Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women. It occurs in the cervix which is the lower part of the womb protruding into the vagina. Cervical cancer is divided into two stages; early or pre-invasive stage, and the late or invasive stage.

Symptoms are usually not apparent in the pre-invasive stage. It is estimated that it takes from five to ten years for the early stage to develop into the later stage. It is during the early, or pre-invasive stage that the cancer can be detected by a simple pap smear test.

Because of the Pap Smear test, cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can be easily detected at an early stage when a complete cure is possible. All women should have a Pap Smear test every two years starting soon after first sexual intercourse.

The Pap Smear is an easy means of diagnosis and can be painlessly performed at a doctor’s surgery. The test diagnosis cell changes before cervical cancer occurs and can allow preventative action to be taken, such as removing a cone of tissue containing the affected cells.

Late or invasive cervical cancer is a more serious disease. Signs to look for include irregular bleeding between periods, prolonged bleeding, unexpected bleeding or unusual heavy bleeding after intercourse.

Radiation therapy or a combination of radiation and surgery in the later stages is a means of controlling cervical cancer. Laser surgery is also being used in the treatment of the early stages of cancer of the cervix.

Women who have had several pregnancies or several sexual partners seem more at risk to cervical cancer. There are indications that cervical cancer maybe caused by a virus, the Wart Virus.

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