Cancer that occurs in the cervix is known as cervical cancer. The cervix, a hollow cylinder, joins the lower portion of a woman’s uterus and vagina. Cells on the cervix’s layers are where most cervical cancers start. When it comes to fatal diseases for Hong Kong women, cervical cancer used to be the leading cause. However, the availability of Hong Kong cervical cancer screening has changed things.

What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?

Due to the disease’s propensity for not manifesting symptoms until later, many women with cervical cancer don’t know they have it until it is too late. When symptoms manifest, they are frequently confused with infectious ailments, including menstruation and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Typical signs of cervical cancer include:

• Abnormal bleeding, such as that which occurs between periods, after intercourse, or following menopause
• A different-looking or smelling vaginal discharge
• Back and pelvic discomfort
• More frequent urination
• Discomfort while urinating

Visit your health professional for a checkup if you experience any of these symptoms. Learn how your doctor plans to identify cervical cancer.

What causes cervical cancer?

The sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) is to blame for most cervical cancer incidences, and the same virus also causes warts on the genitalia. About 100 distinct HPV strains exist, but cervical cancer only occurs in a few forms. HPV-16 and HPV-18 are the two kinds that most frequently result in malignancy.

However, you may not suffer cervical cancer even if you have an HPV strain known to cause it. Naturally, your immune system clears most HPV infections within two years. Unfortunately, HPV can also cause other malignancies in both men and women. These include:

• Vaginal cancer
• Breast cancer
• Sperm cancer
• Anal cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Vulvar cancer

Infection with HPV is relatively widespread. According to research, many sexually active persons contract it at some point in their lifetime and may or may not know it. Hong Kong cervical cancer screening helps identify the HPV virus likely to cause cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is most frequently caused by HPV. Other factors that could raise your risk include:

• HIV
• Chlamydia
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Cervical cancer running in the family
• Consuming fewer fruits and veggies
• Taking contraceptives
• Having been pregnant with three full-term babies.
• Being under 17 when you experienced your first pregnancy

However, you won’t necessarily get cervical cancer even if you have one or more risk factors.

Screening for cervical cancer

Doctors utilize a Pap smear test to identify cervical cancer. Your doctor takes a sample of cells from the surface of your cervix to use in this test. Then, a lab will examine these cells to check for precancerous or cancerous alterations.

If any alterations are discovered, your doctor might advise a colposcopy, a technique for looking at your cervix. Your doctor may alternatively take a biopsy, or a sample of cervical cells, during this procedure for further testing.

Health experts advise the following screening plan for women, organized by age:

• Ages 21–29: Have a Pap smear after every three years.
• From 30 to 65, women should have a Pap smear every three years, a high-risk HPV (hrHPV) test after five years, or both every five years.

Cervical cancer treatment

The 5-year survival possibility for cervical cancer is 92% when it is detected early when it is still contained within the cervix. But the 5-year survival rate falls to 56% once cancer has progressed to the pelvic region. Only 17% of people with cancer that has spread to remote areas of the body will survive.

Routine testing can improve the prognosis of women with cervical cancer with regular testing. Early detection and treatment make this cancer relatively curable, and many patients can now afford the treatment thanks to the Hong Kong cancer fund. The four primary treatments are:

• Surgery
• Use of radiation
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapies

It is possible to mix various therapies to increase their potency.

Surgery

Cervical cancer surgery aims to eradicate as many cancerous cells as possible. The portion of the cervix that has cancer cells may occasionally only be removed by the doctor. Removing the cervix and other pelvic organs during surgery may be necessary for more advanced cancer cases.

Treatment using radiation

X-ray beams with high energy are used in radiation to kill cancer cells. A device outside the body may be used to distribute it, and a metal tube inserted into the uterus or vagina can also help deliver it from within the body.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy employs medication to eradicate cancer cells all over the body. Doctors provide this therapy in cycles. If a doctor recommends chemotherapy, you will receive the treatment for a specific time, and it will subsequently end so that your body can rest.

Immunotherapy

Bevacizumab (Avastin) is a more recent form of targeted therapy medication, and it functions differently from chemotherapy and radiation. It prevents the development of fresh blood vessels, which support the survival and growth of the malignancy. This medication is frequently administered along with chemotherapy.

Prevention of cervical cancer

Regular Pap smear or hrHPV testing is one of the simplest ways to screen for cervical cancer. Precancerous cells are detected during screening so they can be treated before they progress to malignancy.

Most cervical cancer occurrences are caused by HPV infection. The infection can be avoided with the help of the vaccines Gardasil and Cervarix. The best time for vaccination is before a person starts acting sexually. Boys and girls can both receive the HPV vaccine.

You can lessen your risk of HPV and cervical cancer by doing the following additional things:

• Follow up on Pap test results that are unusual.

• Reduce the number of sexual partners.
• Always use a condom or other barrier device when having vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse with a partner you don’t trust.
• Stop smoking.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Always see a doctor when you notice abnormal symptoms in your genital parts.

Summing up

Routine testing can significantly improve the prognosis of women with cervical cancer. Early detection and treatment make this cancer relatively curable, and regular screening is advisable if you have one or more risk factors.