Cervical cancer is an oncological lesion of the female genital organs. Despite the fact that this disease is quite easy to visualize during examination, almost half of the patients are diagnosed with it at late stages. Women over 40 years of age are most susceptible to it, although recently there has been a tendency for the disease to grow in younger years.
Reasons
The main reason for the development of this disease is the presence of a papillovirus infection, which has a tropicity to the epithelium.
There is a group of STIs that significantly increase the risk of developing cervical cancer: HIV, chlamydia, genital herpes. The probability of cancer significantly increases in women who have an active sex life with frequent changes of partners, with disregard for barrier methods of contraception.
Early onset of sexual activity (14-15 years) significantly increases the susceptibility of the cervical epithelium to damaging agents.
Significantly increase the risk of female genital cancer can:
weakened immune system;
multiple abortions and childbirth;
long-term use of oral contraceptives;
lack of vitamins A and C;
fatness;
adherence to strict diets, with insufficient consumption of vegetables and fruits;
age over 40 years;
smoking.
Unfortunately, our country has a rather low medical culture, so many women treat regular examinations by a gynecologist quite lightly, which increases the number of cases of detection of the disease at late stages.
Women must necessarily undergo preventive examinations, with a smear examination for oncocytology.
Symptoms
Unfortunately, there are no clear clinical manifestations that indicated the onset and development of this disease. Obvious complaints and symptoms manifest themselves only in the process of tumor progression.
The main symptom characteristic of cervical cancer is the presence of bleeding and spotting (after douching, examination by a gynecologist or sexual intercourse). As a rule, liquid watery whites appear, having a transparent or yellowish tint.
At a late stage of the disease, when the tumor disintegrates, the secretions acquire a putrid, fetid smell.
When the tumor grows into the nerve plexuses, there are pains during sexual intercourse and at rest, in the sacrum and lower back, under the womb and lower abdomen.
When cancer metastasizes to the lymph nodes of the pelvis, compression of venous vessels occurs, which provokes swelling of the external genitals and legs.
When the tumor grows into the intestines and bladder, the process of defecation and urination is disrupted. Blood impurities appear in the feces and urine.
There are common symptoms of this disease:
sudden, unreasonable weight loss;
feverish condition;
rapid fatigue;
weakness, apathy.
Diagnostics
A general oncoprophylactic examination is carried out, with a cytological examination to identify precancerous or cancerous processes.
During a gynecological examination, the possibility of the presence of this disease is determined by external signs. As additional studies, ultrasound of the pelvis and X-ray of the lungs are prescribed.
Treatment
Surgical treatment is carried out in two types: gentle intervention (in women who are planning childbirth) and complete amputation of the cervix.
As a rule, surgical treatment is combined with chemo and radiation therapy. In some cases, these methods are combined, depending on the characteristics of the course of the patient’s disease.
The main prevention of the disease is timely examinations by a gynecologist.
