Cancer of the cervix – the neck of the womb – affects women of all ages, but is most common in those aged 30 to 45 years old.
The disease is largely preventable.
It can be caught early through regular smear tests, which detect pre-cancerous cell. These are not cancerous but could become malignant if they remain untreated.
As with all gynecological cancers, the sooner cervical cancer is diagnosed, the better a woman’s chances of survival.
SYMPTOMS OF CERVICAL CANCER:
- any unusual bleeding from the vagina, particularly after sex, or after the menopause when your periods have stopped
- persistent vaginal discharge that is blood-stained or smells unpleasant
LOWERING YOUR RISK OF GETTING CERVICAL CANCER:
Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by the common, sexually transmitted infection, the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Most women will have HPV at some point in their lives, though for most the virus clears up of its own accord.
But, where the virus doesn’t go away, there is a risk of abnormal cells developing, which could morph into cancer over time.
To lessen the risk of developing the disease:
- go for cervical screening when invited
- have the HPV vaccine, if offered
- if you smoke, try to quit
- use a condom to reduce the risk of contracting HPV
Even if you have had the HPV vaccine and have a normal cervical smear result, it is vital you raise symptoms with a doctor.
SURGERY TO REMOVE CERVICAL CANCER:
Usually, cervical cancer patients get a radical hysterectomy to remove all traces of the disease.
Patients can also get total or partial hysterectomies if their doctor deems that to be appropriate.
Many women also get hysterectomies to treat other conditions, such as endometriosis, uterine prolapse, or fibroids.
Fibroids (non-cancerous growths in the uterus) affect up to 80 percent of women by the time they reach 40.
RADICAL HYSTERECTOMY
In the case of cancer, patients tend to get a radical hysterectomy.
This means the surgeon removes the whole uterus, tissue on the sides of the uterus, the cervix, and the top part of the vagina.
TOTAL HYSTERECTOMY
A total hysterectomy removes the whole uterus and cervix.
This means the woman stops having menstrual periods and cannot carry a baby.
PARTIAL HYSTERECTOMY
Women can also get partial hysterectomies. This removes the uterus but leaves the cervix intact.