What symptoms does cervix cancer have? Cervical cancer develops when healthy cells in the cervix develop changes to their DNA. DNA contains instructions for each cell and the development of cancer starts with these changes. After cancerous cells develop, they spread throughout the body and cause symptoms. Different symptoms may also occur with different types of cancer. These symptoms will vary with the stage of the disease. However, they may be indicative of other health conditions.
Treatment options for locally advanced cervix cancer depend on whether the disease has spread to the surrounding tissues. For instance, stage IB1 tumors are usually smaller than 2 centimeters. Stage II cancers reach four centimeters or more, and have spread to the upper two-thirds of the vagina. The disease has also spread to the pelvic wall and may result in kidney problems. The treatment options available for each type of cancer will differ.
Five-year survival rates for cervical cancer depend on the stage of the disease and the type of chemotherapy chosen. However, as many as thirty-five percent of women will develop treatment failure, the failure rate will vary greatly. This is most commonly related to locoregional recurrence, where a primary tumor harbours metastatic disease. Therefore, it is essential to receive early detection and treatment to ensure that the disease does not progress to the lymph nodes.
Cervical cancer is a serious disease that may cause pelvic pain and vaginal bleeding. While early symptoms of cervical cancer may be nonexistent, it is still crucial to get regular check-ups to avoid it. There are also a number of cervical cancer tests that can be used to determine whether an infection has occurred. These tests also examine the cervix and detect abnormal cells. A routine checkup with a doctor can also help determine whether there is an infection.
A randomized study published in 1998, by Sananes C, Giaroli RA, and Soderini A, compared neoadjuvant chemotherapy and pelvic irradiation in cervical cancer patients with locally advanced disease. In this study, women who had chemotherapy combined with pelvic radiation had a better outcome compared to patients who received only radiation therapy. The results of this study indicate that neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the better treatment option for cervical cancer.
Chemotherapy is one of the standard treatments for locally advanced cervical cancer. CCRT has a 5-year overall survival rate of 66% and a 58% disease-free survival rate. Unfortunately, approximately 30-40% of patients who receive CCRT fail to respond completely. A different chemotherapy regimen with weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin is sometimes used. Patients with positive lymph nodes or larger tumor volume may require adjuvant chemotherapy.
