Cervical Cancer - Prevention and Detection

What is Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer tends to develop slowly inside the surface cells of the cervix. The cervix has two types of surface cells known as squamous and columnar. Squamous cells are where the majority of cervical cancers originate.

Cervical cancer is caused overwhelmingly by HPV(Human PapilIomavirus). HPV is a commonly spread STD, taking various different forms and causing diverse effects for those afflicted. Some forms of HPV lead to cervical cancer and genital warts, other varieties of the illness prove to be harmless.

Prevention and Detection

Unfortunately, early cervical cancer rarely displays any warning symptoms. This is why regular Pap smears are so essential for prevention. Cervical cancer starts out as a pre-cancerous condition known as dysplasia. This condition is detectable during a routine pap smear and is completely treatable. Most women diagnosed with cervical cancer have gone years, even decades without a Pap smear.

If the results of a pap smear, indicate abnormalities, a colposcopy is typically performed. This procedure magnifies the cervix and allows doctors, to properly examine areas of concern.

When symptoms do occur, they typically consist of vaginal bleeding between periods after intercourse and

Post-menopause. Other symptoms of cervical cancer include a pink and brown vaginal discharge that has a very distinct odor.

Treatment and Recovery

Thanks to advances in modern medicine, hysterectomies are rarely performed for cervical cancer that hasn’t spread. For early stage cases, cervical cancer can be completely cured by removing cancerous tissue. Several surgical methods exist to accomplish this.

Laser surgery is the most common and least intrusive way to cure cancer of the cervix. Other treatment methods exist, such as having abnormal cells frozen and removing abnormal tissue with electricity.

Treatment options are much more intrusive for advanced cervical cancer. Typically a radical hysterectomy will be performed, in which the uterus is completely removed along with much of the surrounding tissue. In only the most extreme circumstances will a pelvic exenteration take place. This high risk procedure involves removing all organs of the pelvis, such as the rectum and bladder.

In many situations, non-surgical options are available. Radiation treatment is commonly used for fighting cervical cancer. Internal radiation treatment consists of filling a medical device with radiation and inserting it inside the vagina.

While this certainly doesn’t sound pleasant, it’s an effective method of treatment. The device is removed before the patient leaves the hospital. External radiation may also be used by having machines beam radiation down on cancerous areas

No woman needs to become a victim of cervical cancer. Regular pap smears and practicing safe sex will all but ensure one never has to experience the burden of this disease.

 

 

References

American Cancer Society (2014). HPV. Retrieved January 8, 2014, from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/infectiousagents/hpv/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of STD Prevention (2013, January 14). STD Facts - Human papillomavirus (HPV). Retrieved January 8, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm

Mayo Clinic (2014). HPV infection Definition - Diseases and Conditions - Mayo Clinic. Retrieved January 8, 2014, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hpv-infection/basics/definition/con-20030343

Dr. Brenda Rivera - Billings Dr.P.H., MPH, M.Sc.
Brenda Billings, principal consultant and CEO of UrbanSculpt, is a Health Educator focusing on issues related to nutrition counseling, body aesthetics, positive sexuality, and women’s self-empowerment issues. The organization's aim is to provide life-in-balance training, products, and services with a focus on solution based results to the many challenges facing the modern urban woman. Prior to UrbanSculpt, Brenda was a Founder, Chief Marketing Officer and content editor for DZineMedia, LLC., an entertainment and original content management company located in Silicon Valley. As principal she also oversaw day to day management, marketing, and content procurement efforts for Erotique!, a literary webzine and pioneering female-centric, online community focusing on cutting edge photography, the arts, poetry, original fiction and pop culture. In addition to her professional experience, Brenda was a founding board member of HCAA, a non-profit organization founded in cooperation with the City of San Jose. Its aims included: improving legal rights education, reducing inner-city blight, increasing volunteerism, and the encouragement of urban renewal. Brenda's educational background includes having graduated cum laude with a Master of Science in Health Science from TUI. She graduated summa cum laude from Touro College with a Bachelor’s of Science in Health Science Education specializing in Environmental Heath. She also holds a degree in Humanities / Art History from City College of San Francisco as well as honors certificates in both Nutrition Counseling and Multimedia & Digital Arts form San Jose City College
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