Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is a cancer that affects only ‘females’. Though it is the most preventable cancer on earth, yet it kills maximum number of women.

Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells on your cervix, the lowermost part of your uterus that opens into the vagina, grow out of control. The cancer is treatable in early stages when it hasn’t spread to other parts of your body. However, at later stages, it can be fatal. The scariest part about cervical cancer is that its symptoms are so general that they are easily missed by most women.

The common symptoms of cervical cancer include the following

• Vaginal bleeding in between menstrual periods, after intercourse, or after menopause
• Persistent pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic area
• Pain during intercourse
• Abnormal vaginal discourse

Causes of Cervical Cancer

Most cervical cancers are caused by a virus called human papilloma virus or HPV. This virus is spread by having unprotected sexual contact just like HIV/AIDS and genital herpes viruses. There are many strains of the HPV and not all strains cause cervical cancer.

Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is a malignancy that grows in the lining of the cervix. Cervical cancer screening includes 2 types of screening tests such as HPV testing and the Cytology based screening. The Cytology based screening is also referred to as Pap smear. Since cervical cancer is spread sexually, it’s important for women to undergo Pap smear, a regular diagnostic test for early detection of this cancer. A pap smear is a cytological test in which cells from a woman’s cervix are taken and seen under a microscope. This test can identify changes in cervical cells before they become cancerous. If you observe these abnormal changes in cervical cells and treat them early, you are safe.

It’s recommended that sexually active women get a pelvic exam and a pap test every year to rule out malignancies in the cervix and nip this ‘female’ cancer in the bud.

Why cervical cancer screening is important

The cervical cancer screening is an important test in the health check-up for women. There are certain risks involved in cervical screening and it is better to consult the doctor for advice on the right age to do the screening and how often it must be done. These days there are vaccines available that are used to prevent infections by targeting the several strains of HPV.

Where cervical cancer spreads

Cervical cancer most commonly spreads to the:

• lymph nodes
• the space between the hip bones (pelvis)
• tummy (abdomen)
• the tubes that run from each kidney to the bladder (ureters)
• liver
• lungs
• bones

Symptoms depend on where the cancer is in the body. They might include:

• Tiredness and feeling unwell
• Griping pain in your tummy (abdomen)
• Feeling bloated
• Constipation
• Vomiting large amounts

It might not mean that you have advanced cancer if you have these symptoms. They can be caused by other conditions.

Symptoms if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes

The most common symptom that happens when cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, is that they feel hard or swollen. Cervical cancer can spread to lymph nodes in the area between the hip bones (pelvis).

Cancer cells can also stop lymph fluid from draining away. This might lead to swelling in your legs due to fluid build up. The swelling is called lymphoedema.

You should know that treatment for pain is part of cancer treatment. It is important to resist the big myth that because cancer is a serious disease, pain is to be expected. Most people can get complete relief for their pain — or at least significant relief that allows them to enjoy the activities of daily life.

What is advanced or metastatic cervical cancer

Advanced cervical cancer includes stage 3 and stage 4 and terminal cancer. Stage 3 includes when cancer spreads to other tissues in and around the cervix and / or lymph nodes. Stage 4 includes metastasis.

Metastasis happens when cancer cells break away from a primary tumour and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system (the system that produces stores and carries the cells that fight infections). When cancer cells spread and form a new tumour in a different organ, the new tumour is a metastatic tumour, the cells of which come from the original tumour. The most common sites of metastasis from cervical cancer tumours are the liver, lungs, bones and brain. Cancer can spread to other parts of the body, too.

Some people with metastatic cancer do not have symptoms. Their metastases may be found by tests, which may be performed for other reasons such as PET, MRI or CT scan. When symptoms do occur, the type and frequency depend on the size and location of the metastasis. For example, cancer that spreads to the bones is likely to cause pain and can lead to bone fractures. Shortness of breath may be a sign of lung involvement.

Liver metastasis

If they do have symptoms, they may be vague and can include:

• Loss of appetite or feeling full early
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Itching
• Pain in the abdomen
• Swelling in the legs
• Weight loss
• Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, called jaundice

Lungs metastasis

Because the lungs get blood flow from the rest of the body, cancer can travel there from other organs. Cancer that has spread to the lungs often affects breathing.

Symptoms include:

• A cough that doesn’t go away
• Chest pain
• Blood in the mucus
• Trouble breathing
• Weight loss

Bone metastasis

When cancer travels to the bones, it can weaken them and cause them to release stored calcium. Symptoms include:

• Bone pain
• Constipation, nausea, and loss of appetite from high calcium levels in the blood
• Broken bones
• Numbness or weakness in the legs and possibly the arms

Pain in the back or neck

Alarming Signs of Cervical cancer

• Early lesions and precancerous lesions have no symptoms
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding such as bleeding after vaginal intercourse, bleeding after menopause, bleeding and spotting between periods or longer/heavier periods
• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Pelvic pain
• Late stage disease or stage 4 cervical cancer or advanced stage cancer may cause lower extremity swelling, problem with urine and/or stool passage

Treatment Options

Cervical cancer along with Ovarian, uterine and endometrial cancer can be treated using the following methods

Cancer therapy

Combined Radiation therapy + Chemotherapy: Alternative to surgery in early stage and choice in late stage.

IMRT and IGRT are various kinds of radiotherapy available with us.

Cancer Surgery

Radical Hysterectomy primarily preferred option for early stage disease. Both open and minimal invasive approaches are suitable.

Depending on risk factors after surgery adjuvant treatment may be advised.

Minimally invasive surgery or laparoscopic surgery is increasingly becoming popular in all fields of surgery including gynecological oncology. Given its many advantages, it is easy to see why people prefer this form of surgery.

Laparoscopy and Cervical Cancer

This can be treated surgically in the form of a lymphadenectomy or a radical hysterectomy. One of the factors crucial to the management of this type of cancer is an evaluation of the lymph nodes. This is where laparoscopy is very useful. As in the case of endometrial cancer, laparoscopy may also be used for a hysterectomy procedure. A laparoscopic lymphadenectomy may also be performed to investigate the extent to which the cancer has spread.

Advanced stages of cervical cancer can be treated with chemotherapy and radiation. In such cases, the role of laparoscopy may be limited to staging the patient before treatment.

Are you suffering from pain?

Any cancer has only 4 treatments. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and pain relief treatment / pain management.

What is the stage of cancer? Stage decides the treatment. All advanced cancers cannot be treated by chemotherapy and / or radiotherapy. Chemotherapy / radiotherapy may not benefit in stage 4 cancer. Recent research tells that unnecessary chemotherapy may reduce quality & life span too. Pain is the most common problem in stage 3 or 4. Please remember Pain definitely can be controlled or treated at any stage of cancer. Even if you are taking ayurvedic treatment for cancer or homeopathic treatment, it will not help in pain relief – You must take pain management treatment. Pain relief is important for continuing any treatment. Pain relief needs dedicated pain management treatment usually offered by Pain specialist doctors. In addition to best cancer specialist, ACCN is proud to have best pain specialist doctor in Delhi and in India. Pain management and cancer treatment goes side by side. Demand a pain free cancer treatment.

One must always remember that in stage 3 / stage 4 / terminal cancer – palliative care and pain relief treatment is usually the priority treatment so that pain relief continues at home too.  Pain free journey of cancer ie pain free cancer treatment helps in prolongation of life.

Advanced-Cancer Care Network, Delhi, India, with its branches (contact) at Delhi and Rohtak (Haryana) is a unique conglomeration of super-specialist doctors, who believe in well-being of human life.  ACCN is the most advanced centre for stage 3 cancer, stage 4 cancer, advanced stage cancer, terminal cancer, Cancer pain management and palliative care. It offers the unique and state-of-the-art treatment for pain relief and cancer treatment in India.

Click on Pain relief in cervical Cancer to know the best pain management methods at home for cervical cancer.

#wincancerpain

Palliative care

Palliative care is designed to give symptomatic relief to the patient, control the side-effects of illness or treatment and improve quality of life of cancer patients. Palliative care treatment is provided by a medical specialist, other than oncosurgeon or oncologist. This medical specialist is known as “Pain & Palliative Care Specialist”. India has very limited number of such specialists and if you are also not able to find one for yourself, please contact ACCN (Advanced – Cancer Care Network), we are proud to have India”s best and most qualified Pain Specialists and Palliative Care Specialists.

Click on Understanding palliative care to know the palliative care treatment for stage 3 cancer or stage 4 cancer or advanced stage cervical cancer.

Role of Palliative Care Treatment

It is usually said that role of palliative care starts, when cancer becomes incurable or advanced stage or terminal or at end-of-life. It is one of the biggest myths in cancer treatment protocols. Palliative care specialist must be consulted and involved in the cancer treatment right from the first day when cancer is diagnosed and treatment is started. Initially when cancer is at stage 1 or 2, complete focus is on cancer cure and palliative care has minimal but very important role. As the cancer (if) progresses, gradually role of palliative care also enlarges. In stage 3 or stage 4. role of palliative care becomes much more important than other regular cancer treatments.

Click on How we can help to know about our various services for advanced cancer patients.

Click on Symptom control to understand that how we can provide suffering free life to advanced cancer patient.

Benefits of Palliative Care

• Makes patient feel better and stay active during treatment
• Manages side-effects of cancer treatment
• Facilitates as high a quality of life as possible
• Helps cancer treatments do a better job
• Can be curative as well as life-supporting treatment
• Cancer diet planning
• Improves survival outcomes
• Increases immunity levels
• Improves communication between patient and family members
• Maintains hope and stick to principals of ethics