Cervical

What It Is

The cervix is an organ that is only present in women, and connects the uterus to the vagina. When cells in the cervix start to undergo abnormal changes, known as pre-cancerous changes, then this can represent the early stages of cervical cancer.

There are two types of cervical cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Of these, we know that the vast majority of cases are squamous cell carcinomas. Cervical cancer can be picked up early and prevented from occurring through regular screening, which is recommended for women of all ages.

Causes of Cervical Cancer

We should make it clear that, as with all cancers, cervical cancer is caused by factors such as a weak immune system, an acidic pH balance, oxygen deprivation and toxins in the body. However, it is also commonly caused by certain types of HPV (human papilloma virus). Some of these can cause genital warts and, as such, cervical cancer can arise as a result of a sexually transmitted infection.

Smoking is also known to lead to cervical cancer, and we know that a combination of an HPV and smoking, or an HPV and another sexually transmitted disease, can lead to a greater level of risk.

Cervical Cancer Symptoms

The most common symptom for cervical cancer, and the one that sends most women to the doctor in the first place, is abnormal vaginal bleeding. This could include bleeding outside of the regular period, bleeding after the menopause or any other type of bleeding.

Pain during sexual intercourse is also known to be a symptom, as is bleeding directly after intercourse. Pain related to sex is known as dyspareunia in the medical community.

Conventional Treatments

If the cancer is confined to the outside layer of the cervix, then we have the option of a number of surgery treatments that can be completed to remove the affected cells. The most common include laser surgery, which kills the cancerous cells using a laser beam; cryosurgery, which is the killing of cancerous cells through freezing; and a cone biopsy, which is when a piece of cervical tissue affected by the cancer is completely removed.

These procedures are fine if the cancer is in its early stages, but if the cancer is invasive and has managed to get inside the outer layer, then a hysterectomy is the most common form of surgery. This could either be a simple hysterectomy or a radical hysterectomy, which is more serious. However, both involve the removal of the uterus, making it impossible to become pregnant.

Chemotherapy and radiation are also commonly used if the cancer has spread, but we would warn you that these include a lot of unpleasant side effects, including hair loss, weakness and nausea.

Alternative and Complementary Treatments

Due to the nature of the side effects associated with conventional treatments, many people opt instead for alternative treatments, which have very few, if any, side effects and provide a far more natural way to cure different types of cancer.

We can recommend the Budwig Diet as one of the most effective alternative therapies in combating any type of cancer, including cervical cancer. This special diet, administered under the guidance of trained experts, has at its heart a very simple idea which has proved time and time again to be a powerful anti-cancer treatment.

The basic premise of this completely natural alternative treatment is that in order to grow, cancer cells require glucose. The Budwig Diet aims to reduce the amount of glucose in the blood through reducing the amount of sugar in the diet of the cancer patient, and is one of the most effective alternative treatments. However, some programmes go even further and recommend the complete absence of sugar from the diet. This leads to the body using less insulin, and the cancer cells therefore cannot grow.

The Budwig Diet should be specially administered, but at its heart it is a diet rich in raw vegetables, which prevents sugars from being consumed. The immune system also strengthens as a result, allowing the body to fight the weakened cancer cells more effectively.

As well as the Budwig Diet, we can also recommend a number of other alternative therapies which aim to combat cancerous cells in the body. These consist of emotional healing, which is the balancing of the meridian through the increasing of inner strength; biophotonic light therapy, which is the targeting of cancer cells using completely natural UV rays; massage therapy, which is the use of different types of massage to stimulate the circulation of energy; and techniques such as using SCIO Energetic Frequency Equipment, which aims to destroy the cancer cells through mechanical vibration.

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Cervical cancer is a malignant cancer of the cervix. Cervical cancer is cancer that starts in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus (womb) that opens at the top. The upper part, or body, of the uterus, is where a fetus grows. The cervix connects the body of the uterus to the (birth canal). The part of the cervix closest to the body of the uterus is called the endocervix.. Cancer of the cervix (also known as cervical cancer) begins in the lining of the cervix. Cervical cancers do not form suddenly. Normal cervical cells gradually develop pre-cancerous changes that turn into cancer. Cervical cancer is caused by several types of a virus called human papillomaviruses (HPV). The virus spreads through contact. Most women’s bodies are able to fight HPV infection. Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells on the cervix grow out of control. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens. Cervical cancer can often be cured when it’s found early. Cervical cancer is a carcinoma, typically composed of squamous cells, and is similar in some respects to squamous cell cancers of the head and neck and anus.

All three of these diseases may be associated with human papillomavirus infection. The remaining 10% to 20% of cervical cancers are adenocarcinomas. Adenocarcinomas are becoming more common in women born in the last 20 to 30 years. Cervical adenocarcinoma develops from the mucus-producing gland cells of the endocervix. Most (80-90%) invasive cervical cancer develops in flat, scaly surface cells that line the cervix (called squamous cell carcinomas). Approximately 10-15% of cases develop in glandular surface cells (called adenocarcinomas). Symptoms of cervical cancer may include is pain during discharge that is tinged with blood and bleeding from that is not normal, or a change in your menstrual cycle. Cervical cancer is staged by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system, which is based on clinical examination, rather than surgical findings. Cervical cancer is found only in women. Cervical cancers usually affect women of middle age or older, but it may be diagnosed in any reproductive-aged woman.

Cervical cancer that is caught early can usually be cured. Microinvasive cancer (stage IA) is usually treated by hysterectomy (removal of the whole uterus). Vaccines have been developed that can protect women from HPV infections. A vaccine that offers protection from the virus responsible for most cases of cervical cancer is the latest addition to the official childhood immunization schedule. The cervical cancer vaccine currently available in Australia is called Gardasil. This vaccine prevents infection with HPV types 16, 18, 6 and 11. HPV 16 and 18 are responsible for the majority (70% internationally; 80% in Australia) of cervical cancers. Cervical cancer strikes more than 10,000 U.S. women each year, killing more than 3,700. The vaccine appears to be virtually 100 percent effective against two of the most common cancer-causing HPV strains. A vaccine for girls and young women protects against the four types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers. Practicing safe (using condoms) also reduces your risk of HPV.

Cervical Cancer Treatment Tips

1. Surgery treats the cancer in the cervix and the area close to the tumor.

2. Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.

3. Chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells.

4. Anticancer drugs for cervical cancer are usually given through a vein.

5. Electrosurgery, cryosurgery, podophyllum, and trichloroacetic acid are methods used to remove HPV in mucosal tissue.

6. A vaccine that offers protection from the virus responsible for most cases of cervical cancer

7. Practicing safe (using condoms) also reduces your risk of HPV and STD diseases

8. Avoid Cigarette smoking is associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer.

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Cervical cancer is the cancer of the cervix. It is a disease caused by the abnormal growth and division of cells that forms in the lining of the cervix. It is the second common form of cancer that affects women today. It is very common in middle age women and older.

The statistics of cervical cancer in the United States, according to American Cancer Society (ACS), shows that about 11,150 women are diagnosing with this cancer and approximately 3,670 women die from this cancer every year.

To understand more about cervical cancer, it is important to note what a cervix is first. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb) that connects the uterus to the vagina (birth canal) in a woman’s body.

Usually, cervical cancer exhibits no symptoms to detect the presence of cancer in your body. It is known as a slow growing form of cancer. When cancer develops in your body, the healthy cells in the cervix begin to change into abnormal cells, which then turn into pre-cancerous cells. If left untreated, these pre-cancerous cells will turn into cancer.

Risk factors of cervical cancer:

Although the cause of cervical cancer is not known there are certain risk factors that increase the risk of developing this cancer. Risk factors are the things that will affect the chances of developing a disease greater.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a sexual transmitted disease is highly associated with invasive cervical cancer.

Sexual transmitted diseases occur due to sexual contacts with an infected person. Chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, genital herpes, HIV/AIDS are some of he examples of sexual transmitted diseases.

Other risk factors that increase your chances of developing cervical cancer are: a history of sexual transmitted diseases, having sexual intercourse with multiple partners, having sexual activities in very young age (without using contraceptives).

Smoking doubles your risk of having cancer of the cervix. Weakened immune system, regular usage of birth control pills, age, giving birth to many children, and irregular pap tests increases your risk of developing cervical cancer.

As the cause of cervical cancer is unknown, it can be detected with regular Pap tests or pap smears. It is very important for you to have regular Pap tests to identify the condition early to take appropriate treatment and prevent cervical cancer from developing.

Pap test to detect cervical cancer:

With Pap tests, you can detect the cancer in the early stages before it spreads to other parts of the body. Pap smear is a procedure where scraped cells from the cervix are examined under a microscope to check for the changes in the cells of your cervix that leads to cervical cancer.

The rate of cervical cancer in women has greatly decreased in recent years in the United States due to regular pap smears.

As cervical cancer is a malignant tumor, it is very important for you to have Pap tests done annually. Remember, it is not a good idea to wait for signs to consult a doctor as early detection is the key to being treated successfully. Visit Online Cancer Blog

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Cancer surgeons in Indian hospitals are certified and have more than five to ten years of experience. Cervical Cancer surgery hospitals in India at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore have English speaking and well trained medical staff that cares for its patients. The doctors and cancer surgeons in India at these hospitals are adept in dealing with complicated and emergency situations The advanced and cutting edge medical facilities available at Cervical cancer surgery hospitals in India makes them a reliable global destination for patients who are seeking a suitable and less cost option for recovery from Cervical cancer


Cervical Cancer Causes

Cervical 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).

Forms of HPV, a virus whose different types cause skin warts, genital warts, and other abnormal skin and body surface disorders, have been shown to lead to many of the changes in cervical cells that may eventually lead to cancer.



Genetic material that comes from certain forms of HPV has been found in cervical tissues that show cancerous or precancerous changes.
In addition, women who have been diagnosed with HPV are more likely to develop a cervical cancer that has genetic material matching the strain of virus that caused the infection.
These findings demonstrate a strong link between the virus and cervical cancer.
Because HPV can be transmitted by sexual contact, early sexual contact and having multiple sexual partners have been identified as strong risk factors for the development of cervical lesions that may progress to cancer.

Cigarette smoking is another risk factor for the development of cervical cancer. The chemicals in cigarette smoke interact with the cells of the cervix, causing precancerous changes that may over time progress to cancer.

Oral contraceptives (“the pill”) may increase the risk for cervical cancer, especially in women who use oral contraceptives for longer than 5 years.


Cervical Cancer Treatment

Treatment of cervical cancer is directed at preventing precancerous cells from becoming cancerous cells.



This is usually a step-by-step process, involving the removal of cells or tissue to diagnose cancer and to find out how far it has invaded.
If the deepest cells removed by biopsy were normal, no further treatment may be needed.
If the deepest cells removed by biopsy were cancerous or precancerous, this means the cancer has invaded farther than the biopsy. In these cases, treatment generally starts with removal of additional tissues. As these tissues are removed, they are checked for dysplastic change to be sure all the precancerous or cancerous cells have been removed from the body or are otherwise destroyed.

India the home of tradition has now named as a developing country. New innovations are implemented in various fields. Medical advancement in India has developed so vast that attracts even the abroad patients for health in India. Cervical cancer surgery in India has got the name of best performance and India so called a right destination for cervical cancer surgery. Cervical cancer is one of the life threatening diseases that kill the person livingly. The study of cancer is called Oncology derived from the Greek word called study of mass or tumor. Cervical cancer is a preventable and curable disease if detected earlier. Fore more details on cervical cancer surgery in India visit http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com and enquiry@forerunnershealthcare.com

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Cancer surgeons in Indian hospitals are certified and have more than five to ten years of experience. Cervical Cancer surgery hospitals in India at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore have English speaking and well trained medical staff that cares for its patients. The doctors and cancer surgeons in India at these hospitals are adept in dealing with complicated and emergency situations The advanced and cutting edge medical facilities available at Cervical cancer surgery hospitals in India makes them a reliable global destination for patients who are seeking a suitable and less cost option for recovery from Cervical cancer. Medical Tourism Company in India can be broadly defined as health holiday along with a provision for cost effective medical and surgical treatment according to the patient need. It also combines the wellness and healthcare along with the leisure and relaxation of the rejuvenating the person in all aspects.

Cervical Cancer Causes

Cervical 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).

Forms of HPV, a virus whose different types cause skin warts, genital warts, and other abnormal skin and body surface disorders, have been shown to lead to many of the changes in cervical cells that may eventually lead to cancer.

Genetic material that comes from certain forms of HPV has been found in cervical tissues that show cancerous or precancerous changes.

In addition, women who have been diagnosed with HPV are more likely to develop a cervical cancer that has genetic material matching the strain of virus that caused the infection.

These findings demonstrate a strong link between the virus and cervical cancer.

Because HPV can be transmitted by sexual contact, early sexual contact and having multiple sexual partners have been identified as strong risk factors for the development of cervical lesions that may progress to cancer.

Cigarette smoking is another risk factor for the development of cervical cancer. The chemicals in cigarette smoke interact with the cells of the cervix, causing precancerous changes that may over time progress to cancer.

Oral contraceptives (“the pill”) may increase the risk for cervical cancer, especially in women who use oral contraceptives for longer than 5 years.

Cervical Cancer Treatment

Treatment of cervical cancer is directed at preventing precancerous cells from becoming cancerous cells.



This is usually a step-by-step process, involving the removal of cells or tissue to diagnose cancer and to find out how far it has invaded.
If the deepest cells removed by biopsy were normal, no further treatment may be needed.
If the deepest cells removed by biopsy were cancerous or precancerous, this means the cancer has invaded farther than the biopsy. In these cases, treatment generally starts with removal of additional tissues. As these tissues are removed, they are checked for dysplastic change to be sure all the precancerous or cancerous cells have been removed from the body or are otherwise destroyed.

 

India the home of tradition has now named as a developing country. New innovations are implemented in various fields. Medical advancement in India has developed so vast that attracts even the abroad patients for health in India. Cervical cancer surgery in India has got the name of best performance and India so called a right destination for cervical cancer surgery. Cervical cancer is one of the life threatening diseases that kill the person livingly. The study of cancer is called Oncology derived from the Greek word called study of mass or tumor. Cervical cancer is a preventable and curable disease if detected earlier. Fore more details on cervical cancer surgery in India visit http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com and enquiry@forerunnershealthcare.com

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Over the past two years, the O-N-E L-E-S-S campaign for Gardasil, the new HPV vaccine to protect against cervical cancer, has brought discussion about the human papilloma virus to the forefront, shining new light not only on the vaccine itself, but also on the issues that surround it.

HPV is ubiquitous. Nearly 50% of sexually active people will have HPV at some point in their lives. There are around 20 million people with HPV infections in the U.S., with 6.2 million new cases occurring every year. The most serious consequence of HPV infections is cervical cancer, yet public knowledge about HPV is poor — less than 50% of women have heard about HPV and its link to cervical cancer.

It’s crucial that the public gains more knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer, particularly in the present climate where the merits of the vaccine have been clouded by a political rhetoric. Information on the link between HPV and cervical cancer, how common the disease is and who gets it, detection methods, other effects of the disease, and the role and effectiveness of the vaccine have to be addressed. Examining these topics will help guide decisions as medical professionals recommend this vaccination to a whole generation of 11-12 year old girls, and perhaps boys in the future.

The relationship between HPV and cervical cancer: There are over 100 types of HPV. About 15 of them are “high-risk” types that cause cervical cancer. HPV infections are more common in the younger population, with nearly 75% occurring in the 15-25 age group. Most HPV infections are “silent” — people who carry the virus don’t  know they have it and transmit it freely to their sexual partners. The good news, however, is that most of these infections are self-limiting, meaning that nearly 90% of them resolve on their own within 24 months without causing any problems. In a minority of people, however, the infections persist, either as a result of high-risk sexual behavior (such as multiple partners and unprotected sex), or weakened immunity because of smoking, stress, and long term use of certain medications like steroids. These factors can propel HPV infections to cause precancerous and cancerous lesions of the cervix. Over 99% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV. HPV infections are necessary, but not sufficient on their own to cause cervical cancer.

Pap tests and cervical cancer: A Pap test detects early changes in the cells of the cervix due to HPV or other effects, which if left untreated, may progress to cervical cancer. Fortunately, due to a well organized Pap test program in the U.S., the incidence of cervical cancer has dropped by 75% over the past 50 years. Therefore, for women who get regular Pap smears, the incidence of cervical cancer is low. Currently in the U.S., about 11,000 new cases of cervical cancer develop each year, and around 4,000 deaths occur from it. Even though one would wish that there were no cases of cervical cancers to reckon with, when compared to the number of HPV infections that occur each year, the ratio between HPV infections to cervical cancer is low. According to the American Cancer Society, four out of five women who died of cervical cancer did not have a Pap test in the previous five years. These numbers show that the Pap smear has been very successful in curtailing the incidence of cervical cancer in this country.

Role of the HPV vaccines in preventing cervical cancer: There are now two HPV vaccines available worldwide to protect against two major types of cancer-causing HPV. Gardasil, manufactured by Merck, has been available in the U.S. since June 2006. Cervarix, manufactured by Glaxo Smith Kline, is planned to be introduced in the U.S in late 2008 or early 2009. Both vaccines target HPV types 16 and 18, which cause the majority of cervical cancers. HPV type 16 causes nearly 50% of cervical cancers and HPV type 18 causes about 20% of cervical cancers. Clinical trials have shown that both vaccines prevent 70% of cervical cancers with almost 100% effectiveness. However, this only true when the person has been vaccinated prior to exposure to the virus types 16 and 18. The efficacy of the vaccine drops once these virus types gain access to the body. This is why the CDC recommends administering the vaccine to young girls, ages 11-12, before their sexual debut to obtain maximum benefit.

Pap test versus HPV Vaccine: Both Pap tests and the HPV vaccine prevent cervical cancer, but they do so in different ways. The vaccines produce antibodies to fight against the HPV virus well before it can invade the cervix. Therefore the vaccine prevents the development of any HPV related pathology on the cervix. On the other hand, the Pap test, detects abnormal changes in the cervix as a result of HPV, many of which require follow up visits and procedures in order to prevent these abnormalities from progressing to cancer. Most people would agree that prevention is better than detection or treatment. Managing abnormal Pap smears alone costs $2-3 billion a year in this country. But as the vaccine only provides protection against 70% of cervical cancers, Pap tests should be continued to detect the remaining 30% of cervical cancers that are not covered by the vaccine. It is important to note that apart from cervical cancer prevention, the vaccine has also been found to be beneficial against many other HPV related diseases, and it could eventually help in reducing the medical and emotional toll that such diseases take on people.

Those most prone to cervical cancer in the United States are those groups of people who have no access to Pap smears or will not obtain them because of inadequate access either as a result of poor socio economic status, poor knowledge or cultural differences. These groups are overwhelmingly comprised of women from ethnic minorities and whites in the Appalachian regions. Therefore, education aimed at the public should not only include comprehensive cervical cancer prevention programs in layman’s terms, but also should be culturally sensitive to meet the needs of people from various backgrounds. The HPV vaccine has the potential to save millions of young lives and families, but, unless it reaches the same group of women who are not obtaining their Pap smears today, it will miss out on keeping its “one less” promise both here at home and around the world.

©2008 Shobha S. Krishnan, M.D.

Author Bio


Shobha S. Krishnan, M.D., is a board certified gynecologist and family practice physician, at Barnard College, Columbia University. Her new book, The HPV Vaccine Controversy: Sex, Cancer, God and Politics: A Guide to parents, women, men and teenagers was published on August 30, 2008 by Greenwood Publications. The book presents the most up to date information about the vaccine without the influence of pharmaceutical companies or other interest groups.

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Cervical cancer is known to develop on the lower area of the uterus, which is known as the cervix. In the United States, cervical carcinoma or cervical cancer is regarded as the third most prevalent gynecologic cancer among women of all ages. However, it is known to be the most common among those in their twenties. This type of gynecologic cancer is known to usually affect women who are aged 35 to 55 years old.

The Cause

The cancer of the cervix is typically caused by the human papillomavirus or HPV, and the transmission of this virus is through sexual intercourse. The younger the age of a woman when she first had sex and the number of sexual partners she had would increase the risk for cervical cancer. The risk for acquiring the illness would also escalate if sexual intercourse is done with men who had previous sexual partners also having cervical cancer. A weakened immune system and smoking cigarettes are also other risks for the development of the cancer of the cervix.

The Symptoms

The precancerous changes that could lead to cervical cancer will typically bring no symptoms at all. During its early stages, cervical cancer may bring no symptoms or may cause abnormal vaginal bleeding, usually after sexual intercourse. Spotting or bleeding that is heavier than normal could also happen in between menstrual periods or heavier periods than normal may also be experienced. Large cancers in the cervix have the tendency to cause bleeding and may also cause vaginal discharge that has a foul smell. Pain on the pelvic area can be experienced with cervical cancer as well.

Swollen legs as well as lower back pain could also be caused if the cervical cancer has already spread to the other parts of the female reproductive system and the other nearby organs. As this could block the urinary tract, kidney failure may happen without proper treatment, thus leading to death.

The Diagnosis

Regular Pap smear examinations and other such tests are known to detect the early signs of cervical cancer. In fact, Pap tests are known for as much as 90 percent accurate detection of cancer of the cervix, even before symptoms begin to develop. These tests could even detect dysplasia, which when treated could aid in the prevention of cancer.

If a Pap test is able to detect dysplasia or cancer cells or if a sore, an abnormal area, or a growth is noted during a pelvic examination of the cervix, then a biopsy would have to be performed. This will confirm or rule out cervical cancer.

The Treatment

The treatment for cervical cancer would depend on its stage. Those who are still experiencing the early stage of the cancer could undergo the removal of an area of the cervix. However, because cancer is known to be recurring, women who go through this are advised to return for regular Pap tests and examinations that would need to be as often as after every three months during the first year and then after every six months after this. In more advanced stages of the cervical cancer, hysterectomy as well as radiation therapy or chemotherapy would already be called for.

The Prevention Method

If you want to avoid getting cervical cancer, then it is very important that you subject yourself to periodic Pap tests and pelvic examinations. It would also be best if you get the newly developed HPV vaccine. However, you should keep in mind that this vaccine will only prevent cervical cancer and will not cure it.

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