Cervical cancer is a common cancer. Absence of symptomatology at early stages significantly complicates the diagnosis of pathology. Consider the disease in more detail, let's name the main signs of cervical cancer, the causes and methods of therapy.
Cervical cancer - the causes of
If a disease such as cervical cancer is detected, the cause of its development is problematic. Doctors start the process by collecting an anamnesis, excluding diseases of the reproductive system predisposing to oncology. Among the factors that provoke the development of cancer, oncologists call:
- venereal diseases: gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, genital herpes;
- long-term therapy with hormone-containing drugs;
- use of hormonal contraceptives;
- early sexual intercourse;
- frequent changes in sexual partners - leads to changes in the vaginal flora, resulting in changes at the cellular level;
- Protein components of male sperm can provoke a change in the cellular structures of the cervix.
Cervical cancer is a risk group
Doctors identify a risk group - women, whose reproductive system is more often exposed to oncological processes. Among them are:
- Carriers of human papillomavirus. Cervical cancer and HPV oncologists are always treated as inseparable processes. Direct changes at the cellular level caused by this virus are the trigger for the development of cervical cancer.
- Rarely passing examinations. The absence of cytology of the smear often causes a late diagnosis of the disease. Doctors recommend taking it once a year.
- Women with a weakened immune system, reduced local immunity. Thus, the likelihood of developing oncology is increased in patients taking immunosuppressants.
- Women older than 40. Static studies showed an increase in the incidence of oncology in menopausal women. Immediately hormonal changes of this period can cause a disruption of the epithelial tissue of the neck.
- Leading promiscuous sex life. The likelihood of infection increases.
- Have several children with a small age difference. The reproductive system needs time to recover. The trauma that occurs during childbirth provokes the attachment of infections and the development of inflammatory processes that can cause changes in the cervix at the cellular level.
Cervical Cancer - Species
This type of oncology has several classifications. In their basis lies not only the type of tissue damage, cellular structures, but also the localization of the pathological process. So, depending on the location of the primary focus of the tumor, there are:
- cancer of the vaginal part of the cervix;
- cancer directly cervical canal.
Depending on the type of damage to cellular structures, the following are distinguished:
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. This type of pathology accounts for 80% of all cases of cervical cancer. With this type, the cells of the epithelial tissue of the cervix are affected, which change their structure and shape. In this case, they increase in size, but do not exceed the boundaries of the neck tissue.
- Invasive cervical cancer. This form of pathology is characterized by the spread of tumor-like foci to other organs and tissues. It can be hematogenous (through the blood) and lymphogenous (through the lymph) way. First, the lymph nodes located in the region of the urogenital organs are affected. As the disease progresses, the disease spreads through the blood, hitting remote organs and systems.
It is accepted to allocate 2 stages of the last disease:
- Microinvasive cancer - cell changes are fixed on the border of the epithelium and connective tissue. Metastases penetrating the stroma are localized at a depth of no more than 3 mm, there is no occlusion of lymphatic vessels;
- Invasive - the tumor penetrates into tissues to a depth of more than 3 mm, clots are formed, consisting of degenerated cells, there are lesions of local regional lymph nodes, distant metastases are formed.
Cervical cancer - stages
Cervical cancer, the classification of which is described above, begins to develop from cells of a certain type of tissue. At the same time, the process progresses rapidly, involving neighboring organs and tissues. Directly on these grounds, the stages of pathology are also distinguished. Each has its own clinical picture, symptomatology. In total during the pathology, it is customary to distinguish 4 stages.
Cervical cancer - stage 1
Cervical cancer of the 1st degree is characterized by strict localization, has clear boundaries of formations. When characterizing this stage of the cancer process, doctors talk about the following features of the pathology:
- the tumor does not go beyond the neck;
- cytological changes are weak and diagnosed only microscopically;
- Metastases can enter the cavity of the cervical canal by 3-5 mm;
- the tumor size is less than 4 cm.
Cervical cancer - stage 2
The second stage of cervical cancer is characterized by the release of malignant cells beyond the borders of the cervix and the body of the uterus. In this case, the lesions of the pelvic organs and the lower part of the vagina do not occur. Pathological cells completely affect the parameters. Metastases can penetrate into the surrounding area. They are diagnosed by instrumental methods, which allow to determine the number, size and localization of tumor foci.
Cervical cancer - stage 3
Cancer of the cervix, the third stage is characterized by a tumor of the organs of the small pelvis, appendages. When spreading metastases to other organs and systems, their functioning is disrupted. Often neoplasm is found on the outer walls of the small pelvis, the lower third of the vagina. With a comprehensive examination of patients, there are violations in the kidneys, a decrease in their function.
Cervical cancer - stage 4
At this stage of the pathological process of cervical cancer, metastases are present in virtually all organs of the small pelvis: the bladder, intestines, appendages. Cervical and uterine cancer develops. With further progression of pathology, the process switches to regional lymph nodes. Together with the blood, the foci of altered cells can get into the distant systems of the body. Often when diagnosed, metastases are found in the brain, lungs, and liver.
Cervical cancer - symptoms and signs
With such an oncological disease, like cervical cancer, the symptoms are not present for a long time. This explains the diagnosis of pathology, often with 2 degrees of impairment. According to statistics, from the onset of the process to the onset of symptoms may take several years. If the patients have background diseases of the reproductive system, the symptomatology is manifested in lower abdominal pain, lower back. In this case, a woman can mark pathological discharge, having a bloody character and unrelated to menstruation. The background pathologies include, accompanying cancer, include:
- cervical erosion ;
- leukoplakia ;
- various types of neck strain after childbirth.
As for the symptoms accompanying cervical cancer, the existing manifestations can be conditionally divided into general and specific. The first ones are:
- frequent dizziness, pale skin, fainting;
- dry skin;
- excessive sweating;
- constant weakness;
- increased body temperature;
- decrease in body weight.
Symptomatology of the disease is diverse, and depends on the extent of the pathological process. To specific signs of oncology of the cervix, are:
- Bloody issues. They can be, as contact (after the sexual certificate or act), and causeless. The volume of them can vary. In the late stages of the disease, due to the attachment of the infection, they have an unpleasant smell.
- Pain in the back, lower abdomen and lumbar region.
- Swelling of the lower limbs, due to damage by metastases of blood vessels.
- Violation of the excretory function - a change in the nature of the stool, the formation of fistulas.
Cervical cancer - diagnosis
The basis of diagnostic activities are instrumental methods. Determination of the disease begins with a careful collection of anamnesis. After that, a number of studies are appointed, among which:
- colposcopy - helps to determine the condition of the walls of the vaginal vault, cervix and uterine cavity;
- cytological examination of the material - the sample of the material is taken from the surface of the mucous neck and microscopized;
- biopsy - a study of the structure, morphology, structure of cells taken from the neck;
- histological examination - helps to determine the stage of pathology;
- Ultrasound - determines the size and location of the formations, their number.
With a pathology such as cervical cancer, MRI is used to detect tiny tumors. Experienced doctors can determine the exact localization of the process, its stage and the degree of damage to cellular structures. This technique is of secondary importance, is used directly to obtain a general picture of the disease, when the fact of oncology is confirmed.
Can you see ultrasound for cervical cancer?
Cancer of the cervix on ultrasound in the initial stages can not be identified. This process occurs at the cellular level. Even with a large magnification, you can not install it. This method of hardware research is used in the already diagnosed oncological process. With his help, you can establish the exact location and size of education, to inspect nearby organs for the presence of metastases.
Is cervical cancer treated or not?
With a disease like cervical cancer, treatment is selected individually. The algorithm of the therapeutic process is directly related to the stage of pathology, the severity of symptoms, the presence of concomitant diseases. The basis of therapy is:
- surgical interventions;
- radiation therapy ;
- chemotherapy.
Often, for efficiency, doctors use a combination of several techniques. The result of the treatment depends on:
- stage of oncology;
- the age of the patient;
- presence of concomitant diseases of the reproductive system.
Cervical cancer - prognosis
Oncological processes are difficult to give therapy. With a disease like cervical cancer, the survival prognosis is made based on the stage of the pathological process, the state of the lymph nodes, the volume of the tumor and the depth of the invasive disorders. So after radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy, the average life expectancy is 5 years. At the same time, 80-90% of the patients did not have lymph nodes affected by the tumor. Among patients with metastases in the pelvis, only 50-75% of women live more than 5 years.
Cervical cancer - prevention
Preventive measures for the onset of oncology in the reproductive system include vaccination and compliance with certain rules. Thus, inoculation against cervical cancer helps to reduce the likelihood of developing the disease by suppressing the activity of the papilloma virus, the main cause of cancer. When vaccinated, drugs are used:
- Gardasil ;
- Cervarix.
Among other preventive measures is:
- planned screening examinations for women, starting from 21-25 years;
- normalization of metabolic processes;
- adherence to one partner.
Life after cervical cancer
Completely eliminate cancer of the cervix is possible only if the recommendations and appointments of doctors and the timely initiation of therapy are observed. Many women manage to return to their former way of life. However, doctors do not recommend planning pregnancy after cervical cancer. Hormonal changes occurring in this case can provoke a relapse, the renewal of pathological changes in the cellular structures of the cervical epithelium.