What you need to know about cervical cancer
Cancer, Women's Care
January is cervical cancer awareness month, but we want all women to be aware of this disease and get their pap smears
No matter how large or small, almost any part of our body is susceptible to cancerous tumors. This includes the anatomy of the female reproductive system. There’s one gynecological cancer that is actually very preventable, as well as treatable, we want you to be aware of not just this awareness month, but year round – cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is one of the five gynecologic cancers – cervical, ovarian, uterine/endometrial, vaginal and vulvar. Cervical cancer is diagnosed when you have abnormal changes to the cells on the cervix, explains Lizzy Norton, nurse practitioner at St. Joseph’s/Candler Gynecologic Oncology and Surgical Specialists.
It begins as dysplasia, which is the presence of cells of an abnormal type within the tissue. That doesn’t mean it’s cancer, but can signify a stage preceding the development of cancer. Dysplasia can be discovered before it becomes cancer through a pap smear screening. In fact, cervical pre-cancers are diagnosed far more often than invasive cervical cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
Still, the ACS estimates nearly 14,000 women will be diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer this year, with about 4,300 dying from the disease.
It’s also important for younger women to be aware of cervical cancer as it most frequently occurs in women between the ages of 34 to 44, but can still occur as you age.
“One thing about cervical cancer is it’s a very treatable cancer. A stage 1 has about a 90 percent five-year survival rate,” Norton says. “While it’s highly treatable, it’s also a very preventable cancer.”
Who’s at risk and what signs should I look for?
Any women who still has her cervix is at risk for cervical cancer, but there are three factors that may make you more at risk.
Number one, you do not get regular pap smears. The best way to find either dysplasia or cervical cancer is through a pap smear. It’s recommended to get a pap smear at least every three years.
One of the most common misconceptions Norton hears as a gynecological oncology nurse practitioner is the difference between a pelvic exam and a pap smear. Just because you had a pelvic exam – a physician looking inside your vagina – doesn’t mean you got a pap smear. The pap smear is the actual taking of cells off the cervix and sent to pathology to look for abnormalities.
Secondly, if you have a high number of sexual partners you are at more risk.
Finally, if you are immunocompromised that also could put you at risk. Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). When you have a weakened immune system, it is harder to fight off HPV, Norton says.
The symptoms of cervical cancer are mainly pelvic pain and irregular bleeding, which can be bleeding after sex, bleeding in between periods or bleeding after vigorous activities such as riding a bike or running.
“If anything like that happens, I’d question why that is happening and call your doctor,” Norton advises. “Any type of pelvic pain that you can’t put your finger on, you really should approach your routine provider and investigate that as well.”
How do you treat cervical cancer?
Treating cervical cancer depends what stage the cancer is in. If a patient is diagnosed as carcinoma in situ, or stage 0, and wants to preserve her fertility, Norton says they can do a fertility sparing procedure and monitor you closely. Surgery is an option for stages 1A and 1B. Higher stages of cervical cancer may require both systemic chemotherapy and radiation. If the cancer has metastasized, or spread, to other areas of the body, you will most likely have systemic chemotherapy, Norton says.
“Whenever you say, ‘You have metastatic cancer,’ a lot of patients think that’s not curable, but that’s not necessarily true,” Norton says. “We have metastatic patients that we treat with systemic chemo that achieve a cure.”
Can you prevent cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer is one of the more preventable cancers – as long as you are getting routine pap smears. Pap smears can often detect precancerous conditions that can be treated before cancer develops.
Another way to try to prevent this cancer is through an HPV vaccine. Since HPV causes most cervical cancers (as well as other reproductive cancers and anal cancers too), it is recommended that both girls and boys as young as 9 receive the vaccine. It is administered as a three-injection series over a six-month period.
“I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who’s thinking of having their kids vaccinated,” Norton says. “It’s going to protect you not only from cervical cancers but other cancers and conditions that HPV causes.”
Norton leads a monthly Gynecological Cancers Support Group at the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion. It’s offered the fourth Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the second-floor conference room. Each month, the group focuses on a particular topic and may feature a guest speaker followed by a fun activity, such as painting or yoga, and fellowship among gynecological cancer survivors.
“It’s a great way to support each other and meet people who are going through or went through the same thing you are going through so you don’t feel so isolated,” Norton says. “And it’s so much fun!”
The support group is open to anyone in the community.
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