Gynecology and Obstetrics Pathology

Cervical Cancer

Cervix is the lower part of the uterus which opens into the vagina. When the abnormal cells of the cervix grow out of control, cervical cancer occurs. Cervical cancer can be easily detected in the early stages by a test called ‘Pap test’. In the year of 2016, 12,990 cases of cervical cancer were registered in the United States only with 4,120 deaths. Most kinds of cervical cancer is caused by a virus known as Human Papillomavirus or HPV. There are many types of HPV. however, every kind does not result in cervical cancer. Some causes genital warts which does not have any symptoms.  The main causes of cervical cancer are smoking, usage of oral contraceptive pills and getting multiple pregnancies. The symptoms of cervical cancer include irregular bleeding from the vagina besides the definitive time span of regular menstrual cycle, pain in the lower abdomen, pain during sexual relations and abnormal vaginal discharge. Every kind of cervical cancer is not fatal to the women. Treatment that includes surgeries and chemotherapies has been proved to be successful in treating cervical cancer in the initial stages. Surgeries such as hysterectomy, brachytherapy, trachelectomy, removal of pelvic lymph nodes with or without removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes, chemotherapy and radiations help in treating cervical cancer. There are various ways in which cervical cancer could be prevented. Barrier protection, that is usage of condoms while having sex, screening and vaccination are the ways in which cervical cancer could be prevented.