A biopsy can take several forms. A punch biopsy, loop electrosurgical excision, or cone biopsy will all remove a small piece of cervix tissue. If you are not sure which type of biopsy to choose, consult your doctor for more information.
Treatment for cervix cancer depends on the type and stage of the tumor. In addition to tumor size and location, the doctor will consider factors such as age, overall health, and the type of HPV or HIV present in the patient. It is also important to consider whether or not a woman wishes to have children after she is diagnosed with the disease. After a diagnosis, a woman should continue to see her doctor for routine checkups.
Some women with cervical cancer may not experience any symptoms at first. However, if symptoms do arise, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. In many cases, symptoms are similar to other conditions that may require medical attention. Regular screenings with a Pap test and HPV can detect abnormal cells that can lead to cancer. It is important to remember that cervical cancer is often found early and can be successfully treated.
There are two types of cervical cancer. Stage I and stage II are both benign and malignant. These are the most common types. Stage IV is the most severe. Cervical cancer can spread throughout the vagina and even to the pelvic wall, kidneys, and lymph nodes. Even after treatment, the cancer can recur in the same area or another part of the body. To make sure that your treatment is correct, your provider will perform pretreatment surgical staging.
Cervical cancer starts when healthy cells in the cervix develop mutations in the DNA. The DNA is the instruction manual of cells and controls how they grow. In cervical cancer, these mutations cause the cells to grow abnormally and assemble into a mass. Once the mass grows large enough, the cancer cells may break away from the tumor and spread throughout the body. Cervical cancer is associated with HPV, which is very common, but other factors play an important role in developing this disease.
Most women diagnosed with cervical cancer are aged between 35 and 44 years of age. In addition to this, women over age 65 are especially susceptible, especially if they have not been getting regular screenings. Cervical cancer can be classified as either squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is the rarer type of cancer, and it begins in glandular cells in the cervix.
Women can reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer by delaying sexual activity or limiting their sexual partners. The higher the number of sexual partners, the higher the chance of infection. The use of barrier methods can reduce the exposure to certain parts of the cervix, but cannot prevent it altogether. When a woman feels that something is abnormal, she should seek medical help. She should also consult her family doctor to make sure there are no family members with cervical cancer in the family.
