Nowadays, cancer diseases are considered to be the most dangerous of all diseases, because, firstly, 100% effective treatment has not yet been invented from them, and secondly, it is impossible to catch cancer, because it develops from within, genetically modifying cells of the body practically independent of human reasons. That is, no one is immune to cancer. However, by conducting regular medical examinations, precancerous conditions can be diagnosed in the early stages, when they are still amenable to treatment. Especially important is the prevention in the female sexual sphere, where all the hormonal changes in the body develop very quickly.
Cervical cancer is one of the most common oncological diseases of the weaker sex. According to statistics, every 11 out of 100,000 women are affected by this ailment. In this article we will look at the first signs of cervical cancer and find out how it looks and manifests itself. Let this information help our readers to save their health, in time suspecting this terrible disease and turning to the doctor.
Suspicion for cervical cancer
The main reason for the development of a malignant tumor in the cervix is a previous, neglected disease, most commonly caused by the papilloma virus. In addition, the factors that contribute to the development of genetic mutations are the very early onset of sexual activity, the frequent change of sexual partners and even smoking.
Like many gynecological diseases, it is quite difficult to identify cervical cancer in the early stages, because apparently it can not manifest itself in any way. However, it is easy to identify on medical examination. For this, a cytological examination of the cervical smear is used, and in the presence of altered cells, the patient is additionally assigned a biopsy - the study of a small piece of the affected tissue. It is also possible to conduct colposcopy - examination and taking the necessary analyzes with a special gynecological device called the colposcope.
So, what are the symptoms of cervical cancer? They arise already at later stages, when cancer cells form in a malignant tumor, developing and expanding. With cancer of the cervix, bleeding can occur, especially after intercourse, as well as intermenstrual bleeding. The last symptom does not necessarily indicate an oncological disease, but its appearance is a clear sign of a malfunction in the female body. He is a serious reason for an unscheduled visit to a gynecologist.
In the late stages of the disease, patients complain of pain in the back, lower back and legs, swelling, weight loss, the appearance of blood in the urine.
Types of cervical cancer
Medicine distinguishes two varieties of the disease.
- Squamous cell carcinoma occurs in 80% of cases of cervical oncology. It is a tumor of flat epithelium - a tissue that lines all the mucous surfaces of our body, including the cervix.
- Adenocarcinoma is a malignant tumor of glandular tissue. It is not so common, but as dangerous as squamous cell cancer.
Stages of cervical cancer
- "Zero" stage - precancerous state (intraepithelial cancer).
- The first stage - cancer cells develop within the cervix.
- The second stage - the cancer penetrates into the tissues of the wall of the pelvis, the vagina or the body of the uterus.
- The third stage - the cancer grows in the walls of the pelvis, into the vagina or gives metastases between the walls of the small pelvis and the uterus.
- The fourth stage - cancer cells germinate inside the bladder, into the rectum or form metastases outside the small pelvis.