Cervical Cancer affects around 34000 women every year around the UK (Bupa UK, 2013). Cervical Cancer is a result of the mutation of the DNA caused by the by the Human papillomavirus (HPV), (NHS, 2013).
The symptoms of cervical cancer are not always obvious thus the introduction of NHS cervical screening programme. The aim of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme is prevent the number women who die from cervical cancer each year due to not having early diagnoses. Since the introduction of the programme, a report was done between the NHS Cervical Screening Programme and Trent Cancer Registry it found that “Incidence and mortality rates in England have fallen considerably over the past 20 years. During this period, incidence rates decreased by over a third and mortality rates reduced by 60%. Survival, following a diagnosis of cervical cancer has improved in England since the 1980’s from the 83% to 88%”. (NHS, 2012, pp. P10-11).
Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common morphology accounting for over 2/3 of cancers (Cancer, 2014). The Federation of International Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) emphasize the importance of diagnosis at an early stage to minimise the effect on the patient. In order to be seen in an image, tumours must be at least stage IB and above.
Staging of cervical cancer:
1. In Stage 0 there is an abnormal cell in the cervix which can become cancerous and can spread to other regions of the body.
2. In Stage I the cancer is only found in the cervix. This
Cervical cancer is when there are malignant cells present in the cervix; it is developed in the lining of the cervix. A cervix is a narrow opening located at the bottom of the uterus that leads into the vagina. Cervical cancer mostly affects women between the ages of 40 and 55. This cancer can be prevented by screening for precancerous cells, and it can also be cured if it is detected at an early stage. Over the past few decades the number of cervical cancer cases has declined dramatically due to a more widespread screening of the disease. Today, it is estimated that 10,000 new
The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends cervical cancer screening with cytology testing (also known as a Pap Smear) every three years in women ages 21 to 65 (U.S. Preventative Services Task Force [USPSTF], 2016a). The USPSTF has graded this recommendation with an “A” indicating that they have a high level of certainty that the screening will prove to be beneficial, rather than harmful to the patient (USPSTF, 2016a). However, if this patient would prefer to receive cervical cancer screening every five years, the USPSTF also has a high level of certainty that this will prove to beneficial rather than harmful if human papillomavirus (HPV) and cytology are both performed during this screening (USPSTF, 2016a). The
Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Journal of Women’s Health 20(10):1479-84 doi: 10.1089/jwh.2010.2530. Epub 2011 Jul 20
Cervical cancer is caused by the uncontrollable growth of cells in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. Some signs of cervical cancer are abnormal bleeding in the vagina (between menstrual cycles, after sex, and after menopause), pain in the lower belly, pain during sex, and abnormal vaginal discharge.
Cervical Cancer is the second most common cancer for women yet it is the most common cancer of the reproductive system. According to the CDC in 2010 11,818 women in the United States were diagnosed with cervical cancer and 3,939 women in the United States died from cervical cancer. The most common type is squamous cell carcinoma. Human papilloma virus, otherwise known as HPV, is known to cause cervical abnormalities and has been linked to cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancerous death, in women, since 1950. Approximately 200,000 cervical cancer patients die each year in developing countries. Strains like HPV 16 and 18 cause about 70% of cervical cancer in women– one of the top causes of death in the world (WebMD, 2010, p.1). In the Unites States, about 10,000 women acquire the disease and 3,700 die annually Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is directly associated as a cause of cervical cancer. This virus affects the skin and genital area and, in some cases, it can also infect the throat and mouth. Since the HPV is passed from one person to another through skin-to-skin or sexual contact, sexually active people are more prone to this virus. Merck
Among the 12, 200 new cases of cervical cancer ninety-percent of them are caused or attributed to HPV.
Three ways to relieve this type of cancer is Endocervical curettage, A procedure to collect cells or tissue from the cervical canal using a curette (spoon-shaped instrument). Tissue samples are taken and checked under a microscope for signs of cancer. This procedure is sometimes done at the same time as a colposcopy. Another way is, Colposcopy A procedure in which a colposcope (a lighted, magnifying instrument) is used to check the vagina and cervix for abnormal areas. Tissue samples may be taken using a curette (spoon-shaped instrument) or a brush and checked under a microscope for signs of disease. Last way is a Biopsy, If abnormal cells are found in a Pap test, the doctor may do a biopsy. A sample of tissue is cut from the cervix and viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to check for signs of cancer. “A biopsy that removes only a small amount of tissue is usually done in the doctor’s office. A woman may need to go to a hospital for a cervical cone biopsy (removal of a larger, cone-shaped sample of cervical tissue)”. “(cancer.gov)” There are 4 different stages to cervical cancer, “stage I cancers that can be seen without a microscope. This stage also includes cancers that can only be seen with a microscope if they have spread deeper than 5 mm (about 1/5 inch) into connective tissue of the cervix or are wider than 7 mm.” “(cervical cancer)” Stage two is when the cancer
Cervical cancer is one of the highly popular disease for the women. Different programmes has been made up to fight against this deadly disease. New Zealand has one of the best screening programmes in the world. The establishment of National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme in NZ in 1990 had reduced a significant number of 60% of women who develop cervical cancer and who die from it since it was built. More than 1 million New Zealander women are enrolled in this programme and 95 % are eligible. The Cervical Cancer screening programme aims to; informing women about the importance of having the cervical screening tests; promoting cervical screening tests on a regular basis to women aged 20–70; ensuring high-quality and culturally appropriate services; supporting women with abnormal tests; ensuring there is regular monitoring to see that the goals of the programme are being met. The NCSP also acknowledges the importance of the Treaty of Waitangi in providing a screening programme that is successful for all New Zealand women.
Cervical cancer is a typically slow-growing type of gynecologic carcinogenesis caused predominantly by persistent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), most commonly the high-risk genotypes HPV-16 and HPV-18.3 Cervical cancer typically originates in the transformation zone of the cervix, where there is a junction of ectocervix and endocervix. The most common type of cervical carcinoma is squamous cell carcinoma and makes up 70-80% of cervical cancers. This type of cervical cancer occurs in the squamous cells of the ectocervix. The second most common type is an adenocarcinoma, occurring in glandular cells of the endocervix, and makes up 10-15% of cervical cancers. Cervical cancers can also be a mixture of dysplastic squamous cells and glandular cells; this type of carcinoma is termed adenosquamous carcinoma and makes up 1-2% of cervical cancers. The final type of cervical cancer is associated with HPV-6 rather than HPV-16 or HPV-18. It is termed verrucous squamous carcinoma and is very rare.5, 6
There are many different stages of cervical cancer. The first stage is Carcinoma in Situ (stage 0). In this stage abnormal cells are found in the lining of the cervix, and if not treated, it may spread into surrounding healthy tissue. Stage 1 is found in the cervix only, and divided into two different stages, 1A and 1B. 1A is also divided into 2 stages as well, 1A1 and 1A2, these are based on the size of the tumor. In stage 1 there is a small amount of cancerous cells from the cervix, but they are only able to be seen under a microscope. In stage 1A1 the cancer is no more than 3 millimeters deep and 7 millimeters wide. In stage 1A2 the cancer is between 3-5 millimeters deep and not more than 7 millimeters wide. Stage 1B is also divided into 2 stages, 1B1 and 1B2, also depending of the size of the tumor.
About 12,820 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed in America every year (5). This is out of the 1,685,210 people diagnosed with cancer every year. About 39.6% of the US population will contract cancer in their lifetime (10). With so many people affected by cancer, it is beneficial to understand how cancer works. However, cancer is a very complex disease that scientists are still trying to understand themselves. Moreover, cancer can be a very frightening disease because of its difficulty to treat, and its lethality. Understanding the pathology and history of cancer can be beneficial to help understand the inevitable cancer diagnosis of yourself or a loved one.
Although there are several known risk factors for getting cervical cancer, no one knows exactly why one woman gets it and another doesn't. One of the most important risk factors for cervical cancer is infection with a virus called HPV (human papillomavirus). HPV is a sexually transmitted disease that is incredibly common in the population, one study showed that 43% of college age women were infected in a 3-year period. HPV is the virus that causes genital warts, but having genital warts doesn't necessarily mean you are going to get cervical cancer. There are different subtypes, or strains, of HPV. Only certain subtypes are likely to cause cervical cancer, and the subtypes that cause warts are unlikely to cause a cancer. Often, infection with HPV causes no symptoms at all, until a woman develops a pre-cancerous lesion mostly of the cervix. Because infection with a STD is a risk factor for cervical cancer, any risk factors for developing STD are also risk factors for developing cervical cancer. Women who have had many or several male sexual partners, having sexual intercourse at an early age, or have had male sexual partners who are considered high risk (meaning that they have had several sexual partners and/or began having sexual intercourse at an early age) are at higher risks for developing Cervical
In the United States, it is one of the eight-most common cancer of women. According to researches, the data shows that Hispanic women are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer than the general population and their median age at diagnosis is 48. In 1998, about 12,800 women were diagnosed in the US and about 4,800 died. Among cancers of the female reproductive tract, it is less common than endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer. The rates of new cases in the United States was 7 per 100,000 women in 2004. Cervical cancer deaths decreased by approximately 74% in the
Three separate randomized controlled trials for cervical screening have been conducted among Indian women of the