Cervical Cancer Symptoms:
At the very early stages of cervical cancer, there are usually no symptoms or signs. As the cancer grows, symptoms can include abnormal vaginal bleeding. Abnormal vaginal bleeding is bleeding that occurs between periods, during sex, or after menopause. Pain during sex and vaginal discharge are other possible symptoms.
Who Should Get the HPV Vaccine?
The vaccines do not treat existing HPV infection, but they may prevent it. For best results, they should be given before the individual becomes sexually active. The CDC recommends giving girls the three-vaccine series at age 11 or 12. Girls and women aged 13 to 26 can receive a catch-up vaccine.
Top Cause of Cervical Cancer:
The human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are a large group of viruses, about 40 of which can infect the human genital tract. Some HPVs are known to cause cervical cancers, while others cause genital warts. Most genital HPV infections go away on their own, but when they become chronic, they can cause precancerous and cancerous changes in the cells that line the uterine cervix. Over 90% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV infection.
Treatment: Radiation
External radiation therapy can be used to destroy cancer cells that may remain after surgery. Internal radiation (brachytherapy) involves placement of radioactive material inside the tumor itself to destroy cancer cells. Radiation therapy is often used together with chemotherapy to treat women with cervical cancer. Side effects of radiation therapy can include nausea, vomiting, tiredness, and low blood cell counts.
HPV Symptoms:
The types of HPVs that cause genital warts are different from those that cause cervical cancer. Genital warts are not precancerous lesions and will not develop into cervical cancer. The “high-risk” or potentially cancer causing types of HPV can stay in the body for years without causing symptoms. Most infections, however, go away on their own and do not cause cellular changes.
Treatment: Surgery:
For cancers up to stage II, surgery is usually done to remove the areas of cancer. This generally means that the uterus is removed (hysterectomy) along with the surrounding tissue. The ovaries, Fallopian tubes, and lymph nodes in the area may also be removed.
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