How to identify cervical cancer by symptoms?

  • Have you noticed a whitish vaginal discharge with a mixture of blood?
  • Do you experience frequent pain during intercourse?
  • There was pain in the field of a small basin, a loin, a sacrum?
  • Have you any problems urinating?
  • Has the character of menstruation changed - duration, amount?

Address the expert as soon as possible. Visit the gynecologist!

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs in the cervix. The disease is the second most common female oncology after breast cancer. Basically, there are two histological types of the disease: squamous cell carcinoma (approximately 85% of cases) and adenocarcinoma (15%).

If a patient visits a doctor immediately upon detecting first symptoms, the prognosis is favorable. Therefore, it is important not to waste time and to seek help from a specialist.

Causes of cervical cancer

As with other cancers, the causes of cervical cancer are age, exposure to radiation and chemical carcinogens. The risk group is 35-55 years old women and patients diagnosed with precancerous conditions: cervical dysplasia, HPV and cervical ectropion (erosion). Such conditions are dangerous because of their ability to transition into cancer, on average, the transformation takes from 2 to 15 years.

In most cases, cervical cancer is caused by infections with high oncogenic risk, for example, human papillomavirus (HPV).

What is the difference between erosion, dysplasia and cervical cancer?

Disease

Cervical erosion

Cervical dysplasia

Cervical cancer

Characteristics

A benign disease. A damaged mucous tissue of the part of the uterus that connects to the vagina

Damage to the cellular structure on the surface of the cervix or in its canal. An intermediate state between cancer and abnormal development of cells, yet not dangerous

Malignant tumor of the lower part of the uterus with the transformation of the integumentary epithelium of the cervix

Methods of treatment

Medications: a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, immunomodulators. Erosion of large size is treated with cauterization

Destruction of the dysplasia by radiofrequency ablation (RFA), laser coagulation, freezing with liquid nitrogen

Surgical intervention, radiotherapy, chemotherapeutic treatment, targeted therapy

Prognosis of recovery

There is no direct threat to life, in 99% of cases, it is cured without side effects

With the help of professionals and complex treatment, it is cured in most cases. Untreated dysplasia can lead to the development of cancer

Treatment, begun at stage 1, provides a 5-year survival rate in 98% of cases.

The second stage is 60-75%,

3rd - 30-40%,

4th stage - less than 10%


Doctors identify the following factors that provoke the development of oncology:

  • early sex life, pregnancy, and childbirth (before turning 16);
  • a large number of sexual partners;
  • frequent abortions;
  • chronic inflammatory processes in the genital organs;
  • smoking;
  • long-term use of hormonal drugs;
  • weak immunity.

If the first symptoms appear, discomfort in the genital area, please contact a qualified specialist for assistance.

What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?

Stage of the disease

Description

Symptoms

Stage 1

the tumor is in the body of the uterus

often asymptomatic with minor discomfort in the genital area

Stage 2

the body and cervix are affected

vaginal bleeding, incl. after sexual intercourse; pain during intercourse and urination

Stage 3

the tumor extends to the surrounding tissue, uterus, metastases in the vagina

pain in the area of the small pelvis, waist, sacrum, changes in the menstruation

Stage 4

cancer spreads to other organs of the pelvic area, into the bladder and rectum

metastases throughout the body, depending on their location, pain can be observed in the chest, lungs, pelvis, rectum, etc.

Early diagnosis of cervical cancer

Early diagnosis is concentrated on detecting the tumor before the first clinical symptoms of the disease. Methods of screening include:

  • gynecological examination;
  • PAP test (Pap smear test);
  • testing for HPV;
  • colposcopy.

When conducting colposcopy, there is the possibility of taking a biopsy - the only accurate way to determine the disease. A biopsy is also performed after a Pap test for if it is necessary to confirm/disprove the diagnosis. Several types of biopsies are used to detect cervical cancer:

  • fine needle biopsy;
  • endocervical curettage;
  • wedge-shaped biopsy (conization).

Indications for a specific type of biopsy for the patient are determined exclusively by the doctor.

Diagnosis

To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor conducts a comprehensive examination of a patient. It includes all these methods: gynecological examination, PAP test, testing for the presence of HPV, colposcopy with biopsy. At the discretion of the doctor, other methods can be additionally used: ultrasound, CT, MRI. They make it possible to pinpoint the localization of the tumor and the processes that accompany them. PET-CT is also used to determine the stage.