Cervical cancer affects the cervix, which is a part of the female reproductive system. The cervix is the lowest portion of a women’s uterus (womb) and is located at the top of the vagina. The cervix is made up of cells, which can change from being healthy to abnormal.
Cancer refers to a class of diseases in which abnormal cells grow without control. The term tumor or neoplasm refers to an abnormal growth of cells. Tumors can either be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). A benign tumor does not spread to surrounding tissues or organs and usually does not come back after it has been removed. On the other hand, a malignant tumor can spread (e.g., from the cervix) and invade other tissues or organs in the body.
The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb). It is sometimes called the uterine cervix. The body of the uterus (the upper part) is where a baby grows. The cervix connects the body of the uterus to the vagina (birth canal). The part of the cervix closest to the body of the uterus is called the endocervix. The part next to the vagina is the exocervix (or ectocervix). The 2 main types of cells covering the cervix are squamous cells (on the exocervix) and glandular cells (on the endocervix). The place where these 2 cell types meet is called the transformation zone. Most cervical cancers start in the transformation zone.
Most cervical cancers begin in the cells lining the cervix. These cells do not suddenly change into cancer. Instead, the normal cells of the cervix first gradually develop pre-cancerous changes that turn into cancer. Doctors use several terms to describe these pre-cancerous changes, including cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL), and dysplasia. These changes can be detected by the Pap test and treated to prevent the development of cancer.
Causes of Cervix Cancer:
There is no single cause of cervical cancer, but some factors appear to increase the risk of developing it. The main risk factor for developing cervical cancer is infection of the cervix with human papillomavirus (HPV).
Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers where we know what causes it, and that’s through infection with a sexually transmitted virus called Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV.
Other factors that appear to increase the risk of developing cervical cancer are:
- Not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)
- Becoming sexually active at a young age
- Having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners
- Smoking
- Having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)
- Using birth control pills for a long time
- Giving birth to many children
- Having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)
Cervical Cancer Treatment:
Three treatments methods are commonly used to treat cervical cancer: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Sometimes they are used alone, and there are times when they are used in conjunction with one another. Treatment of cervical cancer is directed at preventing precancerous cells from becoming cancerous cells.
- This is usually a step-by-step process, involving the removal of cells or tissue to diagnose cancer and to find out how far it has invaded.
- If the deepest cells removed by biopsy were normal, no further treatment may be needed.
- If the deepest cells removed by biopsy were cancerous or precancerous, this means the cancer has invaded farther than the biopsy. In these cases, treatment generally starts with removal of additional tissues. As these tissues are removed, they are checked for dysplastic change to be sure all the precancerous or cancerous cells have been removed from the body or are otherwise destroyed.
Surgical Method: Surgery is a common method used to treat cervical cancer. Many times, surgery is combined with other treatment methods, like chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The type of surgery chosen to treat cervical cancer depends on the stage and other factors.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is prescribed to treat cervical cancer and also to help radiation therapy be more effective. Chemotherapy drugs work by killing cancer cells or preventing them from multiplying. Several chemotherapy drugs are available to treat cervical cancer and will be prescribed according to the stage of cancer, type of cervical cancer, and other health factors.Â
Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy can be given externally using external beam radiation or internally (brachytherapy) by placing devices filled with radioactive material near your cervix. Radiation therapy is as effective as surgery for early-stage cervical cancer. For women with more advanced cervical cancer, radiation combined with cisplatin-based chemotherapy is considered the most effective treatment.
Symptoms of Cervix Cancer:
You may not experience any cervical cancer symptoms — early cervical cancer generally produces no signs or symptoms. This is why regular screening is so important. As the cancer progresses, the following signs and symptoms of more advanced cervical cancer may appear:
Symptoms that may occur can include:
- Continuous vaginal discharge, which may be pale, watery, pink, brown, bloody, or foul-smelling
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods, after intercourse, or after menopause
- Periods become heavier and last longer than usual
- Any bleeding after menopause
Symptoms of Cervix Cancer
Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer may include:
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Pelvic pain
- Back pain
- Single swollen leg
- Heavy bleeding from the vagina
- Leaking of urine or feces from the vagina
- Bone fractures
Cervix Cancer Surgical procedure:
Surgery to remove cervical cancer may be an option when the cancer is confined to the cervix or uterus. The type of surgery performed depends on the location and extent of cervical cancer and your desire to be able to have children.
When patients need treatment for cancer in the cervix or treatment for the area close to the tumor, doctors may recommend surgery. Most women with early cervical cancer will require surgery to remove the cervix and uterus (this is known as a total hysterectomy). However, for very early (stage 0) cervical cancer, a hysterectomy may not be needed.
In the early stages of cervical cancer, surgery is usually the preferred primary treatment approach. Not all women are candidates for all surgical procedures.
Surgery procedures by stage are:
- Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) and Laser Surgery– Used for pre-invasive cancer including cervical intrapethelial neoplasia (CIN) and stage 0.
- Conization– Used for treating pre-invasive cancer (CIN and stage 0) and invasive cancer stage IA1.
- Cryosurgery– Used for stage 0.
- Total (Simple) Hysterecomy– Used for stage 0, stage IA1.
- Radical Hysterectomy– Used for stage IA2, stage IB1 and 1B2, stage IIA.
- Radical Trachelectomy– Used for select women with stage IA2, stage IB1.
Recovery from Cervix Cancer Treatment Surgery: Â
Regular followup exams – including a pelvic exam, a Pap test, and other laboratory tests – are very important for any woman who has been treated for precancerous changes or for cervical cancer. The doctor will do these tests and exams frequently for several years to check for any sign that the condition has returned.
Cervical cancer treatment may cause side effects many years later. For this reason, patients should continue to have regular checkups and should report any health problems that appear.
The outlook for women with precancerous changes of the cervix or very early cancer of the cervix is excellent; nearly all patients with these conditions can be cured. Researchers continue to look for new and better ways to treat invasive cervical cancer.
Cost of Cervix Cancer Treatment Surgery:Â
| Procedure | Hysterectomy | Chemotherapy | Radiation Therapy |
| India | $2499 | $2900 | $3500 |
| Thailad | $4442 | $3600 | $11000 |
| Singapore | $5500 | $8500 | $30000 |
| US | $9388 | $15000 | $22000 |
In comparison to conventional surgery, Cervix Cancer Treatment Surgery offers patients many benefits in terms of results and low costs. Cost savings include:
- Lower treatment cost – Cervix Cancer treatment is 30 to 70 percent less expensive than hospitalization for craniotomy and surgical resection
- Fewer charges because most patients are released within 24 hours
- Faster recovery eliminates the hidden costs of long convalescence
Why to consider India for Cervix Cancer treatment surgery?
There are many reasons to select India for Cervix cancer treatment surgery. As it is one of the best medical tourist destinations across the world. Quite a few Indian cities have emerged as medical tourism hotspots for foreign patients.
