Cervical Cancer Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

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Cervical cancer is a slow-growing cancer that develops in the lining of the cervix, which is the lower, narrow part of the uterus that connects the uterus to the vagina. An estimated 12,200 women in the United States were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2010 and 4,210 died from it during that year. Fifty-eight percent of those 12,100 women were between the ages of 45 and 74. The 5 year survival rate from 1999 to 2006 was 70 percent. New early screening tests and a new vaccine are contributing to improved outcomes for this form of cancer.

There are two main types of cervical cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common form, occurring in about 80 to 90 percent of all cases. It develops in the thin, flat cells, called squamous cells, that cover the surface of the endocervix, the portion of the cervix closest to the uterus. Adenocarcinoma is more common in younger women and forms in the gland cells within the endocervix.

Although scientists are not 100 percent sure on how cervical cancer develops, they have been able to identify a number of risk factors which can lead to the disease. The chief risk factor is associated with sexually transmitted viruses such as some types of the human papillomavirus, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The bacterial based Chlamydia, also transmitted during sexual activity, is another risk factor for cancer of the cervix. Other factors which can lead to an increased risk of include: smoking, a diet low in fruits and vegetables, obesity, long-term use of oral contraceptives, and multiple pregnancies. A family history of cervical cancer is another high risk consideration.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of cervical cancer are asymptomatic (showing no symptoms) in the early stages. It is not until it has reached the later sub-stages and stages that it becomes noticeable. The most common symptoms include:

Abnormal vaginal bleeding
Abnormal vaginal discharge with light blood spots or light bleeding between periods.
A higher amount of blood loss than normal during menstruation.
Bleeding following intercourse, pelvic exam, or douching.
Pain during intercourse.
General pelvic pain.

A diagnosis of cervical cancer can be made with the aid of several instruments and imaging devices. The two most common instruments include a cystoscope, (a thin, tube-shaped instrument with a light and optical device at one end which is inserted into the vagina) and a proctoscope (similar to a cystocope but is inserted into the anal cavity to examine invasive forms of cervical cancer). The most common imaging tests include an x-ray, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and intravenous urography. Doctors may also perform a PAP smear, and a biopsy is taken in many cases.

While traditional cancer treatment methods of chemotherapy and radiation are often utilized in cervical cancer, there are eight different types of surgical procedures used which include:

Cryosurgery: A type of surgery which uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and kill cancer cells.
Laser Surgery: A type of surgery which uses a laser beam as a sort of knife to cut away tumors without causing bleeding.
Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP): Type of surgery which uses a thin wire loop positioned around the tumor and delivers a low intense electric current.
Conization: Type of surgery where a cone shape mass of tissue is removed from the cervix with the help of a laser or LEEP.
Simple hysterectomy: Removal of the uterus without adjacent tissues.
Total hysterectomy: Type of surgery where the uterus is removed together with adjacent structures or organs (parametria and uterosacral ligaments, the upper part of the vagina located next to the cervix, the lymph node, and sometimes the fallopian tubes and ovaries).
Trachelectomy: A new type of surgery where the cervix is removed while attempting to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible. The lymph nodes are also removed. A "purse-string" stitch is also created which will act as the opening to the cervix. Early trials show that women that have this type of surgery have fewer relapses of cervical cancer.
Pelvic exenteration: Similar to a total hysterectomy but more organs are removed which include: uterus, parametria and uterosacral ligaments, upper part of the vagina closest to the cervix, lymph node, fallopian tubes, ovaries, rectum, and part of the colon and urine bladder.

Cervical cancer can be prevented with changes to those risk factors associated with the disease. These changes include:

Delaying sexual intercourse until marriage
Limiting the number of sexual partners.
Avoiding sexual contact with promiscuous partners.
Quitting smoking.
Eating more fruits and vegetables, and foods high in vitamins and minerals.
Exercising.
Losing weight if obese.

Women can also receive Gardasil, a new vaccine aimed at HPV viruses 6,11, 16, and 18, which can all lead to cervical cancer. This vaccine prevents infection of HPV and can not be used to treat an existing infection. Gardasil requires a series of three injections over a six month period. Gardasil only works on these four types of HPV and does not prevent other HPV types from causing to cervical cancer, although these occurrences are extremely rare.

Detect the Early Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer - Ovarian Cyst Symptoms

Do you have 2 or more family members that had a history of cancer? Did you have any multiple exposures to fertility drugs? Or do you have either BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation?

I will be sharing with you some important information on how some women detect the early symptoms of ovarian cancer and ovarian cyst symptoms. Above are some of the determining factors for women that are in high risk of getting that cancer and ovarian cyst.

According to the American Cancer Society ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer among American women. It is estimated that over 22,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and that 15,000 women are expected to die next year.

To detect the early symptoms of ovarian cancer you need to look for symptoms like bloating, severe abdominal or pelvic pain, distension on the lower abdomen, difficult eating or feeling full every time, rectal bleeding and diarrhea.

Ovarian cyst symptoms are similar to the ones listed above and may also include discomfort on the shoulder and abdomen. If you detect any of the early symptoms and are experiencing it for more then a few weeks then it is a good idea to see a doctor preferable a physician that is specialize in treating and diagnosing cancers from the ovaries, cervix and uterus.

Many Medical Experts advise women from ages 40 years and above to have an early check up because it can give you a 90% chance of curing that cancer if detected.

Cervical Cancer: Relying on Pap Smears Alone for Cancer Prevention Can Kill You

Even though the test itself usually leads to no harm, what you do not know about Pap smears and over-reliance on reassuring results can be severely detrimental to your health. This, in fact, can kill you. The reasons for this seemingly shocking statement and other crucial things that a smart woman should know regarding cancer prevention are the subject of this article!!

Let us take a very brief little historical detour to understand why. The Papanicolaou test, shortened to Pap, is a test which scrapes cells from the uterine cervix using a small spatula and brush. These scraped cells are then reviewed under a microscope to look for abnormal or pre-cancerous cells. The Pap test has been around for approximately 50 years and was a great advance in cervical cancer prevention. Even today, since nearly 50% of cervical cancers in the US occur in women who have never been screened, and 60% of cases develop in women who have not been screened in at least 5 years, an argument has been made that widespread periodic screening of ALL women would further reduce the overall incidence of cervical cancer, and eventually eliminate it. It is certainly true that any kind of screening is better than no screening at all.

However, unfortunately, even when Pap screening is readily available, this may not alter the results. In just one example, screening had been performed in 63% of women younger than 45 who died of cervical cancer in Scotland from 1982 to 1991. Other reports note that up to 20% of women with severe pre-cancer or invasive cervical cancer had a normal Pap smear within the preceding year. Thus it appears that standard Pap screening may not be sufficient to prevent cervical cancer. Many women present with symptoms, and up to half have been recently screened with at least standard Pap screening.

The bottom line is that despite its major contribution to cervical cancer prevention, we now know that the conventional Pap smear has dangerous limitations. Using biopsies as the best available gold standard, the ability of the Pap smear to pick up pre-cancer and very early cancer may be as low as 20% - 30%. In other words, up to 80% of pre-cancerous changes can be missed if you rely on the Pap smear alone. Used alone, it is simply a yesterday or last century technology.

By the way, if you are experiencing any symptoms like abnormal bleeding between periods or bleeding after intercourse, please call your doctor right away. You need an evaluation and possible biopsies, not Pap tests or any other screening tests. Screening is defined as looking for disease in the absence of symptoms. If you already have symptoms, it is past that point. While abnormal bleeding is usually due to many possible benign non-cancerous reasons, you owe it to yourself to be fully evaluated.

It is extremely important to detect cervical abnormalities when they are still pre-cancerous. When abnormal cells are scraped from the cervix by a Pap test and detected under the microscope, it usually means that there is dysplasia or a pre-cancerous area present on the cervix. In some cases it can also be an early cervical cancer. Cervical cancer rarely develops directly from a normal area. Instead it develops over time, usually years. Cells become more and more abnormal and finally invade or start growing deeper into normal cervical tissue. When these cells invade, they are no longer pre-cancerous and an invasive cancer is now present.

When found before becoming invasive or cancerous, these lesions are not a threat to life and are usually curable with minimally invasive therapies. In other words, hysterectomy and more drastic treatments like radiation and chemotherapy are avoided.

Critical Statement: We now know that there is a sexually transmitted virus, called the HPV or human papilloma-virus, which is largely responsible for virtually all cervical cancers, AND we have a simple painless TEST FOR IT! It is not perfect but is pretty accurate.

HPV is actually quite common and most (up to 75% or three out of four ) women who have been sexually active have likely been infected at some time in their life.

There are two categories of HPV: low risk and high risk. There are multiple subtypes of each category, but the important thing to remember is that a persistent infection with high risk HPV puts you at higher risk of developing a pre-cancerous condition or cancer of the cervix. The relatively good news is that low risk HPV very rarely leads to cancer, although it can still cause you problems like cervical, vaginal or vulvar warts which can be hard to treat and are sexually transmitted. The better good news is that most HPV infections are transient. In other words, they go away on their own, usually within 9 months to a year. However, since this is a sexually transmitted virus, you can be re-infected by contact with an infected partner or a promiscuous lifestyle. So, especially if you are enjoying active sexuality, all of this is extremely important.

The bad news is that a persistent infection with high risk HPV is the single most important factor is predicting that you may develop cervical cancer. Keep in mind that not everyone with persistent HPV infection develops cervical cancer. In fact, most women do NOT develop pre-cancer or cancer. However, your risk is increased and should put up a major red flag to carefully follow-up with your doctor. If you have actually been diagnosed and treated for pre-cancer or cancer of the cervix in the past, this is relative proof that you have had a persistent HPV infection and are therefore more likely to experience a recurrent infection and/or disease.

The second piece of bad news is that there is no currently approved treatment for high risk HPV infections. However, since they usually go away spontaneously this bad news is not so bad for most women. In addition a commercially available vaccine has just been made available. The ideal time for immunization is BEFORE sexual activity begins: so between ages 8 and 13 is ideal. However, although there is incomplete agreement on this, women upto age 26 may benefit from the vaccine.

Women who are infected with HIV or are immunologically suppressed due to other diseases or medications are less likely to have their HPV infection spontaneously go away. Therefore, they are at a higher risk of coming down with pre-cancer or cancer of the cervix.

The HPV virus is sexually transmitted as noted. Contact with the genitals in some fashion must occur. However, given the variable length of time it takes for the infection to clear spontaneously, an infection does not mean that your partner has been unfaithful. The virus can live on inanimate objects for a short time, so contact with sex toys or other forms of indirect sexual contact transmission is possible.

As with anything else, there is a benefit and a risk associated with HPV testing. The main benefit is one of reassurance. If the HPV is negative, the risk of dysplasia or cancer is extremely low. The second major benefit is one of convenience, since the screening interval can be safely increased to three years instead of annual visits. However, just to be complete, there are other reasons to go to a doctor on an annual basis for well woman care. The main risks of HPV testing are related to anxiety and psychological stress of knowing about an HPV infection and wondering about how one got that infection since it is predominately a sexually transmitted virus.

Critical Statement: Caution! If you have an early pre-cancer, it can go away by itself under doctor supervision. Over-treatment is possible and can lead to scars, pain and infertility. Certainly, treatment of an HPV infection alone (i.e. no abnormal cells detected) by surgical means (including cutting, burning and freezing) is not effective and can lead to more harm than good. Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor. If you are not satisfied with the answers, get a second opinion!

Critical Statement: Condoms do NOT prevent male-female sexual transmission of HPV. The reason for this is that the virus can be living on the scrotum of your male sexual partner. Also, the anti-spermicidal agent Nonoxynol-9 has NO effect against HPV.

Critical Statement: As far as other gynecologic cancers are concerned, the Pap was never designed or promoted to screen for these. Period. End of story!! Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. The HPV test is also only meant to be a cervical screening tool. Screening technologies for ovarian and uterine cancers are under development, but are currently woefully inadequate.

So, what cervical screening test(s) should you ask for?

The following information is based upon American Cancer Society recommendations, but also includes my evaluation of the medical literature and practice experience. In all cases, this means that these recommendations are as aggressive as is reasonable to get the optimal prevention result. The truth is that what YOU need is somewhat individualized and depends on age and personal medical history. There is no single cookie-cutter answer for every woman and you should discuss the details with your physician.

You can get screened MORE often than the recommendations offered below, but there is no added benefit based on very extensive medical studies. And, there can be some harm. Why? Because screening is NOT for cervical cancer. Rather it is for PRE-cancer. Because of this, there are usually years of time built-in for the abnormalities to change from pre-cancer to cancer, or not. Remember, some of these pre-cancerous changes will go away on their own. So, over-screening and over-treatment can lead to more harm than good. This is vastly different than recommendations for breast cancer screening, where the goal of the yearly mammogram is to detect early cancer, not pre-cancer. In this situation, the earlier the detection and the faster the treatment, the better the results. Breast cancer will NOT go away on its own. So, you see there is a big difference, depending upon what you are screening for or trying to prevent.

If you are under the age of 30:

You should have your first screening examination approximately 3 years after first sexual contact, regardless of whether or not vaginal penetration has occurred, or by the age of 21
You should get a Pap smear every 3 years while you are under 30
If your Pap smear result uncovers atypical cells of undetermined significance, otherwise known as ASC-US, testing should be done for high risk human papilloma-virus (HPV) should be performed
If you are between the ages of 30 and 65: BOTH a Pap smear and HPV test should be obtained every 3 yearsIf you are over the age of 65: Routine screening is no longer recommended IF you have had adequate and recent screening with Pap and/or HPV testingIf you have had a complete or total Hysterectomy (meaning the cervix has been removed):

If the hysterectomy was performed for benign reasons, vaginal screening is not recommended
If the hysterectomy was performed for precancerous cervical findings, three additional consecutive Pap screening tests should be done before discontinuing further screening.
If the hysterectomy was performed for cervical cancer, the timing and frequency of follow-up examinations and vaginal screening is individualized and should be decided upon in concert with your gynecologic oncologist.
If you have been treated for pre-cancerous lesions and your cervix was not removed:

Pap and HPV test should be done 6 months after treatment and both repeated after 2 years. If normal after these two screenings, routine age-dependent screening as discussed above can be resumed. If you have HIV or you are otherwise immunologically suppressed from disease or medications: Yearly screening with Pap and HPV should be performed.
What happens after an abnormal Pap or HPV test?

If the Pap is ASC-US and the HPV is negative:

Repeat both after one year
If normal at this point, you can resume routine age dependent screening as discussed above.
If the Pap is normal but the HPV is positive:
Repeat yearly for two years
If both as normal after these two screenings, you can resume routine age dependent screening as discussed above.
An additional visual test called Colposcopy, and possible biopsies, is/are recommended if:
Pap smear shows cells that are worse than ASC-US
Pap smear shows ASC-US and the HPV is also positive
The HPV test is repeatedly positive and the Pap has been, and continues to be, normal. There is some controversy in this situation, with some experts advising visual magnified evaluation earlier than others. In many cases, nothing is found, but the additional reassurance of a visual test and possible biopsies may be beneficial. In these situations, it is best to discuss all the risks and benefits extensively with your doctor.

Summary recommendations:

Get screened
Get screened using a combination of Pap and HPV testing using the guidelines above
Report any abnormal discharge or bleeding symptoms to your doctor early, and insist that an explanation be determined
Do not think that the Pap, HPV test and routine pelvic exams reliably prevent any other cancers
All of the above information is meant to aid you in making informed choices regarding screening, prevention and your health. It is NOT meant to replace your existing doctor-patient relationship, since every individual specific health situation is different. If you do not have a trusted doctor with whom you can discuss these matters, GET ONE!! Your continued health depends upon it!

Ovarian Cancer Survival Rates

Cancer is a deadly disease all over the world, with very little known about curing it completely. One type of cancer that affects many women around the world is ovarian cancer. It has now become the fifth leading cause of death in cancer patients and leads the charts under all the gynaecological cancer deaths. Women of all demographics, races and ethnicities show risk factors for developing ovarian cancer. After one has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, the first response is to affirm the ovarian cancer survival rates and life expectancy. These rates differ from patient to patient, but some common factors are the age, family history of disease and early diagnoses of the cancer.

As the age of a woman increases, so do the chances of her having ovarian cancer. Very few women below the age of 40 are seen to suffer from this, but it is not a complete rarity. However, ovarian cancer survival rates are much higher in young women that the elderly. Women under the age of 20 show the highest survival rates, with close to 99% of the women recovering fully from it. This changes almost minimally for women under the age of 30 with death rates climbing to 0.8%. With early screening of cancer, death rates decline rapidly and most women go on to live completely healthy lives. After the age of 35, with the onset of other gynaecological problems and lower chances of pregnancy, the survival rates take a slight dip; going down to some 96.8% and even lower if the cancer has advanced to stage III or IV.

Once women cross the age of 45 years, ovarian cancer survival rates decrease even further, going down to 85%. Life expectancy at this point is not very high and can be further complicated if breast cancer develops at the same time. Once women hit their sixties, the life expectancy goes down to some five to six years, after remission. If the patient is healthy and active at the time of diagnoses, then this can be extended to 12 to 15 years, but no more. If diagnosed in the final stages of its spread, then ovarian cancer survival rates can be very low. At this point, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are seen to be the best options for treatment.

After the age of 65 years and above, the rates drop straight to 75% and life expectancy is down to 1 year to 2 after the diagnoses. Proper treatment may provide relief but for very long. Very few women suffer from ovarian cancer after the age of 80 but those who do display longer survival rates but can suffer from detoriated health due to other illnesses and conditions. Long term therapy is advised for such patients, since surgery can be a futile risk to take. As with all diseases, proper therapy and early diagnoses can increase survival rates and life expectancy after that. One must always go in for regular health screenings and check ups to diagnose cancer of any kind at an early stage and cure it.

Preventing Cervical Cancer

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Cervical cancer affects over half a million women around the world at any given time. In countries where screening programs exist, at least four out of every five deaths due to cervical cancer occur in women who have not had a Pap test in the past 10 years, or who have been inadequately screened.  Currently the best way to prevent death from cervical cancer is regular screening with a Pap test (or cervical smear).

This should be undertaken at least every 2 or 3 years, or more often if previous tests have been abnormal or there are particular risks (e.g. HPV infection). Genital infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for most cervical cancers.

HPV is a very common virus and four out of five sexually active men and women become infected with it at some point in their lives. Vaccination is effective in preventing infection from cancer-causing strains if performed before we first meet the virus during sex (eg. vaccination of girls aged 12 to 13).

Actions to prevent Cervical Cancer

Get a regular PAP test; every 2-3 years from your twenties, or more often if previous tests have been abnormal or there are particular risks (e.g. HPV infection)
Give up smoking

a.   Delay - try to put off your first cigarette of the day as long as possible so that you gradually reduce your smoking hours

b.   Distract - do something to take your mind off the cravings, have a glass of water, go for a walk, have a piece of fruit or read a book

c.   Deep breaths - take 3 deep breaths and see how you feel before you automatically reach for a cigarette

Eat a diet naturally high in antioxidants, especially lycopenes, CoQ10 and carotenoids

a.   Include a tablespoon of tomato paste in your cooking each day as is a great source of lycopene

b.   Have at least 4 rainbow foods on your plate each main meal. Choose in particular from red, orange and green foods such as capsicum, carrot, pumpkin, sweet potato and green leafies such as spinach, broccoli and rocket

Protect against exposure to HPV and Chlamydia; use a condom and practice safe sex in general

Cervical Cancer Stages and Preventions

Usually cervical cancers affect women that are their middle age or even older but it can be diagnosed in any reproductive-aged woman. Knowing the stages of the cancer is very important, for it is the most powerful predictor of the patient's survival and for them to have proper treatments because the treatments are based on the stage of the cancer or how much the cancer has spread.

Cervical tumors are categorized as either pre-invasive where the lower third of the epithelium compose abnormal cells or invasive in which the full thickness of the epithelium contains abnormally proliferating cells. Cancer in the Cervix established in the lining of the cervix, it is the lower part of the uterus or the womb that enters the vagina. This type of cancer does not always spread but if spreads it usually goes to the lungs, the liver, the bladder, the vagina or the rectum.

Cancer starts to develop from cell changes and it is caused by the human papilloma virus or also known as HPV, in which it is spread through genital skin to skin contact during sexual activity. Cervical cancer seems more superior to most women who smokes. Having numerous sexual partners, an individual that have a history of sexually transmitted disease and having sexual intercourse at a young age are some examples that expand the risk of infection to HPV and HIV. In the early stage of cancer in the cervix may be entirely asymptomatic. Losses of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, pelvic pain, back pain, leg pain are some of the symptoms of advanced cervical cancer.

Women with low fruits and vegetable diets can increase the risk for this cancer. When a women takes up oral contraceptives in a long period of time the risk of cancer goes up but it may come down for as long as the women stops taking those pills. In order to prevent this kind of disease, it is preferred to take some vaccinations against HPV and cancer. In addition on how to prevent cervical cancer, an individual must add some more vitamins A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and folic acid on their diet, eating more fruits and vegetables are also one that can prevent you from having this kind of diseases.

The Hidden Issues Of Ovarian Cancer

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Dr Christiane Northrup has some interesting insights into the emotional and energetic issues associated with ovarian cancer. Whilst it is impossible to generalize emotional and energetic responses, she highlights the issue of rage in ovarian cancers. She describes the ovaries as being 'female balls' which means they relate to an active participation in the world in a way that expresses our unique creative potential, as women, on an individual basis.

She says: "...we as women must be open to the uniqueness of our creations and their own energies and impulses, without trying to force them into predetermined forms. Our ability to yield to our creativity, to acknowledge that we cannot control it with our intellects, is the key to understanding ovarian power." (p187, Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom)

She relates the issue of rage as deriving from being in an abusive relationship - not necessarily physically abusive, though of course this could be the case. And it may not necessarily be a personal or intimate relationship. It could be with work, societal, or even spiritual. But it embodies a way of relating and dealing with something or someone, where the woman involved feels controlled by the situation and does not believe in her ability to change it, or herself. It is a denial of her innate power and self-sovereignty. A denial of a woman's innate dignity, creativity, spirituality, and complexity.

Interestingly, Dr Northrup notes that ovarian cancer is linked to a diet high in fat and dairy food. Dairy products in Oriental medicine, are associated with the liver meridian. Meridians are energy conduits, and though they have a specific anatomy, they are not equated necessarily with the organs of the same name, as understood in conventional western medicine. The emotion associated with a liver meridian that is out of balance, is rage and anger.

Oriental medicine believes that diseases start in our energetic body first, and then progress to the physical body. And certainly not all women who have a high fat and high dairy diet develop ovarian cancer. Dr Northrup suggests that women take care of their ovaries and uterus by reclaiming and expressing whatever this deep creative energy is for them. She suggests taking the time to do this daily.

A recent scientific study has also found that drinking two cups or more of tea a day can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by 46%. This study was done in Sweden over a 15 year period. Sweden is a country where there is a higher risk of ovarian cancer, as are other countries with a high dairy consumption (Denmark and Switzerland).

References:

[http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?id=64537]

Dr Christiane Northrup, Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom (Piatkus, 1995)

Learn About the Stages of Cervical Cancer Part I

When being diagnosed for cervical cancer, it is important to know what stage it is in. This information will allow the doctor to plan the treatment according to how advanced the cancer is. There are 5 separate stages, several of which are subdivided.

The first stage is Stage 0. In stage 0, cancer is found in the first layer of cells lining the cervix only and has not invaded the deeper tissues of the cervix. This is the earliest form of cervical cancer and can be treated with laser surgery, a hysterectomy or radiation.

The next stage is Stage I and is subdivided into IA and IB. At this stage cancer is found in the cervix but has not yet spread. In Stage IA, a very small amount of cancer that can only be seen with a microscope is found in the tissues of the cervix. In the next subsection, IB, cancer is still within the cervix and either: can only be seen with a microscope or is smaller and cannot.

In Stage II, the cancer has spread beyond the cervix but not to the pelvic wall (the tissues that line the part of the body between the hips). Stage II is divided into stages IIA and IIB, based on how far the cancer has spread.

In IIA, the cancer has spread beyond the cervix to the upper two thirds of the vagina but not to tissues around the uterus. In IIB, the cancer has spread beyond the cervix to the upper two thirds of the vagina and to the tissues around the uterus.

Natural Treatment For Cervical Cancer

The fight against cervical cancer is stronger now more than ever. This is due to the increasing number of women affected by this condition. This paved way to different discoveries and treatment for cervical cancer.

What is cervical cancer?

This is the term used for the condition when there is an overpopulation of abnormal cells found in the cervix. This organ is located in the lower area of the uterus that connects into the vaginal area. Unlike other types of cancer, this cancer has a high chance of being cured especially when it is diagnosed at an early stage.

What are the causes and symptoms?

This condition is caused by the appearance of a virus clinically known as human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus can be contacted when you have sexual intercourse with someone who has this. However, not all kinds of HPV result to this condition. In some cases, it results to genital warts. The worst part of this condition is that you can go on for years not knowing that you have HPV.

It stays in the body undetected and can just be discovered when there are already symptoms of this conditio. This is why doctors stress out the importance of having pap tests as this is a way to detect changes in the cervical cells and to know at the earliest sign if there are any abnormalities. The abnormality of the cervical cells usually does not exhibit tell-tale symptoms. Like I said, you can go on for years without experiencing anything unusual. However, you may experience the symptoms already if it has mutated into cancer cells.

The symptoms include abnormal bleeding from the vagina, sudden change in the menstrual cycle, bleeding after sex or even right after pressing your hands on your diaphragm, painful sexual intercourse and vaginal discharge that is accompanied by spots of blood.

What is the treatment and diagnosis?
Pap tests are very important since this method will detect the abnormalities in the cells. Taking this regularly can save your life considerably.

If the cancer is diagnosed early, treatments are highly effective. An early treatment for this condition will even make the chances of having children highly possible. However, if the cancer has progressed in a later stage already, the treatments will render a woman impossible to bear children. The methods used for these stages are hysterectomy (pelvic lymph nodes and even ovaries and fallopian tubes are removed), radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

Many people also use the added benefits of natural herbal remedies. This will not have adverse effects with their prescription medications. Some of the remedies used are:

Garlic
This has shown great potential in slowing down the growth of cancer cells. It also helps promote the growth of healthy cells. This is not only used for cervical cancer but for other types of cancer as well.

Ginseng
This herb has natural anti-cancer properties. It is also known to effectively boost the immune system to ward off or slow down the growth of virus and bacteria.

Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a gynecologic sarcoma, which is second most frequently diagnosed. In the United States, females have a 1.4 % to 2.5 % chance of developing ovarian cancer. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), has standardized the staging of gynecological cancers. It is the most frequently used prognostic tool. Both surgical and pathological findings are taken into account. The cancer is staged according to whether it is still in the ovary or spread beyond.

Staging is generally done at the time of surgery. Samples of tissues are taken from various parts of the pelvis and abdomen and studied under intense observation. Staging is very important because the prognosis or the course of action to be taken varies at different stages in case of any cancer. It is important that the staging is accurate. It is possible to miss the spread of the ovarian cancer outside the ovary if it is not staged properly.

Stage IV is the last category of the stages of ovarian cancer. Patients in this stage typically exhibit parenchymal liver metastases and extra-abdominal metastases. Thirteen percent of patients alive are in stage IV. The most common areas where the cancer spreads are generally the liver and lungs. One-third of all ovarian cancer patients have pleural effusions and most of them contain malignant cells. The spleen also gets affected may require splenectomy. Only 0.1% of patients show metastases of the brain.

If the tumor is widespread, treatment begins with surgery, which may include total hysterectomy, followed by chemotherapy. If some tumor remnant is left after chemotherapy, further forms of chemotherapy may be needed. It is important for a patient to find out about the staging procedure and the stage. In this way the patient will and can take part in making vital decisions about the required treatment.

Discovering the Types of Ovarian Cancer

Although people may be aware of ovarian cancer, some treatments and even some symptoms, what they may not know is that ovarian cancer is not one single disease.

In fact, there are actually more than 30 types and subtypes of ovarian tumors. Scientists have grouped them into three broad categories, dependent upon the kind of cells they were formed from.

The first type is known as common epithelial tumors, which are derived from the cells on the surface of the ovary. This is the most common form of ovarian cancer and occurs primarily in adults. Common epithelial tumors begin in the surface epithelium of the ovaries and account for about 90% of all ovarian cancers.

The next type is germ cell ovarian tumors, are derived from the egg producing cells within the body of the ovary. They represent approximately 3% of all ovarian cancers in Western countries. Germ cell tumors tend to occur in young women, with a peak incidence among individuals who are in their early 20s.

The third type is called sex cord-stromal cell tumors and begin in the connective cells that hold the ovaries together and produce female hormones. They represent about 5% of all ovarian cancers and are linked to hormonal effects such as precocious puberty, early sexual maturity, facial hair and low voice.

Also, some tumors that are next to ovarian tissues may be viewed as ovarian cancer.

I hope you got lots of value from this article, as I enjoyed writing. Good luck in your journey to fighting cancer the right way.

What You Should Know About Cervix Cancer and Female Libido

What is libido?

Libido or low sex drive in women is also known as HSDD or hypoactive sexual desire disorder. It is a deficiency or absence of sexual fantasies and the desire for sexual activity, as defined by APA or American Psychiatric Association.

What is the cause of a low libido in women?

Low libido varies from one individual to another. Some of them are fatigue, pregnancy, medications (eg antidepressants, birth control pills, mood stabilizers), depression, age and anxiety disorders. It is also sometimes related to a reduction in naturally produced estrogen.

What is cervix cancer?

It is a malignant cancer of the cervix uteri, the lower part of the uterus or womb, or cervical area. The uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped organ in the lower abdomes and is connected by the cervix to the vagina.

A passageway where blood flows from the uterus through the canal into the vagina during menstrual period is known as cervical anal.

Women with high risk factor of contracting cervix cancer are:

early sexual intercourse
multiple sex partners
human papilloma virus infection
immunocompromised
cigarette smoking
long-term use of oral contraceptives
infections, sexually transmitted disease

How do you identify the symptoms the cervix cancer?

Some of the symptoms are:

post-coital bleeding
foul and blood stained vaginal discharge
irregular bleeding after intercourse

In the advance stage of cervix cancer, woman can experience pain and swelling of the legs.

However, women will not have any symptoms during the pre-cancer stage.

Treatments available

The type of treatment is dependent on the stage of the disease, the age group and the tumour type. Treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or both.

Treatment for Early Stage- Either radiation/chemoradiation or surgery

Treatment for Advance Stages - Systemic chemotherapy or chemoradiation

Do you know that surgery will include the removal of the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, vaginal cuff and pelvic lymph nodes? High-energy rays are used in radiation to kill cancer cells.

There are two types of radiation - External Radiation and Internal Radiation or Intracavitary radiation.

External Radiation comes from a large machine outside of the body. Outpatient treatment is usually required.

Internal Radiation or also known as Intracavitary Radiation, implants containing radioactive material substance are left in the vagina for a few hours.

Cervical cancer and low female libido - How are they connected?

Any woman who has cervix cancer will definitely experience stress, fatigue, emotional effects and general poor health. These issues will generally affect a woman's sex drive and desire.

Cervix cancer patient may feel nervous about having sex after treatment. They will be wondering if it is safe to have sex. Just remember that having sex with your partner even though you are suffering from cervix cancer will not make the cancer comeback. Nor will it make your partner catch the cancer from you.

Most women will need to take more time over sex the help their vagina relax. Relax and enjoy your intimacy with your partner. Start gently and slowly the vagina will become supple again and you can experience usual sex life after a few weeks.

It also helps if you and your partner discuss things. Talk it over. Share your fear, concerns and apprehension. Make your partner understand what you are going through. You will be surprised that by explaining you make your partner understand you and the situation better. Suddenly you will realize that you are not alone.

A woman's emotion can be affected during this time. This is normal. There is no wrong or right way to handle such a situation. Two way communication with your sex partner do really help. The faster you come to terms with your situation the better and more calm your life will be and the faster you will start to more forward with your life.

Any cervical cancer patient will experience low persistent sex drive and will definitely experience personal and emotional distress. Some of the signs are:

Psychological
Physiological
Vaginal dryness
Decreased genital sensation
Difficulty to achieve orgasm
Genital pain with or without sexual contact
Lack of sexual interest
History of abuse
Pelvic surgery eg hysterectomy, pregnancy, straddle injuries
Medications
Hormonal problems
Blood flow problems

Whatever the situation is, low libido should never impede your sex drive and desire. Many of the above effects can be eased by hormone creams, skin patches, tables, or libido enhancer.

If vaginal dryness is a problem, get your doctor to prescribe creams or you can get lubricating gels. If low libido is a problem, female libido enhancer liquid or creams are available which you and your partner can apply directly to the vagina before or during sex.

What Are the Symptoms of Uterine Cancer?

Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases in the world. The body cells start functioning in an abnormal way in the person suffering from cancer and the tumors are formed in the affected area of the body. Breast, ovarian, cervical and uterine cancers are those types of cancers that target only the women as these are related to the female body organs.

If we talk about the uterine cancer, it is in fact related to the very important organ of the female reproductive system called uterus and usually occurs in the women between the ages of 50 to 70 years. This cancer has different types including uterine sarcomas, endometrial cancer and cervical cancer. Each type affects different parts and tissues of the female uterus e.g. endometrial cancer (also called endometrial carcinoma) is related to the uterus lining or endometrium. The uterine sarcoma (also called leiomyosarcomas) affects the muscular layer of the uterus and cervical cancer is related to the lower portion of the uterus.

Among these types, the endometrial cancer is one that is generally referred to as the uterine cancer. The endometrial cancer is so deadly that it is believed to be the third most common gynecologic cancer (after ovarian and cervical cancers) that causes death to the women.

This cancer usually affects the women after the occurrence of the menopause (the phase in a woman's life when menstrual cycle gets stopped). There are some common symptoms of this cancer though these may differ to some extent from person to person.

The most general symptom of this cancer in a woman is the abnormal vaginal bleeding even after her menopause. However the excessive menstrual bleeding in a woman in her premenopausal period shouldn't be ignored too. The other symptoms include the unusual non-bloody vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain, abnormal weight loss, difficult and painful urination and an extreme pain during intercourse.

Every woman is needed to know about the basic symptoms of the uterine cancer so that if she finds any of them in herself, she may urgently contact her physician. The importance of seeking the timely medical advice after finding some of these symptoms is very high as it may help to diagnose the uterine cancer at some early stage and you must know that this cancer can be treated effectively at the early stages. Besides, if the endometrial cancer is diagnosed after the full medical check up of a woman, the proper measure can be taken at the right time in order to avoid further complications.

Cervical Cancer

According to WHO (World Health Organization), Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women. Studies show that about 50,000 new cases and 25,000 deaths are being registered every year. Many countries have adopted new systems and screening methods to detect cancerous cells in the cervix. Social organizations and hospitals are holding hands to educate women on cervical cancer and how early detection increases the chances of survival.

Cervical cancer that starts in the cervix is usually transmitted by a virus called HPV (Human Papilloma Virus). Quicker identification of cancer helps women fight against this deadly disease. Cervical cancer is mostly found among women who cross the age of 30. Women of this age should perform regular clinical tests to avoid any possibilities of cancer.

The flip side of this disease is that, it seldom shows any symptoms. As the cancer progresses, you may notice vaginal bleeding and restrained pain during sexual intercourse. For some people, bleeding does not stop even after menopause. If you have these symptoms along with fatigue, loss of hunger, back pain or leg pain, sudden urine discharge etc. need to be handled in the early stages.

Pap smear tests or Pap test is considered to be the preliminary test conducted on women to screen for cancer. There are two types of pap tests- regular and liquid based. In the regular Pap test, cells from the cervix will be smeared on a microscope slide. In the liquid based Pap test, cells from the cervix will be first placed in a liquid before keeping it on the microscope slide. Pap tests should be done every year or once in three years as per the advice of your doctor.

Visual inspection of the cervix is considered to be the most sought after detection method. The inspection is done using acetic acid or Lugol's iodine which highlights precancerous abrasions. The abrasions can be viewed with the naked eye. Visual inspection has notable advantages of Pap smear test. The important one is that VIA (Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid) gives immediate result to the patients and need only fewer specialists to take care of the tests in the clinics.

Some alternative treatment methods have also found useful and safe by many doctors. A combination of Yoga, meditation and a healthy vegetarian diet is supposed to heal the cancer. Raw food items like leafy vegetables unprocessed seeds, sprouts, grains, fruit juices etc. are good.

Dr. V. Rukmini Rao, President, Gramya Resource Centre for Women, Secunderabad, commented on the growing rate of cervical cancer patients in India: "The public health system focuses only on controlling the fertility of women, not on her other problems. If cervical cancer rates are to be reduced, we must ensure women have access to nutritious food, since folic deficiency is known to be associated with cervical cancer. Clean water to ensure basic hygiene is also necessary." (Source: The Hindu)

Cervical cancer is deadly only when you avoid its symptoms and do not follow routine check-ups. Follow the rules and stay healthy! For more information on Cervical Cancer, please visit 'Cure for Common Diseases' section under Healthcare & Pregnancy at http://www.infolona.com

Cervical Cancer Basics - What Women Should Know

Not all cancers are preventable, but one of the best steps that women can take to prevent cervical cancer is to have a Pap test. This is a proven method to detect cancer of the cervix in its early stages. When this type of cancer is detected early enough, then it is almost always treatable and curable.

A Pap test is a way to look for changes in the cervix which might indicate a cancer is growing. If there is cancer developing a Pap test can usually find it early enough for doctors to take action and cure it. Visit with your doctor about how often you should have one performed.

HPV is a common virus that is often the cause to changes in the cervix which may lead to cervical cancer. HPV is the human papilloma virus. HPV infections can lead to cancer of the cervix. There are many types of HPV, some of which cause genital warts, but this information is not about that particular strand of HPV.

The most important thing for women to remember is to have regular Pap tests in order to prevent cancer of the cervix from occurring.

Cancer of the cervix begins in the uterus, that part of the womb that opens to the vagina. The cervix separates the womb from the vagina. Cervix cancer is a rare cancer today because Pap tests are becoming more regular. Pap tests help doctors find changes to the cervix that might lead to cancer. Abnormal Pap test results are common, but it doesn't mean that cancer is present.

What causes cervix cancer? HPV is the virus which causes cancer of the cervix. HPV is not the same virus as HIV - please don't confuse the two. We still have much to learn about the HPV virus, though it is not a new virus. HPV is spread through sexual contact. In fact most people who have ever had sex have had HPV at some time during their lives.

HPV is spread through sex and can lead to an infection in the cervix. An HPV infection doesn't last very long usually because the body is able to effectively fight off the infection. However if the body is not able to eliminate the virus, it may cause cervix cells to change and become precancerous cells. Precancer cells are not cancer cells. Just because cells are changing doesn't mean they are precancerous, and often changing cells return to normal by themselves. However sometimes precancer cells may turn into cancer if they are not found and treated. But very few HPV infections actually lead to cervical cancer.

Who Is At Risk To Get Cancer Of The Cervix? HPV is very common, so any woman who has ever been sexually active can potentially get cervix cancer. But remember that most women who get HPV do not get cancer of the cervix.

Women who are least likely to get cervical cancer are those who regularly have their Pap tests. However some women are at a greater risk to get cervix cancer. Those at risk are any woman who currently has HPV that doesn't go away; those who have HIV or AIDS; women who smoke.

Women who don't regularly have their Pap tests or don't have them at all have the greatest chance of getting cervix cancer. Even women who are not currently sexually active, but used to be, still have a chance to get cancer of the cervix. Condoms do not provide complete protection against HPV, though they are helpful in protecting against other sexual infections.

There are no obvious symptoms of HPV. Most people will never even know they have HPV unless they have a Pap test that indicates changes in the cervix. There is no treatment for the type of HPV that causes cervix cell changes - no antibiotics or medicines can treat HPV. But there is a HPV vaccine that is effective when given to girls in their early teen years before sexual activity.

Is There A Test For HPV? For women over 30 an HPV test can be done at the same time as the regular Pap test. The most important thing to remember is to have regular Pap tests and visit with your doctor about having an HPV test.

Cervical Cancer - What Are the Treatment Options?

For many people the very word "cancer" conjures up images of an incurable disease. Typically a disease that is quite often life-threatening. Cervical cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among women. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that in the year 2004, 1,892 women in the U.S. were diagnosed with cervical cancer and 3,850 women died from the disease. Because cervical cancer is slow-growing most women do not notice any symptoms and the disease may significantly progress and be less treatable by the time it is diagnosed. It is extremely important to get regular gynecological checkups including Pap smears which can often catch the disease in its early and more treatable stages.

Pap smears are able to detect minor abnormalities in cervical cells. Causes of cervical cancer are manifold but the majority of cases are caused by HPV, or the human papilloma virus, which is spread through unprotected sexual contact. In more advanced cases of cervical cancer a woman may experience symptoms such as unexplained bleeding and pelvic pain. It is important for women who are diagnosed with cervical cancer to know that there are many treatment options available and to discuss these various options with their doctors and medical team. Some of the more commonly recommended treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and other medications.

Surgical intervention for the condition can range from minimally invasive for early stage cancer to a much more radical surgery for advanced conditions. In the beginning stages of cervical cancer it may be an option to excise a small part of the cervix to prevent the spread of the disease, whereas if the disease has already progressed significantly, it may be necessary to perform a total hysterectomy. Total hysterectomy involves the removal of the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Cryosurgery, a relatively new development, may also be employed. In this procedure affected tissue is frozen and consequently destroyed with the use of a freezing instrument. Radiation therapy may also be used either on its own or in conjunction with other treatments and works by using radiation to destroy the cancerous cells.
Radiation may be given through needles, IVs, implanted devices or x-rays, depending upon the stage, location and seriousness of the cancer. Similar to radiation therapy is the use of chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy utilizes medications to kill cancerous cells and/or stop them from dividing and spreading throughout the body. Chemotherapy can be taken as an oral medication in some cases or may be injected into the veins. Of course all of these treatments can carry with them unpleasant side effects. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can destroy healthy cells in addition to the targeted cancer cells, and also suppress immune system function.

Thus, people who are on chemotherapy or radiation therapy are more susceptible to infection and often experience fatigue and anemia as a side effect of the treatment. Surgery carries with it risks intrinsic to the use of anesthesia and possibility of infection. There are a number of investigative treatments, currently in clinical trials, that may soon change the face of cancer treatment. It is vital that a patient discuss with her doctor the various treatment options and weigh the potential risks and benefits of each, before initiating treatment.

Prevent Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is known to cause highest number of deaths especially in women. It's often falls in the same risk segment of breast cancer that also causes death. However, with small precautions women can easily avert this. Proper cervical vaccination is also necessary to prevent the deadly disease.

If you want to steer away from cervical cancer, go through daily pap smear test. This is essential for your safety.

Indulge in safe sex. Use condoms during sexual intercourse. The most common type of sexual virus is HPV, which may lead to this kind of cancer. If there is any wrong, then go for the morning after pill to protect yourself.

Multiple sexual partners can lead to increase risk of cervical cancer.

Cervical vaccination is an effective way to curb this. The 16 and 18 strains are responsible for seventy percent of the cancers by HPV. The vaccination is an ideal way to diminish the number of cancerous cells. HPV vaccination is excellent for those women who do not indulge in sex much. The cervical vaccination can protect women up to the age of 45 years.

Avoid smoking cigarettes as it destroys body's defense system. HPV infection stays longer in smokers than non smokers. Besides, smoking can also lead to other diseases as well.

Enhance your knowledge on cancer disease, browse through the Internet, read newspapers, health magazines, journals and know more about it. The more you know more it will help understand the disease well and prevent it. You can also help out your friends and relatives, who are unaware of cervical cancer.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer represents about 25% of all female genital tract malignancies. However, there are more deaths from this form of cancer each year in the United States than from endometrial cancer and cervical cancer combined. The lifetime risk of developing spontaneous ovarian cancer is about 1.7%. Epithelial ovarian cancer was expected cause 15,520 deaths in 2008. Mean age at diagnosis is 60. There has been a significant improvement in the five year survival rate for patients with ovarian cancer. This is likely a combination of better tumor debulking surgeries and better chemotherapeutic options.

Most patients with this type of ovarian cancer do not have signs or symptoms until disease spreads to the upper abdomen. 70% of patients present with advanced disease. Symptoms for early stage ovarian cancer can include nonspecific pelvic discomfort, urinary frequency and constipation which are caused by an enlarging pelvic mass. With advanced disease, patients experience abdominal pain, bloating, anorexia, nausea and constipation.

The best tumor marker for ovarian cancer is CA 125. Minor elevations in CA 125 can also be seen in endometriosis, benign tumors, fibroids and in pregnant and postpartum women. In addition, moderate elevation of CA 125 can be seen in other adnocarcinoma such as breast and endometrial cancer. The sensitivity of CA 125 is 70% to 80% and the specificity is 98.6% to 99.4%. However, in the average risk population with low prevalence of ovarian cancer, the false positive can be unacceptably high.

The National Cancer Institute recommends screening for ovarian female cancer with known genetic syndromes associated with this disease and for women with strong family history. Routine screening of women without family history of ovarian cancer is not recommended. The known genetic syndromes include hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome associated with BRCA 1, BRCA 2 and Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer Syndrome (HNPCC). The absolute risk of ovarian cancer in the presence of either BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutation ranges from 16% to 60%. For patients with HNPCC syndrome, the lifetime risk of ovarian cancer is 9% to 12%.

Epithelial cancer accounts for about 90% of ovarian cancers. Common histologies include serous, mucinous, endometroid, transitiona and clear cell types. Germ cell tumors include dysgerminoma, endodermal sinus tumor, malignant teratoma embryonal carcinoma or primary choriocarcinoma. Stromal tumors include granulose tumor or Sertoli-Leydig tumor.

Upon initial presentation, surgery is used for confirmation and staging the cancer. Stage I disease is confined to one or both ovaries. Stage II involves one or both ovaries with extension to the pelvic viscera. Stage III is associated with implants on the abdominopelvic wall or the serosal surface of the liver or involves small bowel or omentum. Stage IV disease involves distant metastasis. The 5 year survival for stage IA disease and grade 1 or 2 histology is greater than 90%. For high risk stage I disease and stage II disease, 5 year survival is 80%. For patients with stage III disease after optimal debulking, 5 year survival is 20% to 30%. This reduces to be less than 10% for stage III patients with suboptimal debulking and stage IV disease.

Stage I ovarian cancer with favorable prognostic features can be treated with surgery alone. For women with high risk, early stage cancer (Stage I grade 3 or stage II disease), adjuvant chemotherapy with platinum based agents show an 11% improvement in progression free survival and 8% improvement in overall survival. For stage III and IV disease, the current standard of care include maximal attempt at surgical cytoreduction followed by chemotherapy with platinum based agents.

Optimal debulking is an important part in the treatment of cancer in the ovaries. Retrospective data have shown that survival is better for women who receive chemotherapy in the presence of low volume disease. In the setting where optimal surgical cytoreduction cannot be achieved, an alternative approach is for the patient to receive chemotherapy up front. For patients who have a partial response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, it may be appropriate to attempt surgical removal of macroscopic disease at that time.

As for the standard of care in chemotherapy for advanced ovarian-type cancer, studies have shown that paclitaxel/cisplatin combination is superior to cyclophosphamide/cisplatin combination. Later studies showed that carboplatin/paclitaxel is at least as effective as cisplatin/paclitaxel.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is an appealing approach for treating a disease that is largely confined in the peritoneal space. GOG 172 which was a phase III clinical trials demonstrated that this regional approach resulted in superior progression free survival and overall survival when compared with the intravenous approach alone. The disadvantage of this approach includes local toxicity, and requirement for intraperitoneal catheter placement.

Because of the high recurrence rate in patients with advanced ovarian cancer, the issue of whether consolidation chemotherapy may improve time to progression and overall survival was examined in a phase III trial comparing 3 and 12 cycles of taxol. Progression free survival favored the 12 cycle arm. However, overall survival was not different between the two arms. Therefore, the oncologist needs to discuss with the patient and allow them to decide whether the improved progression free survival justifies toxicities including peripheral neuropathy and alopecia.

For many patients with advanced ovarian cancer who have an initial treatment response, disease relapses at a later time. The treatment of patients with recurrent disease or resistant disease needs to be individualized. For people with long treatment free interval, similar drugs many be reused. There are also a number of single agent drugs with activity in ovarian cancer. These include altretamine, bevacizumab, docetaxel, etoposide, gemcitabine, liposomal doxorubicin, paclitaxel, tamoxifen, topotecan and vinorelbine.

Radiation can also play a role in the palliation of some patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. Symptoms such as pain from growing pelvic mass or bone metastasis can be palliated. Very rarely cerebral metastasis can develop which can also be treated with radiation.

The best treatment of ovarian cancer needs a team approach between the primary care physician, gynecological oncology surgeon, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists. As more chemotherapeutic agents become available and as we further understand the biology of epithelial ovarian cancer, we hope to further improve the overall survival and quality of life of our patients.

HPV Immunization For the Prevention of Cervical Cancer

There is no doubt that the HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vaccine is one of the major advances in preventive health care within the field of gynecology over recent years. Having treated countless patients for HPV-related disease (as young as age 15) I believe it is crucial that everyone is aware of the fact that the HPV infection is one of the most concerning and rapidly increasing women's health issues today.

The potential for certain types of HPV infection to cause cervical cancer is simply a fact that cannot be overlooked. The HPV virus is extremely prevalent and can be present in a dormant state without any clinical signs or symptoms.

Often times , the woman in a relationship will be the first to present with clinical signs or symptoms of HPV (genital warts, abnormal pap smear, dysplasia) when it may have been her partner who was the source of the virus. Very often, the partner is completely unaware of the fact that he/she carries the HPV virus. Given the prevalence of HPV , it is usually not possible to establish when the virus was initially acquired.

Men also encounter medical problems relating to the HPV virus (genital warts and cancers) but far less often than women. In many cases the clinical signs are not easy to recognize in men and thus can go unnoticed.

Women's magazines and public health information is heavily weighted towards educating women about HPV as they are statistically more likely to be the at-risk individual in a relationship where HPV is present. This makes HPV appear to be a women's health issue in the majority of relationships when it is so clearly a mutual health concern which should be addressed in a responsible manner by both partners.

The HPV vaccination is a preventive measure and is designed to be administered prior to exposure to the virus, ideally prior to becoming sexually active. Thus an effort should be made to educate women about HPV immunization at an early age.

This article is intended to raise awareness about the concerns relating to HPV. You should consult with your primary care provider regarding any specifics about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of HPV.

Cervical Cancer - Causes and Treatment

Cervical cancer is a malignancy that develops in the lining of the cervix. It can take many years for it to develop, but during this development stage, the cell structure of the lining wall will display abnormal changes. These abnormal changes occur internally in the body and do not present any outward symptoms compared to other forms of cancer

Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer and the main cause of cancer deaths in women after breast cancer. The main cause of the disease is the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV), meaning that this is a preventable form of cancer.

How to detect cervical cancer

Pap smear screening can detect potentially precancerous changes. Therefore regular tests are important and are recommended. The introduction of Pap smears as screening tools about 50 years ago has significantly reduced the number of deaths due to this type of cancer.

Possible causes

While it may not be possible to pinpoint with accuracy the causes of cervical cancer, the following are possible risk factors:

Having several sexual partners
Consuming oral contraceptives (the Pill)
Smoking: Women smokers are more than 10 times likely to get cervical cancer than women who do not smoke
A weak immune system
Treatment

Preventing the disease in the first place is crucial. There are now vaccines available that target several strains of HPV to prevent the infection. Once diagnosed, treatment for cervical cancer differs according to stage, age and tumor size. The options include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy or a combination of all three.

Pap smear

A Pap smear involves the removal of tissue cells from the cervix. These tissues are then examined under the microscope for changes that might determine cancer or precancerous states. Since a Pap smear can identify both cancerous as well as precancerous states of cervical cells, it is important for women who are sexually active to do a Pap smear annually.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends a first Pap test within three years of having sexual activity or by age 21, followed by a Pap test every 1-2 years after that. An annual Pap test is also recommended if you have risk factors for cervical cancer.

By:Ken Soh

The Risk Factors For Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is a slow-growing malignant cancer which starts off in the cells on the surface of the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus and is the muscle which connects the uterus to the vagina which is also known as the birth canal. Cervical cancer is another type of uterine cancer.

The symptoms of cervical cancer may not appear until the later stages, but it can be detected with a pap smear test. Those at higher risk are encouraged to get the test done more often so the cancer can be caught in its early stage.

There are many risk factors for cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is usually the result of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is spread through sexual contact. This virus may not always cause cancer, but it can live in the body for many years before the cancer cells begin to form and spread. Those who have this virus are more likely to get the cancer.

Young girls who became sexually active before the age of 18 are also more prone to get cancer from the virus. This is simply because the cells in their bodies have not fully matured, and are more prone to virus diseases.

Those who have or have had numerous sex partners, or have a partner who have had numerous other partners are also at risk for getting the HPV virus, as well as other sexually transmitted diseases (STD). The larger the number, the greater the risk.

Those with other sexually transmitted diseases are also more prone to developing cervical cancer.

Tampons and condoms also play a role in causing this cancer.

Those who smoke are also at greater risk because cigarette smoke increases the risk of precancerous cells to form, and it also weakens the immune system.

Women who have many children and women who use birth control pills.

Those who have a weak immune system. The immune system needs to be strong in order to fight the virus and prevent it from taking over in the body.

It is interesting to note that nuns hardly ever develop cervical cancer, simply because they are not exposed to these risks.

A new cancer vaccine against the HPV virus is available, and young girls, and women all across the country are encouraged by medical professionals to get it. This vaccine promises protection against this virus, and it is estimated by 2022 there will be a great decline in cervical cancers due to this new vaccine. But it seems too early to be able to make those kinds of predictions, for the side-effects of the drug are not yet fully known.

Treatment Options For Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is said to be a silent killer because the symptoms are similar to many common ailments such as indigestion, urinary and bladder problems as well as lower back pain. As a result the symptoms are often overlooked and the cancer is not detected until it has reached a deadly stage.

Only about 20 percent of ovarian cancers are detected before it has begun to spread past the ovaries where it begins. When detected at an early enough stage, the cancer is treatable with both conventional and natural treatments.

Conventional Treatments. The standard conventional treatments that are used to treat ovarian cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The stage of the cancer will determine which treatment is suitable.

The type of surgery depends on how far the cancer has spread. The patient may have one or both ovaries and fallopian tubes removed, as well as the uterus, cervix and the omentum. The omentum is a layer of fat tissues that lines the abdomen and helps to support the abdominal organs.

Chemotherapy is a drug that can be taken orally or be injected directly into the bloodstream, organs or close to the affected area to stop the growth or the spreading of cancer. Again, the type of chemotherapy depends on how far the cancer has spread.

Radiation can be administered both internally or externally, and both are designed to kill off cancerous cells. When administered externally a machine is used to radiate the affected area. When administered internally, the radioactive material is placed near the affected area with needles or tubes known as catheters.

Natural Treatments. Due to the high death rate and negative side effects of conventional medicine, many are turning to more natural ways to treat their cancer. There have been many reports of patients who have been healed with natural medicines and home remedies.

The Gerson Therapy is located in Tijuana Mexico, and it has been very effective in helping many cancer patients make a full recovery from their disease. The main method of treatment involves freshly squeezed fruit and vegetables juices. This helps the body to eliminate harmful toxins that promote the growth of cancerous cells.

Ginger root, green tea and foods high in vitamin B17 have been found to be effective in destroying cancerous cells. Vitamin B17 can be found in the seeds of apricots, apples, chia and flax, as well as in cranberries, raspberries and strawberries, alfalfa, beans and grains.

Vitamin D and selenium can help to stop the growth of cancerous cells. Vitamin D can be obtained naturally through sun exposure, and selenium is found in most nuts with a significant amount in Brazil nuts and cashews. Selenium is also found in sunflower seeds, dates, bananas, mangoes, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, peas, mushrooms and coconuts.

Adding these foods to the diet will not only help to fight cancer, but they can also help to prevent cancer from developing in the first place.

Cervical Cancer and Bacterial Vaginosis - Don't Be Troubled - A Must Read Article

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Women face many awkward illnesses that men are not supposed to. That is primarily because only the former can give birth. That has led to the presence of many organs only in women.

There is a cancer stipulated only for women: cervical cancer. Uterine malignancy across the fallopian tube may cause cervical cancer. It has a healthy mortality rate and so every effort is taken to undermine it.

Bacterial vaginosis is another illness, though much less dangerous; in fact very common. It results in women shedding out a discharge with an ominous smell. There is pus formation too in some cases. BV, as it is called is not a sexually transmitted disease, but climbs the chart in heavy sexual atmosphere.

There is not any apparent relation between BV and cervical cancer barring the obvious that they happen to women and in the genital region. The reports and researches suggest that there may be a bonding however.

The uterine cancer affected women are found to have traces of the bacteria B. Gardenerella. The bacteria cause BV and are found prolifically in the swollen uterus. That is by far the only connection between the two diseases and that too is hypothetical.

Some suggest that BV causes cervical cancer. Since they both are based on growth of cell, there is an illusion that the former (more common) may be causing the latter. But these are false assumption. Yes, this can be safely assumed that the presence of BV makes favorable ground for cervical cancer and vice versa.

Battling Cervical Cancer Symptoms - What All Women Need to Know About Cervical Cancer Symptoms

Now that you have been diagnosed with Cervical Cancer Symptoms, where do you start in taking care of yourself? It is important during this time, possibly more than any other time in your life, to take care of yourself. What are some ways that you can help decrease and rid yourself?

Attitude - Your attitude has quite a bit to do with how your body fights the Symptoms. By trying to keep a positive and upbeat attitude, you are giving your body and immune system the added strength and encouragement to fight against the cancer and the disease. Many studies have found a direct correlation between a positive attitude and healing.

Exercise - Although it is often difficult to even want to exercise when you are battling a disease, it can significantly increase the efficiency of your immune system. An exercise as simple as walking has great health benefits for you all of the time, whether you are sick with Cervical Cancer Symptoms or not.

Eating right - Food can have a big impact upon how the body works and this is especially true when you are battling Cervical Symptoms. Eating foods rich in natural vitamins and minerals and foods in as natural state as possible can help keep your immune system working efficiently, so that your body can naturally fight the Cervical Cancer Symptoms to aid the Cervical Cancer treatment choice that your physician has chosen.

Choose the right doctors - Having a doctor that knows Cervical Cancer treatments is very important, but having a doctor that you can talk to is even more important. If you don't feel that you or your needs are being taken seriously, then you may want to rethink your choice. The Symptoms are not something that disappears quickly, so you will want to have a doctor that you can discuss your condition with comfortably.

Ask questions - If you are not sure why you are taking a certain drug or having a certain test, then ask. Asking questions is the only way that you can learn more about your Cancer Symptoms, so that you can become a more informed patient. This can have a significant impact upon the severity of your Cervical Cancer Symptoms and can greatly impact your health outlook.

Having this Cervical Cancer does not give you an instant death sentence. By fighting it in every way possible, you can help to make the most of your Cervical Cancer treatment, so that you will have every tool possible to beat the Cervical Cancer Symptoms.

You can find more details at my web site (cervical-cancer-symptoms.info) that I made with my experience.
You can always contact me at roxann.park@gmail.com write on the subject cervical-cancer-symptoms.info and I will jet to you ASAP.

Regards,
Roxann Park

Overview of Cervical Cancer Stages and Their Treatment

Cervical cancer is a type of malignancy that occurs in women. Women at higher risk for cancer of the uterine cervix are those who begin sexual intercourse at an early stage, those who have multiple sex partners, history of multiple pregnancies, develop cervical dysplasia or sexual relations with high risk males. Studies suggest that during adolescence, cervical epithelial cells are particularly sensitive to carcinogenic change.

Cervical cancer is classified and treated according to four cervical cancer stages of differentiation. Stage one is characterized as growth limited only to the cervix. When growth extends beyond the cervix, it is already considered as stage two. It is classified as stage three once the growth has extended into the pelvic wall. Lastly, if the growth has extended to adjacent organs then it has already reached the fourth stage.

Patients with cancer of the cervix may present with symptomatic or asymptomatic disease. Symptoms indicative of early stages of cervical cancer are prolonged menstrual periods, watery vaginal discharge and slight intermenstrual vaginal bleeding after coitus, travel or exertion. These findings may be present for months before additional irregularities occur. As the lesion becomes more extensive, symptoms are more pronounced. Hemorrhage occurs with advanced infiltrative tumors.

The first symptoms produced by the tumor after menopause is usually alarming because they are unexpected. Consequently the patient usually promptly seeks attention. However, if the symptoms begin two to three years after menopause, the patient may think that menstruation has resumed and will delay seeking medical attention.

In later stages, a serosanguinous or yellowish vaginal discharge may be present. It is often foul-smelling due to the sloughing of epithelium and may be associated with profuse bleeding. Pain in the lumbosacral area is usually a late sign and occurs with lymph node involvement. Urinary and rectal symptoms may appear when advanced local disease has invaded the bladder and rectum.

Treatment of cervical cancer is determined by the clinical findings, stage of disease, overall condition of the patient, and whether she wishes to preserve the reproductive mechanism. The treatment of preinvasive lesions can consist of cryotherapy, electrocautery, laser therapy, or conization. For the first level of cervical cancer stages, carcinoma can be conservatively managed by cervical conization, vaginal radiation therapy, and laser treatment. Patients who are conservatively managed should be closely evaluated at least yearly for further appearance of cancer.

Either surgery or radiation therapy are used for stages 1 and 2. Radiation therapy may be used alone for stages 2 and 3. For stage 4, pelvic exenteration may be performed. In advanced tumors in stages 3 and 4, external radiation therapy may be beneficial. External, internal and interstitial radiation therapy may be used. Systemic chemotherapeutics or regional chemotherapeutics are also treatments for cervical cancer.

The earlier the stage at which cancer is diagnosed means a better the prognosis. Preinvasive cancer commonly is diagnosed in women 30 to 40 years of age. Most patients with invasive carcinoma are 40 to 50 years old. Thus, 5 to 10 years are required for the chance to penetrate the basement membrane and become invasive. After invasion, death usually occurs in 3 to 5 years in the untreated patient. That is why to prevent any complications, watch out for early signs of cervical cancer.

Uterine Cancer and Early Detection

About 15% of cancers in women is uterine cancer. More or less 80,000 women were diagnosed in 2005 with cancer (pelvic gynecological malignancy) and a lot of these cases were uterine cancer. Of uterine cancers around 95% are endometrial. Uterine cancer mostly occurs in postmenopausal women and is basically abnormal cell growth in the uterus (neoplasm).

Endometrial uterine cancers, in many cases, are curable as well as being highly treatable - treatment methods include medications, surgical options, chemotherapy and radiation, depending on relevant protocols.

Once a problem is diagnosed the appropriate treatment can commence. The symptom most common in uterine cancer is postmenopausal bleeding and the majority of women will identify this as a warning sign that they may have a problem and require medical help. Fortunately only 10% to 20% women with postmenopausal bleeding symptoms in fact have malignant growths - abnormal bleeding must be medically evaluated without delay as this often results in a diagnosis of the disease at its first stage when it is potentially curable and highly treatable.

Some endometrial cancer risk factors are infertility (or no children), unopposed estrogen, late menopause, obesity, diabetes, diet high in animal fat, hypertension and radiation therapy.

The possibilities that a postmenopausal bleeding problem is in fact a malignancy increases as women age. Uterine cancer symptoms which are common are pelvic region pains, painful sexual intercourse and painful urination.

Other symptoms may include a vaginal secretion or drainage that is purulent (contains pus), opaque and thick drainage of dead tissue and cells and typically indicates an infection. Some other symptoms of a more advanced stage of the disease include weight loss, pain and changes in bowel and bladder habits.

Fewer than 5% of endometrial cancer cases are diagnosed before any symptoms are presented - usually discovered during annual physical check ups. Cervical cancer however can be identified early through PAP smears and any woman after menopause that shows atypical cells on a Pap smear should be examined and screened for any malignant signs in the uterus. Any woman who has not had a hysterectomy or uterus removed can identify uterine cancer symptoms. Early detection is critical as stages I or 2 of this cancer can in many cases be cured and is highly treatable.

Stages of Ovarian Cancer

There are four stages of ovarian cancer. When you get diagnosed, your doctor will try to determine which of the stages you belong to. If you are diagnosed in the earlier stages then you have a greater chance of survival. On the other hand, diagnosis in the latter stages could mean that your disease has progressed too much to be cured by conventional means. Either way, you should be aware of these stages so you can know what to expect as your ovarian cancer progresses. Each of these stages are described in greater detail below.

Stage 1 - Stage 1 is the first stage that a women will go through. Stage one is the most treatable stage and where you ideally want to find out you have ovarian cancer. The only issue is going to be detecting the cancer at such an early stage. Anyway, with Stage 1 ovarian cancer, a person has cancer inside one or both of the ovaries, though in Stage 1c it is possible they could have spread into a woman's abdominal fluid. Stage 1c ovarian cancer could also involve rupture of the affected ovary due to the presence of the tumors.

Stage 2 - Stage 2 indicates that the tumors have spread from the ovaries. However, it has not gone beyond the pelvic region. Organs that could be affected by the metastasized ovarian cancer include the bladder or the rectum. And, like Stage 1, it is possible for the tumors to result in a ruptured ovary.

Stage 3 - With Stage 3 ovarian cancer, the tumors have spread into the abdominal cavity. They can attack the lymph nodes, the groin area or the area that is behind the womb. The cancer is visible from the tissues of the abdomen, (not the abdominal fluid like Stage 1 and 2). The tumors start at 2 centimeters and grow from there.

Stage 4 - Stage 4 is the deadliest of the stage. At this stage the cancer has escaped the pelvic region and the abdominal cavity. Any organ is game for attack, though the most common will be the liver or the lungs. It should be noted that when the tumors attack these organs, the doctors will still offer ovarian cancer treatment instead of liver cancer treatment or lung cancer treatment. This is because the origin of the problem is in the ovaries, so in order to try and treat the condition, the tumors will need to be attacked there.

All in all when it comes to the stages of ovarian cancer, you will want to avoid getting diagnosed at any stage further than 1. You can increase your chances of getting diagnosed at this stage by going to the doctor when you have abdominal pain and/or urinary incontinence, as these are the very early signs of ovarian cancer. Also, if you are at high risk for the condition, press your doctor for ovarian cancer screening. Granted, you might get misdiagnosed, but if you do have the condition, the screening can help save your life.