Cervical Cancer

What is Cervical Cancer?

This is the cancer that is generated on the uterine cervix, and that is developed into infiltrating cancer in case it is kept intact for a long time. As the precancerous lesion of the uterine cervix has been early detected and effectively remedied, the incidence of cervical cancer has been also decreased. Also, its recover rate is comparatively high as it slowly progresses. Cervical cancer ranks top in Korea’s female cancers, and accounts for about 22 percent of female cancers.

Etiology

Cervical cancer is mostly caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) through sexual intercourse. In the case of the women who had early sexual intercourse or who have many sex partners, cervical cancer is influenced by male factors or may be influenced by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In the case of the females in the lower stratum of society or economy, the possibility of getting cervical cancer is five times higher than the women of the upper classes. Smoking and oral contraceptive may be risk factors. It was reported that the deficiency of vitamin A, vitamin C, carotene and folic acid may be related with cervical cancer.

Symptoms and Diagnoses

Cervical cancer is frequently generated in the pluripara aged 45 to 55, and its typical symptom is postcoital elytrorrhagia or postmenopausal elytrorrhagia. Hemorrhage is increased in proportion as the lesion is developed. Leucorrhea with fetor, abdominal pains or melosalgia may be arisen. In case cancer cells are metastasized into the urinary bladder or the rectum, dysuria, hematuria and constipation may be arisen. The same as the precancerous lesion of the uterine cervix, it can be diagnosed by cytodiagnosis or colposcopy. In case of need, biopsy is performed.

Treatment

Cervical cancer is basically treated by surgical operations and radiotherapy. The surgical operation is performed at the early stage. In the case of the young women whose ovarian and sexual functions should be protected, it is desirable to perform surgical operations. Likewise, surgical operations are applied to the cases where a pregnant woman got cervical cancer or to the cases where intestinal inflammations or pelivic inflammations is accompanied with cervical cancer. In case cervical cancer is developed into the middle stage, radiotherapy should be performed in consideration of metastasis. As the probability of its relapse reaches about 90 percent despite medical treatment, the follow-up should be periodically performed. In case weight loss, serious crural edema, pelvic aches, crural aches and iliac aches are arisen, medical examination should be performed as it is likely to be relapsed. Although special symptoms are not shown, it is necessary for the childbearing women who began to have sexual intercourse to undergo cytodiagnosis once half-yearly. Medical treatment is desirable to be performed at the precancerous lesion.

from: http://www.hidoc.co.kr/