Even today, women in India hesitate to discuss many health issues and seek medical advice freely. There are many who are not aware of specific problems and suffer silently. This article is especially for those women who put their health as their last priority. However there are many health issues, but one among them is cervical cancer, which is considered the most common cancer in the world. Let us discuss more about it in detail.

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is the cancer of cells in the cervix that starts on the surface of your cervix and happens when the cells there begin to change to precancerous cells. However, not all cells turn to cancer but finding these cells and treating them on time can lead to preventing cervical cancer. The cervix is the lowest part of your uterus, the part where a baby grows during pregnancy and looks like a doughnut, and it connects the uterus to the opening of your vagina. The cancer can affect the deeper tissues of their cervix and also can spread to other body parts, including the lungs, bladder, liver, vagina and rectum. Most cervical cancer cases are due to infection with human papillomavirus HPV, which is preventable with a vaccine. Cancer grows slowly; thus, if diagnosed on time, it can be treated before it worsens.

 Six key Facts about cervical cancer

Embarrassment is the factor for many women to avoid cervical cancer treatment and screening. It is important for women to understand that screening is essential to detect the issue and to treat it on time. Below are six key facts about cervical cancer that everybody should know:

1. Women of all ages are at risk of cervical cancer; thus, they should be aware of every cervical cancer stage so that it can be diagnosed and treated on time. Below are some key facts about cervical cancer:
2. HPV is the primary cause of cervical cancer, which is a common virus that can be passed from one person to another through sexual activity. Both men and women can be infected and can be present for years without showing any symptoms.
3. Most cervical cancer cases are preventable, and the best way to do this is to prevent HPV infection. HPV vaccines are also available to help your immune system to create an antibody response to protect against the infection. The survival rate of cervical cancer is good compared to other female cancers. Also, it is the only female cancer that is entirely preventable but is also curable in early stages.
4. Cervical cancer generally shows no symptoms in the early stages, which is why it is called a silent killer, but it can show warning signs as it progresses. Routine Pap testing is also the best way to detect abnormal changes to the cervix before they develop into cancer. Treating these abnormal cells at an early stage can help prevent cervical cancer from forming.
5. If detected at an early stage, cervical cancer is treatable as doctors use many techniques to do so. Also, HPV vaccination is highly effective in preventing cancer as it gives nearly 100 percent protection against infection. Annual cervical cancer screening is also the best way to prevent it.
6. Smoking and oral contraceptives increase the risks of cervical cancer as your immune system becomes weak when you smoke. The weak immune system is not capable of fighting the virus. So to prevent from cancer, you should quit smoking, have better hygiene, avoid multiple sex partners, get regular Paps etc.

Causes of cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is linked to HPV, i.e. Human papillomavirus, which is a common virus that spreads from person to person, particularly during sexual activity. However, most people get infected with HPV at some point in life, but only some develop cervical cancer. There are some strains of HPV that are high-risk types and are considered as the primary cause of cervical cancer. There are many other causes that can increase someone's chances of developing cancer:

1. Human papillomavirus

Almost all cervical cancers are linked to HPV, a group of common viruses that may spread from one person to another during intercourse, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. HPV is very common, and most of the time, your body fights off and clears the virus on its own. But in some cases, the infections do not go and can lead to cancer.

2. Weakened immune system

If you are a person with immune system deficiencies, then you can be at more risk of developing an HPV infection and cervical cancer. Some common causes of immune system deficiencies include consuming immunosuppressant drugs and HIV. If your immune system is not working properly, your body is more prone to infections like HPV and will be less capable of fighting off cancer cells.

3. Birth control pills

Women consuming oral contraceptives for more than five years can also be prone to developing cervical cancer compared to women who have never taken birth control pills; if you are one of those who consume pills, stop them immediately to lower your risk of cervical cancer.

4. Sexual history

Certain factors associated with sexual activity can increase your risk of developing cancer, including becoming sexually active before 18 years of age and having multiple sexual partners. These factors play a vital role in making your body prone to cervical cancer as it raises the odds that you will be exposed to HPV.

Symptoms of cervical cancer

Women of all ages are at risk of cervical cancer, but it occurs most often in women more than 30 years of age. The leading cause of cervical cancer is long-lasting infection with HPV, and preventing screening tests and HPV vaccine is the possible way. It is necessary to know about cervical cancer symptoms, which typically appear in early-stage and advanced stages when cancer spreads to other body parts. The symptoms may be more severe at advanced stages of cervical cancer and depend on the tissues and organs to which the disease has spread. . Women should note these signs and symptoms or can see changes in their body. Below we have listed some signs and symptoms of cervical cancer:

• Bleeding after sexual intercourse
• Bleeding between periods
• Bleeding in post-menopausal women
• Discomfort during sexual intercourse
• Vaginal discharge tinged with blood
• Vaginal discharge with a strong odour
• Pelvic pain

Signs and symptoms in advanced cervical cancer stages:

• The problem in urinating or having bowel movements
• Swelling of the legs
• Blood in the urine

Many women with the above symptoms don't realize they have the disease until the late stages. This is because these symptoms are mistaken for common menstrual periods and urinary tract infections. But if you notice any of the above-listed symptoms, then see your doctor for testing, as it will be better to treat it at an early stage.

How is cervical cancer diagnosed?

There are many tests that are used for diagnosing cervical cancer; however, not all tests listed below are used for every person. Some of the tests may be helpful for your doctor in deciding about the treatment of cancer. While choosing the appropriate cervical cancer test doctor will consider the below-listed factors:

• Type of cancer suspected
• Signs and symptoms
• Age and general health
• Results of earlier medical tests
• Some tests to diagnose cervical cancer
• Bimanual pelvic examination and sterile speculum examination
• Pap test
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) typing test
• Colposcopy
• Biopsy
• Pelvic examination under anaesthesia
• X-ray
• Computed tomography scan
• Magnetic resonance imaging
• PET-CT scan
• Biomarker testing of the tumour

After the above-listed tests are done, the doctor will review the results, and if cervical cancer is diagnosed, these tests will help them to describe cancer, also known as staging of cervical cancer stages.

Stages of cervical cancer

The cervical cancer stages tell you about the size of cancer and the extent to which it has spread. The type means the type of cells that cancer started from, and the grade is how abnormal cells look when seen tested. It is necessary to know about the stages to treat the condition better. There are multiple types of cervical cancer, and the most common among them is squamous cell cancer. The cancer cells are divided into three grades.

Stage 1 of cervical cancer

Stage 1 of cervical cancer means the cancer is only in the neck of the womb, i.e. cervix. So to treat this, surgery is done, and a few people also need chemoradiotherapy too.

Stage 2 of cervical cancer

Stage 2 is the condition in which cancer spreads outside the cervix to the surrounding tissues. To treat this stage of cervical cancer, patients get a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and sometimes surgery.

Stage 3 of cervical cancer

This stage of cervical cancer is spread from the cervix into the structures around it or the lymph nodes in the pelvis. To treat the problem at 3 stages, a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is suggested.

Stage 4 of cervical cancer

Stage 4 or cervical cancer is the crucial one as cancer spreads to the bladder or back passage, i.e. rectum or even further. Doctors give chemotherapy with a targeted cancer drug, surgery, and radiotherapy to treat.

 How is cervical cancer treated?

Cervical cancer treatment depends upon the type and stage, as the patient may require more than one type of treatment. At the early stage of cervical cancer, patients can either need surgery or radiation; chemo may be used sometimes. For later or advanced cervical cancer stages, the treatment combines radiation with chemo, which is the main treatment. To treat, there are a group of doctors including:

• A gynaecologist
• A gynecologic oncologist
• A radiation oncologist
• A medical oncologist

It may also involve other specialists in taking care of the patients. Before starting the treatment, doctors discuss all treatment options along with their goals and side effects with patients. If there is any confusion, patients must ask the questions to be sure.

 How to reduce the risk of getting cervical cancer?

There is no sure-shot way to prevent cervical cancer completely. However, there are certain measures that you can take to reduce the risk of developing this cancer type. Some of the measures that you must keep in your mind are:

1. Cervical cancer screening

It is the best way to evaluate the change in the cervical cells in your body. Every woman must undergo a test for HPV, Pap test or both, and if there is any type of change in cellular, the doctor may treat it. If these are not treated at an early stage, it may lead to cervical cancer. Women who are at high risk of this type of cancer should undergo frequent screening for the same. A Pap test is an important step to consider as women diagnosed with cervical cancer have not experienced the Pap test in the last five years, and many have not even undergone tests.

2. Get vaccinated against HPV infection.

The leading cause of cervical cancer is HPV infection, and it is necessary to get an HPV vaccination to reduce the risk significantly. The vaccine protects against those types of HPV infections responsible for cervical cancer. You are eligible for vaccination if you are between 13 to 26 years of age and have not previously been vaccinated.

3. Practice after sex

HPV infection transmits through sexual intercourse, and thus women who engage in it must use protective barriers to prevent the infection, which is the leading cause of cervical cancer. Always use condoms during sexual intercourse, get vaccinated, and have safer sex practices. Please avoid having sex with multiple partners to prevent yourself from cervical cancer.

4. Stay updated

Staying updated is the best thing you can do for yourself and monitor cervical cancer if you are in the high-risk category. But, first, it is necessary to understand cervical cancer; for this, you must talk to your healthcare provider. Some common symptoms of cervical cancer are abnormal discharge from the vagina, pain during sex, bleeding during periods etc.

The good news is that - Vaccine for cervical cancer in India is now available.

The good news is that DGCI, i.e. the Drugs Controller General of India, has approved the first Made in India qHPV vaccine. This is the best news for women who neither can nor protect themselves against cervical cancer, which is counted among the most common diseases. Cervavac is the first Indian cervical cancer vaccine that causes an antibody response that is at least a thousand times stronger compared to the baseline. By the end of 2022, Cervavac will be ready for production in large quantities. According to medical professionals, the vaccine has the potential to offer a significant boost to protect women from cervical cancer and also immunize them against the disease. Recent reports show that the cervical cancer vaccine is effective against about four distinct types of HPV and will cost approximately 200 to 400 Rupees.

FAQs

1. How long will it take to develop cervical cancer?

It will take years to develop cervical cancer; during this time, the cells on or around the cervix become abnormal.

2. What is the primary cause of cervical cancer?

The main cause of cervical cancer is HPV infection; some types of HPV are high risk and cause cancer.

3. How can I prevent HPV?

The best way to prevent HPV is to get the vaccine as it is safe and effective and protects against the HPV types that are the most common cause.

4. Can I have children after being diagnosed with cervical cancer?

If you are diagnosed with cervical cancer, you cannot get pregnant because you may have to undergo surgery to remove your womb. Radiotherapy is part of the treatment, which also affects the womb and may stop your ovaries from working.

5. What are the signs of cervical cancer?

There are some signs in the early stages of cervical cancer that include vaginal discharge, pelvic pain and pain during sex. It is important to get your check-up done as your gynaecologist may detect the signs during the It pelvic examination.

 Final words

Although cervical cancer is easiest to treat with excellent outcomes if diagnosed early. The saddest part is that it often progresses when cancer starts showing symptoms. Thus, women must know all about cervical cancer and have routine screenings. Annual testing will allow you and your doctor to discuss the prevention and implement lifestyle changes that can improve your health. It is necessary to stay informed to live a healthy life and to prevent yourself from severe health conditions.