Last Updated: 24th July, 2022

Cervical cancer or Cancer Of The Cervix is that the cancer of the opening of a womb or uterus, referred to as cervix and is that the most typical reason behind cancer-related deaths in Indian women. Each seven minutes a woman dies because of cervical cancer in India.

We will discuss about the causes, its symptoms, types, diagnosis, risk factors, prevention, treatments and most importantly the Awareness of Cervical Cancer.

What Are Cervical Cancer And Abnormal Cervical Cells?

Cervical cancer is a kind of cancer that happens within the cells of the cervix — the lower section of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Numerous strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, play an important role in developing most cancer of the cervix.

When exposed to HPV, a woman’s immune system generally prevents the virus from doing damage. In a very little group of women, however, the virus survives for years, causative to the method that causes some cells on the surface of the cervix to become cancer cells. Through screening tests and getting a vaccine that protects against HPV infection, you may reduce your chances of developing cervical cancer.

CIN is often known as Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia. This implies that abnormal cells have been detected on the cervix surface. CIN is generally triggered by some human papillomavirus (HPV) types and is detected when a cervical biopsy is conducted. CIN is indeed not cancer, but if not treated, it could become cancer and spread to surrounding normal tissue.

What Causes Cervical Cancer And Abnormal Cervical Cells?

The most common cause of cervical cancer is infected with a deadly virus known as Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) transmitted through sexual contact. Cancer of the cervix begins once healthy cells acquire a genetic alteration (mutation) that causes them to transform into abnormal cells.

Healthy cells grow and multiply at a continuous rate, eventually dying at eventual time. Cancer cells grow and multiply out of management and that they do not die. The accumulating abnormal cells develop a mass (tumor). Cancer cells invade near tissues and might break far from a tumor to spread (metastasize) elsewhere within the body.

It isn’t clear what causes cervical cancer, however, it’s for sure that HPV plays a role. HPV is extremely common, and most ladies with the virus ne’er develop cancer of the cervix. This implies different factors – like your surroundings or your lifestyle choices – additionally determine whether or not you will develop cancer of the cervix.

Risk factors usually involve bad local hygiene, insufficient time gap between children, low levels of nutrition, and early marriages.

Symptoms Of Cervical Cancer

In early stages (even within the precancerous stages), cancer of the cervix sometimes don’t cause symptoms. Within the later stages, the symptoms include hemorrhage after sexual activity, hemorrhage between menstrual cycles and irregular periods.

Signs and symptoms of more-advanced cervical cancer include:

Vaginal hemorrhage after intercourse, between periods or after the menopause:

• Watery, bloody vaginal discharge which will be heavy and have a foul odor
• Pelvic pain or pain throughout intercourse

There Are Two Main Types Of Cervical Cancer:

The type of cervical cancer that you simply have helps confirm your prognosis and treatment. Cervical cancer’s major types are:

• Squamous Cell Carcinoma: This type of cancer of the cervix begins within the skinny, flat cells (squamous cells) lining the outer a part of the cervix, that comes into the vagina. The majority of cervical cancers are carcinomas of squamous cells.
• Adenocarcinoma: This type of cervical cancer begins within the column-shaped glandular cells that line the cervical canal.

Sometimes, both kinds of cells are concerned with cancer of the cervix. Very seldom, cancer happens in different cells within the cervix.

Diagnosis And Management

Early diagnosis plays an important role in the treatment of cancer. Pap smear could be a straightforward, painless and noninvasive test for early detection of cancer of the cervix.

Pap smear is usually recommended for all ladies above thirty years aged and should be recurrent each 1-3 years.

What Are Risk Factors For Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer risk factors usually involve:

• Several partners in the sexual sphere. The larger your number of sexual partners – and also the larger your partner’s number of sexual partners – the larger your probability of getting HPV.
• Sexual intercourse: Having sex at an early age will increase your risk of HPV.



• Certain infections that are sexually transmitted (STIs). Having different STIs – like chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV/AIDS – will increase your risk of HPV.
• Women and girls with a weak immune system. You will be additional probably to develop cancer of the cervix if your immune system is weakened by another health condition and you have got HPV.
• Smoking: Smoking is related to squamous cell cervical cancer.

Vaccination Strategies For The Prevention

Awareness is that the key to stop cervical cancer. It may be prevented by vaccination between 10 – 26 years aged.

To reduce your risk of cervical cancer:

• Get immunized against HPV. Vaccination is offered for women and girls ages nine to twenty-six. The vaccine is best effective if given to ladies before they become sexually active.
• Have routine Pap tests and pelvic examinations. Pap tests will observe precancerous conditions of the cervix, in order that they are often monitored or treated so as to stop cervical cancer. Most medical organizations counsels ladies begin routine Pap tests at age twenty-one and repeat them every few years.
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• Practice safer sexual activities, using a condom. Having fewer sexual partners and delaying intercourse might cut back your risk of cervical cancer.
• Don’t smoke.

Two vaccines are obtainable in India, Gardasil and Cervarix. The dose of the vaccine is 0.5 ml injected intramuscularly.

Gardasil is given in three doses, at zero, two and six months and at zero, one and six months within the case of Cervarix. If there’s a woman or girl in your family between 10 – 26 years aged, do consult a gynecologist for recommendation relating to the vaccination procedure.