Cervical cancer is a form of cancer that starts in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. It is one of the most common forms of cancer in women, but it can be successfully treated when detected in its early stages.
HPV infection, a risk factor for cervical cancer
Dr. Emel Nuraltay, Obstetrics-gynecology specialist, explained exclusively for DC MEDICAL what cervical cancer is.
The main risk factor for cervical cancer is infection with certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is generally sexually transmitted. HPV can cause changes in the cells of the cervix that, over time, can become cancerous.
“We must know that the main etiological factor is infection with the HPV virus. More than 90% of cervical cancer cases are secondary to an infection with the HPV virus, and here I would mention the strains with increased oncogenic risk.
It is very important for the woman to go and do her annual gynecological check-up, the Pap test, absolutely indispensable and if the gynecologist also considers an HPV gene, which shows the presence of the virus and the type of strains with which the woman is infected”, explained Dr. Emel Nuraltay, Obstetrics-gynecology specialist, exclusively for DC MEDICAL.
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Cervical cancer, signs
Cervical cancer – PHOTO: Freepik@ksandrophoto
Symptoms of cervical cancer may include abnormal vaginal bleeding, bleeding after intercourse, pelvic pain, or abnormal vaginal discharge. However, in the early stages, cervical cancer may not show obvious symptoms, so it is important to have regular screening tests, such as the Pap test.
“As premonitory signs of a possible carcinogenesis at the level of the cervix are bleeding during sexual contact, foul-smelling leukorrhea, the presence of a disturbing secretion and, in the advanced stages of the malignant disease, pelvic pain, difficulty in urinating, difficulty in stool. Everything related to the organs that can be invaded in a malignant context in the pelvic area. It would be ideal not to get there.
It’s so simple to visit the gynecologist once a year and do a Pap test, which takes a fixed 30 seconds,” explained Dr. Emel Nuraltay, Obstetrics-gynecology specialist, exclusively for DC MEDICAL.
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Cervical cancer, prognosis
Treatment for cervical cancer can vary depending on the stage of the disease and may include surgery to remove the tumor and affected tissue, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these.
“In the early stages, if we are talking about an IN-SITU carcinoma, that is, if the malignant cells have not passed the basement membrane, that is, they are in an early stage, the intervention can only be limited to the amputation of the cervix. In this way, the woman is offered, including , the potential to conceive.
In advanced stages, cancer is a disabling disease. Interventions, most of the time, are radical, always accompanied by adjuvant treatment, radiotherapy, local brachytherapy and chemotherapy, but radiotherapy is recommended for cervical cancer.
In the phases, unfortunately, when the cancer is detected late, only palliation is a possible solution, but we wish with all our hearts that this will not happen again, considering that today, on World Cervical Cancer Day, in In Romania, around 2,000 women still die per year, in their fertile period,” explained Dr. Emel Nuraltay, Obstetrics and Gynecology specialist, exclusively for DC MEDICAL.
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