Cervix cancer is a common type of female cancer that typically presents no symptoms in the early stages. Although it is a sexually transmitted infection, it can be prevented by vaccination. A vaccine against cervical cancer is now available for teen girls, and most people receive it before starting sexual activities. There are various treatments for cervix cancer, including laser surgery and cryotherapy, which uses freezing temperatures to kill precancerous cells.
Women in their 30s and 40s are the most common ones to develop cervical cancer, but women of any age are at risk. The disease affects a quarter to a third of women. While it’s most common among women 35 to 44 years of age, women over the age of 65 are also at risk, particularly if they have not been getting regular cervical cancer screenings. Cervical cancer can be invasive or noninvasive, and the prognosis depends on the stage of the disease.
Treatment for cervical cancer involves surgery to remove the affected area, and there are several side effects that can occur. While some treatments may not affect a woman’s ability to conceive, others may cause a loss of fertility. Talk with your doctor about the possible options for fertility preservation before starting treatment. Some treatments can be painful, including a cervical biopsies, but they are generally short and temporary. If you are concerned about pain, your doctor may suggest methods to reduce or eliminate it.
In addition to undergoing a surgical procedure to remove cancerous cells, cervical cancer is also caused by HPV infection, a common sexually transmitted disease. It can also cause cancer of the tongue, anus, penis, and tonsils. In addition, a woman’s period is never completely normal. If bleeding occurs frequently, after menopause, or after sex, it’s best to schedule a gynecological exam to rule out cancer.
Cervical cancer is diagnosed by a doctor using a variety of tests. A cervical screening test and blood tests may be performed to determine the exact location and type of cancer. Blood tests can also check liver and kidney function. Cervical cancer is staged according to its stage, and low-grade lesions may not require treatment. However, if they are asymptomatic, the cancer will require more aggressive treatments to remove the entire affected area.
While invasive cervix cancer has a low incidence in recent decades, it remains an extremely common and dangerous condition throughout the lifespan of a woman. In fact, more than half of the study population was under 50. The incidence of invasive cervical cancer is higher in younger women than in older women, and is responsible for a greater socioeconomic cost. Moreover, women older than 70 are still at risk for developing this disease, though they tend to present with more advanced disease.
In one study, 237 patients with histologically-confirmed invasive cervix cancer were included. Patients were recruited from two cancer centers. At both institutions, research ethics board approval was obtained. Institutional records of all patients diagnosed with invasive cervix cancer were accessed. The operative lists, pathology department reports, and institutional cancer registry files were reviewed to ensure complete patient identification. A study number was assigned to each patient in order to record the findings.
