should see your doctor.
Aside from regular screenings, you want to make sure you're doing all you can to prevent yourself from getting cervical cancer.
How to Prevent Cervical Cancer
Getting screened is the most important thing you can do in preventing cervical cancer. However, beyond that there are some other things you can do as well. Since HPV can cause cervical cancer, getting the HPV vaccine will help prevent you from getting cervical cancer. Beyond that, eating right, not smoking, not having lots of sexual partners and practicing safe sex (using condoms) will help prevent you from getting cervical cancer.
HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. And while HPV can live on both the male and female genitalia in areas which are not protected by a condom, using a condom has been shown to lower the chances of transmitting HPV and getting cervical cancer. All of these steps will help prevent you from getting cervical cancer.
Getting Cervical Cancer
In most instances it takes a few years for precancerous cells to turn into cancer cells, and most times that doesn't even happen. This is why it's important to have regular screenings so you can catch the cancer early, because that's always your best chance.
There are many factors which will weigh in on your chances of survival with cervical cancer. These include:
* Type of cancer
* Stage of cancer
* Age and overall health
* If the cancer comes back after treatment
The further the cancer spreads outside of the cervix, the lower the chances of survival. So again, this is why screening is so very important to catch it early. It is completely reasonable to assume that you will survive five years or more after being diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is one of those cancers that only women get. You will want to be screened to make sure you don't have it. Here, you will learn about some of those screening methods and what to expect. Learn about what cervical cancer is, ways to help prevent yourself from getting it and what the survival rate of it is if you do get it.
What Is Cervical Cancer?
The cervix is the lower part of the uterus. Most cervical cancers begin in the cells that line the cervix. The normal cells of the cervix slowly develop into precancerous cells. It takes time for the precancerous cells to turn into cancerous cells, and this is why it's so important to get regular screenings.
Screening for Cervical Cancer
There are two tests which are performed to screen for cervical cancer - a Pap smear and an HPV test. The Pap smear tests for precancerous cells. The HPV test looks for the human papillomavirus which can lead to cancer.
The Pap test is recommended for women ages 21-65. It is done right in your doctor or gynecologist's office. A speculum (a metal or plastic instrument) is placed inside the vagina and used to widen it and then a few swabs are taken and tested in a lab to make sure they are not abnormal.
The HPV test is done similarly, but the lab will test for the human papillomavirus.
The new recommendations from the American College of Gynecology (ACOG) is to have a Pap smear performed every three years starting at the age of 21. If you are at higher risk, meaning you have had precancerous cells in a prior test, then your doctor will recommend more frequent screenings. The Pap test is the most accurate screening test there is for cervical cancer. It does not detect any other gynecological cancers, though, so for any abnormal symptoms you should see your doctor.
Aside from regular screenings, you want to make sure you're doing all you can to prevent yourself from getting cervical cancer.
How to Prevent Cervical Cancer
Getting screened is the most important thing you can do in preventing cervical cancer. However, beyond that there are some other things you can do as well. Since HPV can cause cervical cancer, getting the HPV vaccine will help prevent you from getting cervical cancer. Beyond that, eating right, not smoking, not having lots of sexual partners and practicing safe sex (using condoms) will help prevent you from getting cervical cancer.
HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. And while HPV can live on both the male and female genitalia in areas which are not protected by a condom, using a condom has been shown to lower the chances of transmitting HPV and getting cervical cancer. All of these steps will help prevent you from getting cervical cancer.
Getting Cervical Cancer
In most instances it takes a few years for precancerous cells to turn into cancer cells, and most times that doesn't even happen. This is why it's important to have regular screenings so you can catch the cancer early, because that's always your best chance.
There are many factors which will weigh in on your chances of survival with cervical cancer. These include:
* Type of cancer
* Stage of cancer
* Age and overall health
* If the cancer comes back after treatment
The further the cancer spreads outside of the cervix, the lower the chances of survival. So again, this is why screening is so very important to catch it early. It is completely reasonable to assume that you will survive five years or more after being diagnosed with cervical cancer.
