The lower and narrow part, which connects the uterus to the vagina, is known as “Cervix”. The healthy cells that are available on the surface of the cervix when starts to change and becomes out of control, it forms a tumour. Although the growth of the tumour is comparatively slower, it requires

The lower and narrow part, which connects the uterus to the vagina, is known as “Cervix”. The healthy cells that are available on the surface of the cervix when starts to change and becomes out of control, it forms a tumour. Although the growth of the tumour is comparatively slower, it requires to be treated through available cervical cancer treatments. With medical advancement, treating cervical cancer has now become easier for surgeons. 

  About The Treatment

1. What is the procedure?

Cervical cancer is slow-growing cancer that offers quite some time for the patient to heal. A gynecologic oncologist is a surgeon who is specialized in treating gynecologic cancer. After a deep physical examination and several diagnosis tests, the doctor suggests the right treatment based on several factors. The two prime factors that play a major role in choosing the right treatment are the stage of cancer and the choice to have children or not.

When the cancer is diagnosed in the initial stage, cone biopsy and hysterectomy are the treatments that doctor suggests. Radiation with Chemotherapy can also be the option for treating cancer. In later stages, Radical trachelectomy, Radiation, Chemoradiation and other treatments are combined together for curing cancer. The different approach of the treatment takes different time to be done and includes different levels of risk. 

1. What are the signs and symptoms?

In general, early symptoms of cervical cancer are not noticeable. Symptoms usually start to appear when cancer grows larger and starts spreading. Following will be symptoms that an individual might face:

• Abnormal bleeding from the vagina

• Pain in the pelvis region

• Excessive and foul odour vaginal discharge

• More frequent urination

• Pain while urinating 

• Blood in urine and/or stool

• Pain in the lower back

• Unusual bleeding while intercourse

1. How is it diagnosed?

The true diagnosis to detect cervical cancer is the biopsy. However, there are several other methods too for diagnosing cancer.

• Physical examination

• PAP Test

• Colposcopy

• HPV DNA Test

• MRI Scan

• Imaging Test

• X-Ray

• PET Scan

1. What are the treatment options available?

Distinct methods of cervical cancer treatment are available which are chosen on the basis of stage of cancer. At times, different methods of treatments are combined together for better results. 

• Surgery

• Chemotherapy

• Targeted therapy

• Radiation therapy

• Immunotherapy

• Trachelectomy

• Hysterectomy

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1. What are the different stages involved?

In general, there are four main stages of the Cervical Center. However, it is further classified into various subcategories for better understanding. 

Stage I: In the early stage, cancer grows and extends itself to the deeper tissues from the linings of the cervix. However, cancer is still present in the uterus and hasn’t extended to the other body parts. 

• IA: Small cervical tissues or cells that can only be seen using a microscope. After that, doctors classify cancer as IA1 or IA2, based on the size of cancer. 

• IA1: When the depth of the area affected with cancer is less than 3 mm.

• IA2: When the depth of the cancerous area is between 3mm to 5mm. 

• IB: Cancer is larger and has a diameter of more than 5mm. Even so, it is still confined to the cervix with no outside transmission.

• IB1: Depth of the tumour is more than 5mm with the width of less than 2 cm.

• IB2: Tumour is deeper than 2 cm along with a width of less than 4cm. 

• IB3: The diameter of the tumour is 4 cm or more. 

Stage II: In this stage of cancer, the tumour has spread through the womb to adjacent regions, but persists in the pelvic region only. 

• IIA: The tumour has progressed outside the cervix but is confined only to the upper-two third of the vagina. Although, the tissues in the parametrial area are still not affected by it. 

• IIA1: Tumour with a diameter of less than 4 cm.

• IIA2: Larger tumour of width 4 cm or more. 

• IIB: By this time, the area of the tumour has extended to the parametric area but doesn’t hit the pelvic walls yet.

Stage III: The lower third part of the vagina got affected by the tumour along with the effect on the kidney. By now, cancer has extended to the pelvic walls and might also block the ureters. However, there will be no sign of distant transmission of the tumour.

• IIIA: Tumour is still in the lower third part of the vagina without affecting the pelvic walls. 

• IIIB: Pelvic walls along with the kidney get affected by cancer.

• IIIC: The size of tumour got increased involving the effect on the regional lymph nodes. 

• IIIC1: Lymph nodes of the pelvis got affected by cancer.

• IIIC2: Tumour has expanded to the para-aortic lymph nodes. 

Stage IV: At this stage of cancer, the other parts of the body including bladder and rectum got affected.