Cervical cancer presentation to educate the population
It is important to understand firstly that this disease topic of the presentation is the second most common cause of cancer death among the women globally. As a result of this, it is of great importance to consider the development of new diagnostic methods, prognosis and newer treatment strategies that could help in achieving a decline in the incidence and prevalence of the condition. Despite the fact that there are surgical methods and chemoradiotherapy methods that can be aided to cure up to 80%-95% of women affected by the condition especially in the early stages, there are reports of increasing recurrence and metastatic disease causing a major cancer death among this population.
The incidence in the United States is still considered to be on the decline because of the massive screening test that are being done for most population. However, in the developing countries, the incidence is on the increase. This change in epidemiologic test in the United States is attributed to the test tagged Papanicolaou (Pap) tests (Boardman et al, 2014). There are newer efforts to design new drugs and gene therapies that could help in managing the cervical cancers. Some methods of screening are also being considered to help screen those that are at risks in order to help reduce the mortality of the condition as well as the incidence in regards to the affected female population.
This presentation focuses majorly on the population between the 20-40 years of age, what the condition is all about, the common risk factors, preventive measures, symptoms and treatment of the condition. We need to also understand what the condition is all about. Cervical cancer is a malignant cancer which affects the cervix region. The cervix is that part of the uterus that is narrow. It is that part where the uterus joins the top of the vagina and this cancer is squamous cell carcinoma type. This is cell where the cancer usually arises from but very rarely it can arise from other cells as a result of some other tissue movements. Cancer is the type of disease that are characterized by a group of cells that divide and replicate uncontrollably.
It is important to take note of how the disease affects the patients, especially in terms of the signs and symptoms that are notable. The common findings in affected individuals are symptoms that are related to the cervical region, especially in terms of abnormal vaginal bleeding (This abnormal bleeding occurs after vaginal sexual intercourse, after menopause or in-between the periods or occurrence of long or heavier menstrual period), vaginal discomforts, malodorous discharge, pain during vaginal sexual intercourse, and dysuria. At the early stages of the disease before it becomes a true invasive cancer, women usually do not have symptoms. It is when it starts entering the nearby tissue that symptoms starts occur. These signs and symptoms are not specific only to the disease simply because there are other conditions such as infection that can cause pain or bleeding. You need to be examined and have a Pap test for diagnosis.
The major risk factor found to be associated with cervical cancer is with the infection of the human papillomavirus (HPV). It is known that there are more than 100 different types of the virus (Sirovich et al., 2014). About 80 percent of women are found to be exposed to the viral infection in their lifetime (Sirovich et al., 2014). There are some of the viruses that low risk (HPV types 6 and 11) while some are of high risk (HPV 16 and 18). This HPV infection usually spread via the direct skin to skin contact, oral sex and anal sex. It is noted that people with the infection are usually not symptomatic. The infection usually resolves within the two years of infection and it is affected failure to resolve and there is persistence in infection that there is the risk of having the cervical cancer increases. Another major risk with the cancer is that of smoking. Smoking has been found to increase the chances of cervical cancer to increase by four folds.
In terms of the screening test that will help in making the right diagnosis, Pap test is the major method of examining the cervical cancer cells to ensure those cells are from the cervix. This test is usually done by the doctor or other trained health care provider. He or she will perform the pelvic examination and then uses a small brush or spatula to collect the cells from the cervix. The cells after collection are then smeared and preserved on the glass slide before it is examined under the microscope. An HPV test is another test used in the screening test of the suggested patients. This test can be done with the Pap test or separately. It is usually done like the Pap test in terms of the cell collections. Women under 30 are usually not tested for HPV because most of the women in the age group tend to have different forms of temporary infection that could resemble the disease and later resolves.
In terms of management, it is always very important to consider immunization, especially for the younger generation to prevent against HPV infections. This vaccine is found to prevent the infection, especially in female of 9-26 years of age to prevent the virus types that are 6, 11, 16 and 18. The vaccine is named the Gardasil. In terms of the management, the stage based treatment is usually considered. Those stages are stages 0, IA1, IA2, IIA, IIB, III, or IVA and IVB.
References
Boardman et al., (2014). Cervical Cancer. Medscape.
Retrieved from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/253513-overview
Peralta-Zaragoza et al,. (2012). Targeted treatments for cervical cancer: a review. NCBI.
Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3493318/
Sirovich et al., (2014). Patient information: Cervical cancer screening (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.
Retrieved from http://www.uptodate.com/contents/cervical-cancer-screening-beyond-the-basics
