Cervical Cancer: Types, Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Pain in the pelvis or during urination or untimely bleeding can be symptoms of cervical cancer. The growth of this type of cancer is slow and can take time to become detectable.

Hence, if you have recently experienced such issues or are suffering for a long time, you must immediately consult a doctor.

Want to know more about this health condition? Read along!

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What Is Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer refers to a cancer type that occurs when cells change in a woman's cervix. The shape of the cervix is like a hollow cylinder that runs from the uterus to the vagina. A majority of cervical cancer cases start in cells on the cervical surface.

Cervical cancer can affect the deeper tissues of the cervix and slowly spread to other body parts such as lungs, liver, vagina, rectum, bladder.

Now that you know about the definition of cervical cancer, let’s learn about the people at risk of developing such disease.

Who Is at Risk of Cervical Cancer?

Following is a list of individuals who have a greater risk of forming cervical cancer.

Age: Middle-aged women, i.e., women aged between 33-44 years, are susceptible to this type of cancer. This disease can grow in women over 65 years.
Race: Black and Hispanic women have a greater risk of developing cervical cancer.

What Are the Types of Cervical Cancer?

Below are discussed different types of cervical cancer.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A majority of cervical cancers, almost 9 out of 10, are Squamous Cell Carcinoma. This type of cancer originates from the exocervix cells and usually starts at the transformation zone.

Adenocarcinomas

Cervical cancers other than Squamous Cell Carcinoma are usually Adenoarcinomous, which grow from glandular cells. Cervical Adenoarcinomous originates from the mucus-producing glands of the endocervix.

Mixed Carcinomas

Other types of cervical cancers are less common and combine both the features of Adenoarcinomous and Squamous Cell Carcinoma. This type of cervical cancer is known as Adenosquamous Carcinomas or Mixed Carcinomas.

Signs and Symptoms of Cervical Cancer

As stated in the introductory paragraph, cervical cancer grows slowly and can take a long time before it can be diagnosed. Most of the time, women mistake it for menstrual period or UTIs (Urinal Tract Infections). However, there are certain warning signs of cervical cancer. These are discussed below,

Unusual vaginal bleeding (after having sex, between periods, after menopause or after a pelvic exam)
Pain while having sex
Unusual vaginal discharge

However, when cancer has spread, it can cause,

Swollen leg
Pelvic pain
Bone pain
Kidney failure
Fatigue
Weight loss
Lack of appetite
Trouble while urinating

As the cervical cancer symptoms are clear to readers, we can now focus on the causes of this type of cancer.

What Are the Causes of Cervical Cancer?

Any type of cancer is the outcome of the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells. Abnormal cells have two major problems. Firstly, they do not die, and secondly, they keep on dividing. These two situations lead to excessive cell buildup resulting informing of a lump or tumour.

Abnormal cell growth on the cervix can occur due to several reasons. These include,

HPV (Human Papillomavirus)- HPV causes a majority of cervical cancer. Over 100 different HPV can develop, out of which 13 can cause this type of cancer.
Sexually Active Life- Women who have sexual contact with HPV affected persons are more likely to get HPV infection which can later cause cervical cancer.
Poor Immunity System- Women with HIV or AIDS (meaning whose immunity system is not strong) or have undergone a transplant have higher chances of developing this disease.
Birth-Control Pills: Taking birth-control pills or contraceptive pills for a long time can increase the chances of developing cervical cancer.

Till now, you have learnt about meaning, types, and reasons for cervical cancer. So let’s move to the section on different stages of cervical cancer.

Different Stages of Cervical Cancer

Depending on the conditions, doctors have segregated cervical cancer into 4 stage systems. Below is discussed about different cervical cancer stages.

Stage	Description
0	Refers to the stage where abnormal cells are present in the innermost lining of the cervix.
1	Refers to that condition where cells have developed from the surface into the deeper tissues of the cervix and also grown into the uterus and nearby lymph nodes.
2	In this stage, cancer has spread beyond the uterus and cervix and is not present in the nearby lymph nodes. Here, cancer has not possibly moved to the walls of the pelvis or lower part of vagina.
3	Refers to a medical condition where cancerous cells are present in the lower part of vagina or walls of the pelvis. In this stage, the abnormal cell growth may block the uterus and interfere in the functions of carrying urine to the bladder. Nearby lymph nodes may not get affected in this stage.
4	In this stage, cervical cancer affects the bladder or rectum and moves out of the pelvis. The lymph node may or may not get affected in this stage. However, later cervical cancer can invade distant organs such as bones, lungs, liver, and lymph nodes.

Recommended Treatments for Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer treatment depends on several factors stage of cancer, health condition and age. The treatment of cervical cancer can be segregated into two stages. These are discussed below,

Early-stage Treatment

Surgery
Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy (if needed)

Advanced Treatment

Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy

How to Prevent Cervical Cancer?

Cervical Cancer Prevention can be done by following the ways mentioned below -

Take HPV Vaccine

If individuals can take the HPV vaccine, they can reduce the chances of developing cervical cancer and HPV-related cancer. Consult with your doctor to know if the HPV vaccine is appropriate for you.

Opt for Routine PAP Test

PAP tests help to detect precancerous conditions of the cervix. It is essential to monitor or treat for the prevention of cervical cancer. The majority of medical institutions recommend starting PAP tests at the age of 21 and continuing it every few years.

Reduce STD Chances

If individuals can practice safe sex, it will be easier to reduce sexually transmitted infections, i.e., risks of developing cervical cancer.

From the above-mentioned piece, you can gather comprehensive knowledge of cervical cancer. Be aware of signs and symptoms and consult your doctor if you have experienced any of those. Lastly, follow the prevention methods and reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can smoking cause cervical cancer?

Yes, smoking can cause cervical cancer.

Which sexually transmitted disease can lead to cervical cancer?

Sexually transmitted diseases like Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, and Syphilis can lead to cervical cancer.