What You Should Know About Cervical Cancer
Have you been experiencing irregular bleeding between each of your menstrual cycles? It is important for you to get examined by an obstetrician as soon as possible, as your condition might be related to cervical cancer. The disease can be treated and cured if it is caught soon enough. Find out in this article what you should know about cervical cancer and getting rid of it.
The Cause of Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer develops when there is a change in the cells of the cervix. Basically, the cervix is the area in your vagina that is the lowest portion of your uterus and can open when labor is in progress. Cervical cancer will typically begin as a precancerous condition that is called cervical dysplasia. The worst thing about cervical dysplasia is that there are not usually any symptoms associated with it that can make you aware that it is present. Cervical dysplasia can go untreated for a long time before it is noticed, which is usually too late because it turns into cervical cancer after so long.
How Cervical Cancer is Diagnosed
Several tests are involved with diagnosing cervical cancer, including a pap smear. Basically, a pap smear is performed by a specialist scraping a small portion of the cells off of your cervix. The cells will be examined in a laboratory for any abnormalities. If any abnormal cells are found, you will likely have to receive a colposcopy, which involves a specialist placing a speculum in your vagina so he or she can view the cervix with a colposcope. A biopsy to remove a small portion of cervical tissue may be performed if abnormal cells are seen through the colposcope, which can lead to further tests being performed based on your specific condition.
Possible Treatment Methods
If you are diagnosed with cervical cancer, the method of treatment will depend on how far along the disease has progressed due to it having a different effect on each individual. If you are not interested in having children, a hysterectomy to remove the uterus is a good option for getting rid of cervical cancer. A hysterectomy can also involve the removal of pelvis and abdomen lymph nodes. A few of the other possible treatment methods include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and several others. Make an appointment with an obstetrician (such as one from North Florida Women's Care) to find out if you have cervical cancer and what the ideal type of treatment is for your specific condition.
