Understanding Cervical Cancer
June 13, 2009 by Tisha Tolar
Filed under Medical Issues
The words “cervical” and “cancer” understandably invokes feelings of fear among people. Cancer is the second leading cause of death 
in the United States. Millions of people (fifty percent of men and one third of all women) will face a diagnosis of cancer at one point in their life. Cancer is defined as a disease or group of diseases where cells in part of your body grow uncontrollably. Normally your body will grow, divide and lose cells in a relatively orderly manner. Cancerous cells on the other hand, do not die off as normal cells, instead they continue to grow and produce more abnormal cells. Not only do cancer cells continue to grow, they also have the ability to invade other tissues.
Cancerous cells are cells that have abnormal DNA. The abnormalities may be be caused by genetic defects or a result of something you are exposed to in your environment. Currently there is no cure available for cancer. Each form of cancer responds differently to treatment, making prevention or early detection important for individuals at a high risk for developing cancer.
Cancer is named after the part of the body where it is first found. Cervical cancer begins in the cervix which is located in the lower part of the womb (uterus). Pap tests are performed to detect cervical cancer. Before Pap tests became standard cervical cancer was the number one cause of death from cancer in women. Thankfully those numbers have declined drastically due to early detection of cells that are not yet cancerous, which makes cervical cancer the only gynecological cancer that can actually be prevented through regular testing. Without regular screening, these precancerous cells can develop into cervical cancer. The symptoms of this form of cancer include but are not limited to the following:
• Spotting in between menstrual cycles
• Bleeding or pain while having intercourse
• Abnormal discharge from the vagina
• Weight loss
• Urinary problems
• Continuous leg, bag, or pelvic pain
These symptom are only a partial list and one or each of the aforementioned symptoms could be related to other causes other than cervical cancer. Anyone experiencing these or other abnormal symptoms should consult their gynecologist for possible causes. Cancer will only continue to grow if left untreated making it imperative to acknowledge and seek treatment for any unusual symptoms. The single most effective way to prevent the development of cervical cancer is to have regular check-ups and at least one annual Pap test.
Treatment for women who have been diagnosed with cervical cancer could include surgery to remove cancerous cells, radiation or chemotherapy.
For more information to prevent cervical cancer or to find help if you have been diagnosed with this form of cancer visit the following websites:
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/
\http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/hpv-vaccines
http://www.thegcf.org
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