Frequently Asked Questions About Cervical Cancer in Iran

Can cervical cancer cause death?

Although this happens less often than before, there is unfortunately a chance of dying from cervical cancer. According to published statistics, in 2019, 4,250 people in the United States died of cervical cancer.

The main reason that the death rate due to this cancer has decreased today is due to the presence of Pap test or Pap smear. After the biopsy, the test examines the cells of the cervix with advanced equipment to find out the signs of cancer as soon as possible. This test is one of the best ways to detect cervical cancer early. And keep in mind that early detection of cancer can greatly increase the chances of cure it.

 

How important is stage cancer?

As mentioned, the earlier uterine cancer is diagnosed, the better the chances of being cured. The stage of cancer indicates the stage of progression and spread of cancer. Fortunately, cervical cancer often grows slowly.

Pap smears can detect abnormal cells in the uterus before they become cancerous. At this stage, the cancer is still in stage 0. In such cases, removing these abnormal cells can prevent cervical cancer.

In general, the stages or stages of cervical cancer are: Is cervical cancer fatal?

 

Stage 1: Cancer cells are present in the cervix and may have spread to the uterus itself.

Stage 2: ‌ The cancer has spread outside the cervix and the uterus itself. However, it has not yet reached the pelvic walls or the lower parts of the vagina.

Stage 3: The cancer has spread to the lower parts of the vagina and pelvic wall and may have spread to the kidneys.

Stage 4: This stage, called metastasis, is the most dangerous stage in the growth and progression of cervical cancer. At this stage, the cancer has spread to areas beyond the pelvis to the bladder line, the anus, or even more distant organs.

Are there other contributing factors to cervical cancer mortality?

Yes. In addition to the stage that the cancer has reached, there are other factors that can play a role in the chances of survival from cervical cancer. Including:

 

Age at diagnosis of cancer

The general state of health of the patient's body and other diseases it may have

The type of HPV virus that causes cancer Is cervical cancer fatal?

Type of cervical cancer

Is this the first time the patient has had this cancer or has it before?

How early does the healing process begin?

 

Who gets cervical cancer?

Naturally, anyone with a cervical organ in their body can get the disease. People who are not sexually active, are pregnant, or are menopausal are more likely to get this cancer. Is Cervical Cancer Deadly?

According to statistics, cervical cancer is very rare in women under the age of 20 and is more common in women between the ages of 35 and 44.

 

What causes cervical cancer?

Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV infection or genital warts. Genital warts are a very common infection in the reproductive system. Many people who have sex may have it at some point. The HPV virus and infection are easily transmitted, so that just skin-to-skin contact is enough to spread from one person to another. Even in unprotected sex, a person can get the virus. Genital warts go away on their own after about 2 years, but if you continue to have sex, you may still get it.

The fact is that only a small percentage of people with genital warts develop cervical cancer, but almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by this virus. Although having the HPV virus overnight can not get you cervical cancer, it can take 15 to 20 years for the virus to lead to cancer. However, in people who have a weak immune system, this happens within 5 to 10 years.

People who smoke or have other genital infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, or herpes simplex, are more likely to get cervical cancer. Is Cervical Cancer Deadly?

 

What are the types of cervical cancer?

About 90% of cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. They start in the exocervical squamous cells, which are the closest part of the cervical organ to the vagina. Most other types of cervical cancer are adenocarcinomas that start in the glandular cells in the endocervix, or the part closest to the uterus.

 

What is the best way to prevent cervical cancer?

With the advent of Pap smears, the death rate from cervical cancer has dropped significantly. Therefore, one of the things you can do to prevent cancer of the uterus, cervix and vagina is to have regular Pap smears as recommended by your doctor.

Read more about Partial mastectomy and mastectomy.

Other methods that can reduce the risk of developing this cancer include: Is cervical cancer fatal?

Talk to your doctor about getting the HPV vaccine

Initiate treatment if precancerous cells are observed in the cervix

Perform additional tests if the Pap smear test is abnormal or the HPV test is positive

Refrain from smoking

How do we know we have uterine cancer?

Early stage cervical cancer usually has no signs or symptoms, so you may not realize it at first. That's why regular imaging tests and screening processes are so important.

 

Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer may include: Is cervical cancer fatal?

Unusual discharge from the vagina

Vaginal bleeding

Pain during sexual intercourse

Pelvic pain

However, having these symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have uterine cancer. These can be caused by a variety of other diseases that can be treated.

 

What is cervical cancer screening like?

People between the ages of 21 and 29 should have a Pap smear every 3 years.

People between the ages of 30 and 65 should have a Pap smear and an HPV test every 5 years. Alternatively, they can have a Pap smear every 3 years.

If you have previously had a hysterectomy or hysterectomy for reasons other than cancer, you will no longer need a Pap smear or HPV test. If your uterus has been removed but the cervix still remains, the screening process should continue.

If you are over 65, and have not had any pre-cancerous symptoms in the last 20 years and have been screening for 10 years, you can stop the examination.

 

You should get more and more regular cervical cancer screening if you have the following conditions:

Your chances of getting cervical cancer are high.

Your Pap smear test result is abnormal.

You have HIV or the cervical cancer travel stage.

You have had and been treated for this cancer before.

 

How is cervical cancer diagnosed?

Although a Pap smear can detect abnormal cells in the cervix and cervix, it can not say for sure whether the cells are cancerous. For this reason, it is best to use a biopsy or cervical biopsy for a more accurate diagnosis.

In an operation called intrauterine curettage, the doctor removes a small piece of tissue from the cervical canal, for example, to examine it closely. Cervical biopsy can also be done during a colonoscopy.

 

Could the Pap smear result be normal, but we still get cancer?

Yes. As mentioned above, a Pap smear can only tell you if you already have cancer cells in your body. It cannot determine whether you will be infected in the future.

However, if your Pap smear and HPV test are negative, your chances of getting uterine cancer will be very low for at least the next few years.

On the other hand, if your Pap smear is normal but your HPV test is positive, your doctor will order more tests.

 

How is cervical cancer treated?

Once cervical cancer has been diagnosed in the body, the next step is to find out how far the cancer has progressed.

Determining the stage of cancer may begin with imaging tests. These tests help the doctor better understand the stage of the cancer and be able to perform the surgery better.

Surgery will be the most effective and best way to treat cervical cancer. Depending on how advanced the cancer is, surgical options may include: Is cervical cancer fatal?

 

Conization: Removal of cancerous tissue from the cervix.

Complete hysterectomy: Complete removal of the uterus and cervix.

Radical hysterectomy: removal of the cervix, uterus, part of the vagina and some surrounding tissues and ligaments. This may involve removing the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or nearby lymph nodes.

Balanced radical hysterectomy: removal of the cervix, uterus, upper vagina, surrounding tissues and ligaments, and possibly nearby lymph nodes.

Radical trachelectomy: removal of the cervix, surrounding tissues, lymph nodes near and above the vagina.

Bilateral salpingo-vaporectomy: removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Removal of the pelvic organs: removal of the bladder, lower intestine and anus, plus the cervix, vagina, ovaries and nearby lymph nodes. After this surgery, artificial devices and tubes are used to continue the process of rotation and excretion of urine from the body.

 

Other treatments include:

Radiation therapy for uterine cancer

Chemotherapy of uterine cancer

Immunotherapy

 

Is cervical cancer treatable?

Yes. Cervical cancer is completely curable, especially in the early stages. The sooner you seek treatment, the easier the treatment will be. Therefore, it is necessary to take screening processes seriously.

Is Cervical Cancer Reversible?

Cervical cancer, like one or two other cancers, can come back after complete cure. The cancer can grow back near the cervix or elsewhere in the body. To ensure that the cancer does not return, it is best to have regular check-ups and tests as recommended by your doctor.

Cervical cancer is a disease that, although it grows slowly, can be life-threatening. Today, modern testing and imaging techniques provide a chance to detect this cancer at a very early stage. What happened is that the chances of abnormal cells becoming cancerous are much lower.