These symptoms are not always indicative of a Pap smear. Common symptoms include inter-menstrual or post-menopausal bleeding, foul-smelling discharge, pelvic pain, or back pain. Cervical cancer is generally a type of keratinising squamous cell carcinoma, though some data suggests that you’re at increased risk of adenocarcinoma as well.
Cysts are removed and analyzed in order to diagnose cervical and endometrial cancers. The two conditions share similar risk factors and treatment approaches, but the latter has some important differences. One important distinction between cervical cancer and endometrial cancer is the approach used to biopsy the tumor. Endometrial cancer patients typically undergo primary resection of the uterus or nodal resection. In addition to surgery, treatment options may include chemotherapy and radiation.
Cervical cancer is the second most common form of female cancer and the leading cause of death in South America, Africa, and Asia. Screening programs have reduced mortality in these countries by 50% in the past 40 years. Treatment of cervix cancer usually involves removing the tumor and surrounding lymph nodes. The recurrence rate is high, at 20-30%, and the biological mechanisms involved are unknown. If the cancer spreads beyond the pelvic area, the treatment options include surgery and radiation.
Cervical cancer is commonly diagnosed in developing countries and is the second most common form of cancer among women. About 86.7% of cervical cancer cases occur in developing countries. The mortality rate of women with cervix cancer varies widely across regions and is much higher in developing countries. While early detection and treatment are essential for survival, recurrence is often inevitable. Fortunately, advances in technology have made treatment more effective.
However, patients with locally advanced cervical cancer are often at higher risk for anaemia, which has a detrimental impact on disease outcomes. Although hypoxia reduces tumour oxygenation, the impact of anaemia on normal tissue toxicity is not yet understood. Conventional radiotherapy is still the standard of care for this disease, but the toxicity and morbidity associated with conformal radiation are significant. This treatment is often not practical for most patients in the context of limited resources.
Radiation therapy for cervix cancer remains an excellent option for women with advanced stage of disease. Its efficacy and safety are improved by image-guided CT scans, and radiation is delivered directly to the tumor with millimetre accuracy. However, radiation may not be the only option for a cure for cervix cancer. Adaptive techniques are needed to optimize the outcomes of radiotherapy for this disease.
