Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer found in women, the most common being breast cancer. Around 1000 women die each year in Britain from cancer of the cervix. Cancer of the cervix may take many years to develop and can be prevented through early detection using screening programmes.
Symptoms
Cervical cancer often causes no symptoms until it has spread to other parts of the body. This is why systematic screening programmes (cervical smear tests) are so important.
Sometimes there is bleeding between periods or following sexual intercourse, discomfort during intercourse, and smelly vaginal discharge, but there are no dramatic early signs. Pain and general upset are rare until a late stage is reached. Later symptoms can be found as the result of other non-cancerous conditions, so if you have any concerns see your doctor to put your mid at rest.
Causes
Cancer of the cervix is most common in women with genital warts. Other factors that seem to be linked are the number of sexual partners (a high number increases the risk), a sexual partner with genital warts, heavy smoking, pregnancy at an early age, or three or more pregnancies.
Treatment
The success of treatment depends on the extent of the spread of the cancer at the time of diagnosis. Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are all used to treat established cervical cancer, sometimes in combination.
Prevention
Cervical screening is a procedure which aims to stop cancer by detecting abnormal cells in the cervix (neck of the womb) early on. The first stage in cervical screening is a smear test.
A smear test is not a test for cancer, but can prevent cancer by early detection of abnormal cells. In most cases, abnormal cells do not mean you have cancer, but it can indicate that cancer may develop in the future.
The NHS screening programme in the UK offers free tests to women between the ages of 25 and 64 every three to five years. If you have not recently had a smear test, you may be offered one when you visit your GP or family planning clinic for something else. You should receive your first invitation for routine screening at 25.
The smear test takes less than five minutes. It is not painful but may be slightly uncomfortable. A sawb is then used to gently scrape off some cells from the surface of the cervix which are then sent for analysis.
Diagnosis
The results of the smear test should be available in writing from your GP within six weeks from the date of the smear test. If the results show abnormal cell changes are present your GP will arrange for a second smear test or will refer you to a gynaecologist.
Links
You can find more detailed information at the link below.
- Cancer Bacup: www.cancerbacup.org.uk
