Jade Goody recently lost cancer battle
Prior to Goody’s diagnosis, cervical cancer wasn’t given the attention it requires. Although the number of cases of the disease have halved in recent years, it remains the second most common cancer in women under the age of 35.
So what exactly is it? To start with, cervical cancer affects the cervix – the lower part of the womb, also known as the uterus. According to Macmillan Cancer Support, it can take many years to develop.
It happens when abnormal cells contained in the cervix known as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, (CIN) become diseased. It is important to know that not every woman who has these cells develops cancer.
CIN tends to be the result of a virus infection called the human papillomavirus. (HPV) It is mainly passed on during sexual intercourse.
Most women who have had sexual intercourse in their lives will contract the virus but, in most cases, their immune system removes it and they won’t know they’ve had it.
In order to identify and treat CIN cells in good time, women must have smear tests. About 4.4 million women are invited for cervical screening each year in England with about 24,000 of them having a severely abnormal cervical screening result.
Women are invited to attend a smear test from the age of 25 to 65 although, if sexually active, women are encouraged to come for testing from the age of 20. They are given every three years up until the age of 49 and then every five years from the ages of 50 to 64.
The test itself involves a doctor or nurse inserting a spatula into the vagina to take a sample of cells. These cells are then taken to a lab for inspection. Although slightly an uncomfortable procedure, it is quick and painless and saves lives.
When abnormal CIN cells do become cancerous, there are a number of symptoms women may experience. The first is abnormal vaginal bleeding e.g. between periods or after sex, smelly vaginal discharge and discomfort during sex.
Women are said to be more prone to developing cervical cancer if they smoke; start to have sex at an early age; have many sexual partners; have taken the contraceptive pill long-term or have a weakened immune system.
There are two types of cervical cancer: - Squamous cell cancer and Adenocarcinoma. These are both named after the type of cell that becomes cancerous.
In the early stages of the disease – known as 1A and 1B, the cancer starts to grow into the deeper tissues of the cervix.
This is treated with surgery or radiotherapy. The same treatment is given for stages 2A and 2B, where the cancer spreads to around the neck of the womb. In stages 3A and 3B, the cancer spreads into the pelvis; this is treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
The most serious stages of the disease are 4A and 4B where the cancer spreads to other organs. This often includes a combination of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
The good news is that, if spotted early enough, cervical cancer is very treatable so it is important that women everywhere take regular smear tests.
FemaleFirst: Fiona Haran
Tagged in cervical cancer