Cervical cancer

Causes of Cervical Cancer

The main cause of this disease is the human papillomavirus (HPV), also known as HPV, which is transmitted from person to person through sexual contact. A woman may have been infected with this virus in her lifetime, but her body can eliminate it. However, some women cannot eliminate the virus. There are also other risk factors that cause changes in cervical tissue and lead to diseases such as genital warts, cervical cancer, and others.

What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?

1. Bleeding after intercourse, vaginal douching, pelvic exams
2. Non-menstrual vaginal bleeding
3. Vaginal bleeding after menopause
4. Increased vaginal discharge with a foul odor
5. Abdominal or pelvic pain
6. Pain during intercourse

Risk factors for cervical cancer:

1. Age: Cervical cancer is most common in women over 40 years of age.
2. Having multiple sexual partners increases the risk of HPV infection.
3. Smoking.
4. Having many children.
5. Having an immunocompromised body (AIDS).
6. Never having had a pelvic exam to detect precancerous lesions. During this time, most patients are asymptomatic, but these can be detected with a cytological test called a Pap smear, which is treatable. If lesions are detected at this stage, cervical cancer can be prevented.

How many stages are there of cervical cancer?

The doctor will need to perform additional tests to determine the stage of cervical cancer. There are four stages of cervical cancer:

Stage 1 is the early stage.
Stages 2 and 3 are intermediate.
Stage 4 is the final stage. The cancer may have spread to other organs in the body, such as the liver, lungs, or bones.

Cervical Cancer Screening

Cervical cancer screening refers to the detection of changes in cervical tissue cells before symptoms appear. This screening detects precancerous lesions and early cancers, enabling effective treatment and prevention of cervical cancer, including early cancer treatment.

• Cervical cytology, or Pap smear, is performed by a doctor during a pelvic exam. After the exam, the doctor will schedule an appointment to hear the results or inform you of the results. If any abnormalities are found, treatment will be initiated based on the lesion.
• Cervical cancer screening using cytology combined with testing for high-risk HPV types. This screening method has the advantage of allowing doctors to provide better care for abnormal cervical cells. However, it has the disadvantage of significantly increasing patient costs. Currently, Thai women are recommended to have a pelvic exam and a Pap smear if they have been sexually active for approximately three years, are over 30 years old, or have other risk factors.
• Bangkok Rayong Hospital Cervical cancer screening services are available by combining HPV DNA testing with a Pap smear (or Pap Test) to look for cell abnormalities at the same time, also known as Co-testing. The HPV DNA test tests for HPV, which is the main cause of cervical cancer, up to 90%, while the Pap smear tests for cell abnormalities that could turn into cancer in the future. Therefore, testing both methods together will give doctors a higher chance of detecting cancer in the early stages than testing with a Pap smear alone.

Cervical Cancer Treatment Methods

• Cervical cancer screening: If a doctor detects abnormal cytology results during a Pap smear, he or she may schedule a cervical hysteroscopy to examine the cervix for abnormalities and take a biopsy. However, if the doctor detects abnormalities in the cervix visually, he or she will perform a biopsy.
• This will determine whether the cervical cell abnormalities are precancerous or already cancerous. In precancerous lesions, the doctor will prescribe various treatments, including monitoring, cryoablation, and loop electrocautery. If the lesion is already cancerous,
• Treatment for this disease depends on the stage of the disease, as previously mentioned. If it is precancerous or early-stage cervical cancer, the doctor may resort to surgery, which has excellent results and a high chance of cure.
• For intermediate-stage cancer, treatment typically involves radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy, which has a fairly good outcome.
• For advanced-stage cancer, treatment is typically limited to symptom management and pain relief, with poor outcomes.

Side Effects of Cervical Cancer Treatment

• Side effects depend on the type of treatment used. Generally, surgery is often associated with complications or side effects during surgery, such as excessive blood loss, or post-operatively, such as wound infection.
• However, radiation therapy is often associated with side effects that typically occur 2-3 years after treatment. Symptoms that may occur include blood in the urine or stool. However, your doctor will be informed of any side effects prior to treatment.
• Regarding chemotherapy, side effects typically include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, low white blood cell counts, increased susceptibility to infections, and hair loss from certain medications.
• As mentioned, women can prevent cervical cancer by undergoing a pelvic exam and Pap smear to detect precancerous lesions, thus preventing cervical cancer.

Preparation for the Examination

• No pelvic exams within the past 24 hours.
• No vaginal suppositories within the past 48 hours.
• Do not wash or cleanse the vagina within the past 24 hours.
• Abstain from sexual intercourse the night before the examination.