Cervical Cancer- Causes and Treatment
Cervical CancerCervical cancer was once one of the most common causes of cancer death, but death rates have dropped dramatically over the last 40 years. This is due to the widespread use of the Pap test, an examination performed in your doctor’s office to detect abnormal cells before cancer develops. Nevertheless, about 1300 Canadian women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and approximately 390 die from the disease. What is cervical cancer? Cervical cancer develops when cells in the cervix begin to grow out of control and can then invade nearby tissues or spread throughout the body. Large collections of cells that grow abnormally are called tumors. Some tumors are not cancer, because they cannot spread or threaten someone’s life. These are called benign tumors. The tumors that can spread throughout the body or invade nearby tissues are considered cancer and are called malignant tumors. Usually, cervix cancer is very slow growing, although in certain circumstances it can grow and spread quickly. Cervical Cancer CausesCervical cancer begins with abnormal changes in the cervical tissue. The risk of developing these abnormal changes has been associated with certain factors, including previous infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), early sexual contact, multiple sexual partners, cigarette smoking, and taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills). The development of cervical cancer is very slow. It starts as a pre-cancerous condition called dysplasia. This pre-cancerous condition can be detected by a Pap smear and is 100% treatable. That is why it is so important for women to get regular Pap smears. Most women that are diagnosed with cervical cancer today have not had regular Pap smears or they have not followed up on abnormal results. Signs and SymptomsEarly changes in the cells of the cervix (epithelial abnormalities) rarely cause symptoms. If early cell changes develop into cervical cancer, the most common signs include:
Related posts:
- Cervical Cancer – Symptoms and Causes of Cervical Cancer Cervical cancer: malignant cancer of the cervix uteri or cervical...
- What are the Options on Cervical Cancer Treatment? The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus...
- Hpv Cervical Cancer Causes It may present with vaginal bleeding but symptoms may be...
- Cervical Cancer Every woman has womb. The womb is the main part...
- Cost Of Cervical Cancer Treatment The Cause And Treatment Cost Of Cervical Cancer Treatment...