| Cervical cancer begins with abnormal changes in the | | | | abnormal. This may have several causes and often |
| cervical tissue. The risk of developing these abnormal | | | | clears up after a while. CIN 2 is not cancer, but the |
| changes has been associated with certain factors, | | | | cells on the surface of the cervix show a number of |
| including previous infection with human papillomavirus | | | | cancer-like changes which can be seen under the |
| (HPV), early sexual contact, multiple sexual partners, | | | | microscope. The third stage, CIN 3, is close to cancer |
| cigarette smoking, and taking oral contraceptives | | | | and is also known as 'carcinoma in situ'. If left |
| (birth control pills). | | | | untreated, CIN 3 has a 50% chance of developing |
| Cervical cancer symptoms usually do not appear until | | | | into cancer. |
| abnormal cervical cells become cancerous. When this | | | | Treatment |
| happens, the most common cervical cancer | | | | Treatment of cervical cancer depends on the stage |
| symptoms are related to abnormal vaginal bleeding | | | | of the cancer, the size and shape of the tumor, the |
| occurrences. Bleeding may appear between regular | | | | age and general health of the woman, and her desire |
| menstrual cycles, and after sexual intercourse. | | | | to have children in the future.Early cervical cancer can |
| Bleeding after douching or a pelvic exam are also | | | | be cured by removing or destroying the |
| symptoms of cervical cancer. In addition, pelvic pain, | | | | pre-cancerous or cancerous tissue. There are various |
| pain during sexual intercourse, bleeding after | | | | surgical ways to do this without removing the uterus |
| menopause, and increased or unusual vaginal | | | | or damaging the cervix, so that a woman can still |
| discharge may also be cervical cancer symptoms. | | | | have children in the future. |
| The tissues of the cervix are very prone to undergo | | | | Radiation may be used to treat cancer that has |
| abnormal changes, and many women have tumours | | | | spread beyond the pelvis, or cancer that has |
| or neoplasms (new growths) in these areas of the | | | | returned. Radiation therapy is either external or |
| reproductive system. Only a minority of these | | | | internal. Internal radiation therapy uses a device filled |
| changes are actually cancerous. Some are benign, | | | | with radioactive material, which is placed inside the |
| which means that they won't multiply and spread to | | | | woman's vagina next to the cervical cancer. The |
| other organs, and therefore aren't cancerous. Others | | | | device is removed when she goes home. External |
| are considered precancerous, and may require surgical | | | | radiation therapy beams radiation from a large |
| treatment similar to that used to cure cancer itself. | | | | machine onto the body where the cancer is located. |
| Many women who don't actually have cancer still | | | | It is similar to an x-ray. |
| need to be treated by an oncologist (a doctor who | | | | Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer. Some of the |
| treats cancer). | | | | drugs used for chemotherapy for cervical cancer |
| Types | | | | include 5-FU, Cisplatin, Carboplatin, Ifosfamide, |
| This is one of the few types of cancer where there | | | | Paclitaxel, and Cyclophosphamide. Sometimes radiation |
| are clear early stages which can be diagnosed and | | | | and chemotherapy are used before or after surgery. |
| treated. The first stage is called CIN 1 and simply | | | | Read about hair loss treatment, hair loss cure. |
| means that the cells on the cervix are slightly | | | | |