Cervical polyp and cervical cancer differences

Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on September 13, 2024
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Cervical polyps are generally visible to the naked eye during a gynecological examination, and after the removal of cervical polyps, there should be no bleeding. Cervical cancer, on the other hand, is different. With cervical cancer, abnormalities can be seen on the surface of the cervix or, even if not visible to the naked eye, can generally be detected through cervical cancer screening. There is no issue with patients with cervical polyps undergoing cervical cancer screening. For patients with cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening typically includes TCT and HPV testing. If these tests show abnormalities, indicating cervical cancer or precancerous lesions, a biopsy is generally required for further diagnosis. There is a difference between the two; after a polyp is removed, there should be no further bleeding; whereas with cervical cancer, continuous bleeding, irregular bleeding, and an accompanying odor can occur.

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Can cervical cancer be cured?

Cervical cancer can be treated with options including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. For Stage 1A1 cervical cancer, a conization surgery can be chosen; for stages from 1A2 up to before 2B, a radical hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy can be selected; if it is Stage 2B, where the cancer has spread to the parametrium, it is recommended to first undergo chemotherapy as preoperative neoadjuvant therapy to reduce the tumor size before proceeding with surgery; if the cancer has progressed to Stage 3A1 and beyond, radiotherapy or chemotherapy is recommended. In summary, surgical treatment can be chosen for cervical cancer before Stage 2B; if it is Stage 2B or later, involving the parametrium or the lower third of the vagina, surgery is generally not an option, and the treatment usually involves radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

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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).

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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.

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Does cervical cancer hurt?

Early cervical cancer generally has no obvious symptoms, often manifesting as vaginal discharge with blood streaks or bleeding after intercourse. However, if not treated timely, the condition can progress to an advanced stage where the growth of the cancer may compress surrounding tissues, possibly causing swelling and pain in the lower body and back pain. If the cancer cells spread throughout the body and affect nerves, stubborn pain can occur, and when bone metastasis occurs, localized bone pain can also be experienced.

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Causes of cervical cancer

The causes of cervical cancer are closely related to several factors. Firstly, infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) is highly related and is the fundamental cause of precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. Secondly, although HPV DNA is not detected in the tumor tissues of a minority of cases, particularly among older patients, epidemiological surveys indicate that early childbirth and multiple childbearing are closely related to the incidence of cervical cancer. Thirdly, it has been found that the incidence of cervical cancer in women is related to contact with high-risk men, such as those with penile cancer, prostate cancer, or those whose ex-wives had cervical cancer. Fourthly, smoking has a certain relationship with the incidence of cervical cancer as it can inhibit the body's immune function. Alcohol consumption, irregular diet, and lifestyle also have certain relationships with the incidence of cervical cancer.