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- The cervix is the lower portion of
the uterus and includes the opening the uterus, called the
os.
- Cervical Cancer is the third most common type of cancer in women, accounting for about 4% of all cancers found in women.
- Slow abnormal changes of the
cervical cells, called dysplasia, can lead to cancer.
- Usually it takes several years to
develop cancer, but sometimes they changes can evolve into
cancer in less than a year.
- For some women, these pre-cancerous
changes may go away without any treatment.
- There are two main types of
Cervical Cancers: squamous cell carcinoma and
adenocarcinoma.
- About 85%-90% of Cervical Cancers
are squamous cells carcinoma.
- It can be curable when detected
early with a Pap smear. This is why Pap smears are
recommended for all women, beginning at age 18 or at the age
when a woman first becomes sexually
active.
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There are
often no symptoms other than an abnormal
Pap smear.
- In late stages, the symptoms include:
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding or
spotting between periods
- Persistent vaginal discharge that
is pale, watery, pink, brown or blood-streaked
- Bleeding after intercourse Pain in the pelvic
area
- More advanced stages can result in:
- Anemia
- Appetite and weight loss
- Fatigue, back pain and/or leg
pain
- Pain in the abdomen, leakage of
urine and feces through the
vagina
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- HPV (human papilloma virus) is the major cause of
Cervical Cancer and
dysplasia.
- High-risk factors:
- Multiple sexual partners
- Early onset of sexual activity
(less than 18 years of age)
- Early childbearing (less than 16
years)
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Genital Warts
- HPV infection, HIV Infection
- Genital Herpes
- Smoking
- DES exposure
- Weakened immune
system
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- Cervical conization - removing the
part of the cervix containing the cancer
- Hysterectomy
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
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