Cervical Cancer - Symptoms, Causes, Cure, Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Cervical Cancer

Deaths from cervical cancer are declining due to nationwide screening. Most women affected by cervical cancer are between 40 and 70 but very young teenagers have been known to suffer from the condition.
If there is abnormal bleeding, then it is essential to report this to the doctor who, if you have not had a cervical smear, will examine you and send a smear off to the laboratory.

Usually cervical cancer is slow growing and regular smears will pick it up at an early stage before it has time to become invasive and spread to other organs.

Prevention of cervical cancer

The chances of getting cervical cancer are increased by:

. Smoking

. Early sexual experiences

. Many partners

. Abnormal sexual practices

. Not having cervical smears

Diet may be important, and garlic, soya, vegetables, citrus fruit, fish, milk and tea are said to reduce the risk of cancers in general.

Symptoms of cervical cancer

These are rare, which is why screening by cervical smear is essential. Sometimes there may be an abnormal discharge, or there may be irregular bleeding, especially after sex. After the menopause, bleeding is a very important symptom.

Diagnosis and treatment for cervical cancer

. If a smear is done and abnormal cells found, the next step is usually a visit to the hospital for a colposcopy.
Colposcopy is where a speculum (the same as used for having a smear) is put in place to hold the vagina open. Then, using a powerful microscope, the cervix is stained and abnormal cells show up.
Often treatment is performed there and then. The cervix is numbed using a small injection and the affected area will be burned or cut away, often with a laser.
Other methods of getting rid of the cells are also used. After that the condition may well be cured, and apart from having more regular smears, that is the end of it.

. If the area of abnormality is large and long-standing (which usually only occurs in those who have not had regular smears), then surgery to remove diseased tissue or even a hysterectomy may be needed.
If it has spread from outside of the cervix and womb, then radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy may be required and the outlook is much less certain.

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