Cervical Cancer Disease

Cervical cancer affects the reproductive organs of women. It attacks most often in women over 30 and is linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV) which is a sexually transmitted disease. A vaccine for cervical cancer has shown to be a preventative measure for some women.

Symptoms

• There may be no symptoms in the early stages of cervical cancer. As the disease progresses, symptoms include pelvic pain, painful intercourse, bleeding after sex, between periods or after menopause, and a foul smelling, bloody discharge.

Types

• The two main types of cervical cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, which makes up nearly 90 percent of all cervical cancers, and the less common adenocarcinomas.

Risks

• Risk factors for cervical cancer include smoking, a weak immune system, having numerous sexual partners, having sex before age 18 and having a sexually transmitted disease.

Complications

• A complication for cervical cancer patients is infertility. Treating cervical cancer usually makes it impossible for women to get pregnant after treatment.

Noninvasive Treatment

• Treatment for cervical cancer includes removing the abnormal cells through laser surgery, hysterectomy and cryosurgery to freeze the cells.

Invasive Treatment

• Treating more advanced cervical cancer requires surgery to remove the uterus, radiation and chemotherapy to kill cancer cells.