Subscribe
Cervical cancer
How long does it take for cervical cancer to develop?
The causes of cervical cancer are now clear; it is caused by an infection with the HPV virus. Generally, this virus needs to be carried for more than two to three years before it can infect and develop into cervical cancer. There is a process of carcinogenesis where normal epithelial tissue transforms into cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. If the HPV infection is not treated and continues, it could lead to cervical cancer. Thus, the development process is relatively long, typically requiring two to three years. It is recommended that sexually active women undergo cervical cancer screening to check for any pathological changes in the cervix, including HPV, TCT, and colposcopy examinations.
Is cervical hypertrophy cervical cancer?
In clinical practice, most cases of cervical hypertrophy are not cervical cancer, but normal women do not have cervical hypertrophy. It is recommended that patients who suspect cervical hypertrophy should immediately visit the obstetrics and gynecology clinic of their local hospital, undergo a gynecological color ultrasound, and a gynecological examination to determine the cause of the cervical hypertrophy. The gynecological examination mainly relies on the doctor's visual assessment of the size of the cervix, and observation of any obvious lesions on the surface of the cervix. Additionally, gynecological ultrasound can be used to identify potential lesions in parts of the cervix that are not visible to the naked eye.
Does cervical cancer hurt?
For patients with cervical cancer, the most common clinical manifestations are bleeding during sexual intercourse and irregular vaginal bleeding. Patients who have undergone menopause may also experience irregular vaginal bleeding post-menopause, and some patients may not show any clinical signs at a very early stage. As the cancer progresses, and when it invades nearby organs and metastasizes, it may cause lower abdominal distension and pain, and even more severe pain if the metastatic organs compress nerves or directly invade areas containing nerves.
How is cervical cancer screened?
Cervical cancer screening is a routine gynecological examination item for married women and women who are sexually active. Cervical cancer screening includes TCT (ThinPrep Cytologic Test) and HPV (Human Papillomavirus) tests. The TCT is a cytological examination of the cervix to determine if there are any cervical lesions based on cell morphology. HPV is the human papillomavirus, and its presence is a high-risk factor for cervical cancer. Therefore, cervical cancer screening consists of both TCT and HPV tests. If abnormalities are found in either test, a cervical biopsy may be necessary to confirm the presence of cervical lesions. It is best to conduct these tests between three to seven days after the end of menstruation.
latent period of cervical cancer
The latency period for cervical cancer is generally five to ten years. The occurrence of cervical cancer is mainly due to exposure to the human papillomavirus (HPV) in the body. Typically, this virus persists and replicates within the body, leading to cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. From the initial virus infection to the development of cervical cancer, it usually takes a vast majority about five to ten years. Furthermore, different types of virus infections lead to varying probabilities of cervical cancer. In general, if the infection involves types 16 and 18 of the virus, the likelihood of developing cervical cancer is particularly high. Therefore, if one is infected with HPV types 16 and 18, it is crucial to undergo a cervical TCT test. If necessary, a cervical biopsy is generally performed under colposcopy, followed by treatment based on the examination results. Thus, to prevent cervical cancer, it is essential for women to undergo regular annual cervical cancer screening.
Can a cervical biopsy detect cervical cancer?
Cervical biopsy can detect cervical cancer as long as the altered tissue is collected. However, some people have a type 3 transformation zone in the cervix, making it difficult to obtain the altered tissue, and in these cases, cervical scraping is needed. Therefore, it is best to perform the biopsy under colposcopic examination and conduct a cervical canal scraping at the same time. If there is cervical cancer, it can be detected, and generally, it will not be missed.
Cervical cancer is divided into several stages.
Cervical cancer is categorized into four stages based on the extent of the cancer lesion, with different stages receiving different treatments clinically. Stage I cervical cancer is the earliest stage, while stage IV cervical cancer is the latest stage, often invading organs beyond the reproductive system. Clinically, early-stage cervical cancer is primarily treated with surgical resection, followed by postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy to reduce the likelihood of cancer recurrence. In contrast, late-stage cervical cancer is treated primarily with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Why would someone get cervical cancer?
Why does cervical cancer occur? There are several reasons for cervical cancer: The first is infection with the human papillomavirus, also known as HPV infection, which is the fundamental cause of precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. Secondly, there are other factors; in a few cases, HPV DNA is not detected in the tumor tissue, especially among elderly patients, and it is related to early childbirth and multiple pregnancies. The third point is that cervical cancer incidence is associated with high-risk males, including those who have had penile cancer, prostate cancer, or are high-risk individuals for cervical cancer. Women who are in contact with these high-risk men are more likely to develop cervical cancer. Lastly, irregular diet and lifestyle, along with smoking and drinking, can suppress the body's immune function, potentially promoting cancer.
Causes of Cervical Cancer
The causes of cervical cancer include: The first point is infection by the human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly persistent infection with high-risk types, which is the basic cause of precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. The second point is that DNA from HPV is not detected in the tumor tissues of a minority of cases, especially among some older patients. Epidemiology shows that early childbirth and multiparity are closely related to the occurrence of cervical cancer. With an increasing number of childbirths, the risk of cervical cancer also increases. This correlation might be due to the trauma to the cervix during childbirth and changes to the endocrine and nutritional states during pregnancy.
Staging of cervical cancer
The clinical staging of cervical cancer mainly uses the FIGO system, which adopts the staging criteria of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). Staging should be performed before treatment, and once done it does not change after treatment. Since FIGO staging of cervical cancer primarily relies on pelvic examination, it emphasizes the necessity of this examination being conducted by two experienced gynecologic oncologists. If needed, a pelvic examination under anesthesia is performed to ensure the accuracy of the evaluation. So, how is the staging performed? It involves measuring the size of the cervical lesion, particularly the measurement of endophytic tumors, the infiltration of cervical tissue, and the status of pelvic lymph nodes, providing accurate information with the aid of radiological data, especially magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).