The entrance of the uterus is called as cervix. It connects the body of the uterus to the vagina or the birth canal. Cervical cancer begins in the cells lining the cervix, which shows early pre-cancerous changes during the development of disease. Most of the cervical cancers are caused due to Human Papillomavirus (HPV). It mostly affects sexually active women, mostly in the age group 30-45 years. Cancer of the cervix is preventable and can be detected early by regular screening and follow-up.
However, if you have any one or more of the below mentioned symptoms, we suggest you consult us immediately:
Which includes bleeding and spotting between periods, unusually longer or heavier periods, during or after sex and bleeding after menopause
Unusual or excessive vaginal discharge with foul smell
Pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic pain or during sexual intercourse
If any woman older than 65 years have had normal screening test results for several years, or had her cervix removed as part of a total hysterectomy for non-cancerous conditions, like fibroids, she need not to be screened anymore.
Colposcopy is the examination of the cervix, vagina and vulva with a colposcope, which illuminates and magnifies, allowing the cellular patterns in the epithelial layer and surrounding blood vessels to be examined.
Biopsy is the removal of small tissue (1-3 mm) of the abnormal areas of cervix for histopathological diagnosis.
Punch biopsy: a sharp tool is used to pinch off small samples of cervical tissue and sent for testing
Endocervical curettage: If a woman has a positive Pap test, but no abnormal areas are observed with colposcopy, some of the surface cells are gently scraped from the cervical canal and sent to a laboratory for examination. This is called endocervical curettage.
It is often useful to determine the extent of the cancer spread thereby assist in planning management of the cancer. The imaging tests which are done includes-
MRI scan is preferred over CT as it delineates the soft tissues better and detects the spread of cancer in the parametrium more effectively.
Recommended if disease clinically appears advance. It detects if the cancer has spread to other organs of the body.
Carcinoma in situ. Abnormal cells in the innermost lining of the cervix.
These are large tumours (2 cm across) that have just started to invade to few nearby lymph nodes
Locoregional spread of the cancer beyond the uterus but not to the pelvic sidewall or the lower third of the vagina.
Cancerous spread to the pelvic sidewall or the lower third of the vagina, and/or hydronephrosis or a nonfunctioning kidney that is incident to invasion of the ureter
Cancerous spread beyond the true pelvis or into the mucosa of the bladder or rectum.
Cervical cancer is completely curable, if it’s diagnosed and treated at an early stage. Treatment methods may be ablative (destroying abnormal tissues by heating or freezing) or excisional (surgically removing abnormal tissues).
