Cervical Cancer
What Is It?
The cervix is covered with a layer of skin-like cells on its outer surface, called the "ectocervix". There are glandular cells lining the inside of the cervix (the endocervix). The glandular cells produce mucus. The skin-like cells of the ectocervix can become cancerous in cervical cancer, leading to a squamous cell cervical cancer. Or the glandular cells of the endocervix can become cancerous, leading to an adenocarcinoma of the cervix.The area where cervical cells are most likely to become cancerous is called the transformation zone. It is the area just around the opening of the cervix that leads on to the endocervical canal. The endocervical canal is the narrow passageway that runs up from the cervix into the womb. The transformation zone is the area that your doctor or nurse will concentrate on when taking a cervical smear.
Like all other areas of the body, there are lymph nodes around the womb and cervix. The nearest large groups of lymph nodes are in the groins (between your legs, at the top of each of your thighs). Lymph nodes are important in cancer care. Tissue fluid that bathes the area containing the cancer will drain to the nearest lymph nodes. So if any cancer cells break away from the tumour, the first place they will end up is in the nearest lymph nodes. When you have surgery for cancer, your surgeon will usually take out some lymph nodes and send them to the lab to be checked for cancer cells.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of cervical cancer is bleeding from the vagina at other times than when you are having a period. You may have bleeding:
Between periods
After or during sex
At any time if you are past your menopause
Some women also have:
A vaginal discharge that smells unpleasant
Discomfort or pain during sex
Pre-cancerous cell changes do not usually have any symptoms. Which is why it
is so important to have a regular smear test.
Treatment
Treatment will depend on the stage of the disease but cure rates are high. Of all those women diagnosed with cancer of the cervix, about 68 out of every 100 women diagnosed will live for at least 5 years after diagnosis. About 66 women out of every 100 will live for more than 10 years after diagnosis. Younger women have a better survival rate than older women.Web link - click here.