Cervical Cancer Treatment

What causes cervical cancer?

While we understand how cervical cancer grows and spreads, the actual causes of cervical cancer are unknown at this moment. Cancer grows in the cervix due to mutating cells. Normally, cells have a predetermined life span, but something causes some cells to grow at an increased rate, and to live long past they're usual life. These form masses, which can turn cancerous. Pre cervical cancer are cells that have mutated, but not turned cancerous.

While we don't know the exact cause of cervical cancer, we do understand there are risk factor. We know that people with a history of cervical cancer in their families have a will have a higher susceptibility to developing the cancer then those who don't.

Signs of Cervical Cancer

The signs of cervical or ovarian cancer can be quite similar in appearance

Treatment for Cervical Cancer

The treating of cervical cancer is possible, but remember, steps toward preventing cervical cancer should come first. While cervical cancer causes may be vague and indeterminate at the moment, there are methods of prevention or early screening that should be considered.

Cervical cancer screening

More popularly know as Pap tests, or Pap Smears, are the most effective test for cervical cancer and pre cervical cancer. These tests are administered according to a schedule, worked out by age. You should consult with your doctor to determine the best schedule for you.

Cervical Cancer Treatments

Non-Invasive, limited cancer

This form of cervical cancer is a cancer that has not penetrated the outside layer of the cervix. While this needs treatment, treatment for this form of cervical cancer is not as extensive as invasive cervical cancer.

Treatment will include:

Clone biopsy – The doctor removes a cancerous cone shaped part of the cervical tissue.

Laser Surgery – The doctor uses a laser to kill the cancer, and even precancerous cells.

LEEP – Also known as loop electrosurgical excision procedure, is a loop of wire through which electricity is passed. This works mush like a surgeon knife, removing the cancerous and pre cancerous cells.

Cryosurgery – The doctor freezes the cancerous cells

Hysterectomy – This is usually a last resort. This is surgery involving the removal of the uterus, the ovaries and the cervix.

invasive cervical cancer is a form of cervical cancer that invades past the outside layer of cells on the cervix. Invasive cervical cancer requires more extensive treatment that the non-invasive variety.

Treatments of invasive cervical cancer involves hysterectomy, but also radiation and Chemotherapy, often used in conjunction with or after surgery.

Cervical cancer statistics: Survival rates of cervical cancer

The survival rates for cervical cancer depend on the stage that the cancer is found at. The earlier the cancer is found the better the chance of survival. This is why cervical cancer screening is so important.

Cervical cancer stages – American Cancer Society

There are several cervical cancer stages and substages.

Stage 0 (Tis, N0, M0): The cancer cells are on the surface of the cervix without invading the deeper tissues of the cervix.

Stage 1 cervical cancer

Stage I (T1, N0, M0): The cancer has grown into (invaded) the cervix, but it is not growing outside the uterus. The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or distant sites (M0).

Stage IA (T1a, N0, M0): The earliest form of stage I. A very small amount of cancer is present, seen only under a microscope. The cancer has not spread.

• Stage IA1 (T1a1, N0, M0): The cancer is less than 3 mm (about 1/8-inch) deep and less than 7 mm (about 1/4-inch) wide.
• Stage IA2 (T1a2, N0, M0): The cancer is between 3 mm and 5 mm (about 1/5-inch) deep and less than 7 mm (about 1/4-inch) wide.

Stage IB (T1b, N0, M0): This stage includes stage I cancers seen without the aid of a microscope and cancers seen only with a microscope if they have spread deeper than 5 mm (about 1/5 inch) into connective tissue of the cervix or are wider than 7 mm.

• Stage IB1 (T1b1, N0, M0): The cancer can be seen but it is not larger than 4 cm (about 1 3/5 inches). It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or distant sites (M0).
• Stage IB2 (T1b2, N0, M0): The cancer can be seen and is larger than 4 cm. It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or distant sites (M0).

Stage 2 cervical cancer

Stage II (T2, N0, M0): In this stage, the cancer has grown beyond the cervix and uterus, but hasn't spread to the walls of the pelvis or the lower part of the vagina.

Stage IIA (T2a, N0, M0): The cancer has not spread into the tissues next to the cervix (called the parametria). The cancer may have grown into the upper part of the vagina. It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or distant sites (M0).

• Stage IIA1 (T2a1, N0, M0): The cancer can be seen but it is not larger than 4 cm (about 1 3/5 inches). It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or distant sites (M0).
• Stage IIA2 (T2a2, N0, M0): The cancer can be seen and is larger than 4 cm. It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or distant sites (M0).

Stage IIB (T2b, N0, M0): The cancer has spread into the tissues next to the cervix (the parametria). It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or distant sites (M0).

Stage III (T3, N0, M0): The cancer has spread to the lower part of the vagina or the walls of the pelvis. The cancer may be blocking the ureters (tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder). It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or distant sites (M0).

Stage IIIA (T3a, N0, M0): The cancer has spread to the lower third of the vagina but not to the walls of the pelvis. It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or distant sites (M0).

Stage IIIB (T3b, N0, M0; OR T1-3, N1, M0): either:

• The cancer has grown into the walls of the pelvis and/or has blocked one or both ureters (a condition called hydronephrosis), but has not spread to lymph nodes or distant sites.
• OR
• The cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the pelvis (N1) but not to distant sites (M0). The tumor can be any size and may have spread to the lower part of the vagina or walls of the pelvis (T1-T3).

Stage IV: This is the most advanced stage of cervical cancer. The cancer has spread to nearby organs or other parts of the body.

Stage IVA (T4, N0, M0): The cancer has spread to the bladder or rectum, which are organs close to the cervix (T4). It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or distant sites (M0).

Stage IVB (any T, any N, M1): The cancer has spread to distant organs beyond the pelvic area, such as the lungs or liver.

Cervical cancer information is important. Spread the news to your mother, daughters and friends. For more information, including cervical cancer pictures, and pictures of cervical cancer, please visit the American Cancer Society.