CERVICAL CANCER
Cervical Cancer Treatments in India is a major area, where many medical travellers are getting treated under the top hospitals and doctor in India guided by HealthOpinion.
Carcinoma of the cervix is the sixth most frequent malignancy in women. It occurs predominantly in women between the ages of 30 and 50. An increased risk of cervical cancer is associated with low economic status, early marriage, early sexual activity, several partners (particularly those with poor penile hygiene), multiple pregnancies, a history of untreated chronic cervicitis, venereal diseases, viral infections, papilloma, HSV II and smoking. Sexual contact is the principal risk factor for cervical cancer.
Currently, there is a resurgence of cervical carcinoma in young women. Risk varies directly with an increase in the number of sexual partners and with an early incidence of first intercourse. These circumstances along with certain serotypes of papillomavirus have resulted in detection of cervical cancer in women in their early twenties. Preventive education should be given on delaying sexual activity and the use of barrier and spermicidal contraceptives.
Women should be taught and motivated to report any abnormal vaginal bleeding to a physician, particularly during the menopausal period. A yearly gynaecological examination including a Pap test is recommended by most doctors. The effect of many women having this examination has been a dramatic reduction in the occurrence of invasive cancer of the cervix.
Risk Factors of Cervical Cancer:
People with a family history of cancer or prolonged local tissue irritation are at a high risk. They are recommended to have frequent examinations to detect cancer.
Clinical Manifestations:
Early cervical cancer is generally asymptomatic but leucorrhea and intermenstrual bleeding eventually occur. The discharge is usually thin and watery but becomes dark and foul smelling as the disease advances and it indicates the presence of an infection. The vaginal bleeding is initially only spotting but as the tumor enlarges it becomes heavier and more frequent. Pain is a late symptom and weight loss, Anaemia and Cachexia may also come in the later period.
Diagnostic Studies:
A Pap test, the schiller iodine test, colposcopy and a biopsy may be used to diagnose Cancer of the cervix. The current trend is to use descriptive terms such as benign, moderate dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma to report test results.
Therapeutic Management:
Treatment of cancer totally depends on the stage of the tumor, the client’s age and the general state of health. Conization may be the only type of therapy needed for carcinoma in situ if analysis of the removed tissue demonstrates that a wide area of normal tissue surrounds the excised malignancy. Laser treatments are also available in which a directed infrared beam causes the boiling and vaporization of intracellular water is very effective in the destruction of dysplastic tissue. Cautery and cryosurgery may also be used. Invasive cancer of the cervix is treated with surgery, radiation or a combination of the two to remove or destroy the involved areas and lymphatic drainage. Surgical procedures commonly include Radical Hysterectomy and Pelvic Exenteration. Radiation may be external (Eg: Cobalt) or internal (Eg: Radium). The extent of the radiation depends on the stage.
Systemic or regional chemotherapy has been disappointing in most cases of recurrent cervical cancer. Previously irradiated areas are difficult to treat because the capillary blood supply is diminished that results in poor drug delivery to the tumor bed. However, some patients experience an improvement in the condition with chemotherapy.