THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT CERVICAL CANCER

- By Favourite Nurse Favour


I find it so essential that every female gender like me should get educated on "Cervical Cancer". According to WHO, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer detected among women globally and in 2020 about 604,237 woman were diagnosed of having Cervical Cancer in the world.

Nonetheless, cervical cancer is treatable and curable.










WHAT IS CERVICAL CANCER?

Cervical Cancer is the cancer of the cervix. The cervix is a part of the female reproductive system and it is the end portion it the uterus, where the uterus and the vagina meet. It's the low end of the uterus and the junction of the vagina. Note: It is the cervix that opens during labor to allow a baby to leave the womb during childbirth. 
     Cervical cancer develops slowly and this is why it's possible to have cervical cancer without experiencing any obvious signs or symptoms at the onset. 




CAUSE(s) OF CERVICAL CANCER

Cervical cancer is exclusively caused by a virus known as "Human papillomavirus (HPV)". This virus, are of different types, not all causes cervical cancer except type 16&18 which have higher risk of cervical cancer and a very low risk with type 6&11

Anyone with a cervix can get cervical cancer. This is true if you’re not currently sexually active, are pregnant, or are post-menopausal.

Stage 1: Cancer cells are present on the cervix and may have spread into the uterus.
Stage 2: Cancer has spread outside the cervix and uterus. It hasn’t reached the walls of the pelvis or the lower part of the vagina.
Stage 3: Cancer has reached the lower part of the vagina, the pelvic wall, or is affecting the kidneys.
Stage 4: Cancer has spread beyond the pelvis to the lining of the bladder, the rectum, or to distant organs and bones.

RISK FACTOR OF CERVICAL CANCER

For a woman to have cervical cancer, she must have contacted the Human Papillomavirus Infection (HPV), a current or past Infection or a repeated series of having the infection. This is a very vital risk factor if the you are not vaccinated for HPV and if there are high variant of HPV (Type 16&18).

Other Important Risk Factors:
1) Unprotected sex.
2) Presence of other STDs such as HIV Infection: this actually has 5 fold increase risk.
3) Multiple sex partners
4) Poor utilization of screening: Not getting a palp smear done as often as it should be done, or neglecting the result.
5) High Risk partner who has HPV: This put you at the risk of getting repeated HPV will make you vulnerable to cervical cancer.
6) Smoking: It suppresses the immune system to a point where the HPV virus will not be cleared off because of the weakened immune . Smoking suppresses the immune system so much that it won't carry out it's normal function of fighting out foreign bodies.
7) Immunocompromise (HIV DIABETES)
8)Vitamin deficiency
9) Family history puts one at the risk of having Cervical cancer: If there is anyone who has cervical cancer in your family or relatives that may be genetics sl it's very important palp test is conducted at intervals..


SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

For the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer, I wish to let you know that some of the cases of cervical cancer are "Asymptomatic" this means that there is no symptom that surfaces. This is actually during the early course of the disease, the individual doesn't complain about anything. Very often the signs and Symptoms may be the same with other diagnosis, please it's important your medical practitioner run some tests to be sure of his diagnosis in this case. The Symptoms also include;

1) Bleeding After Sexual Intercourse: For every lady please do well to raise an alarm if your notice you started bleeding after having sex with your partner.

2) Discharge: The Vaginal discharge of cervical cancer will be watery first and then it changes to red or brown color. This discharge is malodorous. 
 
3) Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding: For post menopausal women having an abnormal vaginal bleeding is an easy detect or a quarry for cervical cancer.

4) More/Frequent Abnormal Bleeding.

5) Consistent Vaginal Discomfort/Pain

6) Pelvic Or Back pain

7) Dysuria

FOR COMPLICATIONS, THE SIGNS/SYMPTOMS INCLUDES:
-Constipation
-Hematuria
-Leg Edema
-Hydronephrosis
-Pain
-Urinary obstruction


SCREENING AND DIAGNOSIS 

The screening of is very important so as to know the risk of cervical cancer. 
This is done via a
1) Pap Smear: This procedure is done to detect pre-cancerous changes (squamous cell). 
GUIDELINES: It is very important that every female between 21 years of age to go for this screening every 3years. However, the frequency of going for this may change to every year if an abnormal result was detected.
•This test can be discontinued after 65-70 years if there was no abnormal result for 3 consecutive test.
2) HPV Serologies

TREATMENT PLAN

The treatment of cervical cancer depends on several factors, including the type and stage of cancer, possible side effects, and the patient’s preferences and overall health

-Surgery

-Radiation therapy

-Chemotherapy

-Targeted therapy

-Immunotherapy


PREVENTIVE TIPS

I will break down the preventive tips into two categories:

1) Primary preventive tips:
These tips focus on preventing the virus that causes cervical cancer and this includes:
-Getting vaccinated against HPV virus. Avoid multiple sex partners, practice protected sex, build up Vitamin deficiency and your body system immunity
-Go for screening

2) Secondary Preventive tips
-Pap smear test to check for any Precancerous dysplasia
-HPV Serologies



Location:Asaba, Nigeria Asaba, Nigeria

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