CERVICAL CANCER
Cervical Cancer and
Hispanic/Latina Women
Melissa Gavidia
ITRODUCTION:
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
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If the Pap smear test results reveal abnormal cell changes, a physician will recommend for a women to undergo a colposcopy. A colposcopy is a procedure where a physician washes the cervix with a diluted vinegar solution and uses a microscope-like tool known as a colposcope to have a magnified view of the surface of the vagina and cervix. If the physician sees any abnormal areas, such as lesions on the cervix, then tissue samples are taken for examination under a microscope. Other than the Pap smear, a pelvic exam may be performed. In a pelvic exam, the vagina, along with adjacent organs, is examined visually and manually. A speculum, and instrument that separates tissue, is inserted into the vagina for visual examination. After, the organs are felt with the fingers by inserting one hand in the vagina, and putting the other hand on the abdomen to feel for any abnormalities. If invasive cervical cancer is suspected, or if the colposcopy and the Pap smear have different results, then other tests may be conducted. One test that may be performed is a cone biopsy. In a cone biopsy, a larger, cone shaped sample of cervical tissue is taken and examined for cancer cells. Another test that may be performed is endocervical curettage. During this procedure, the lining of the cervix is scraped and examined for cancer cells. Once a diagnosis of cervical cancer is made, then the
Harms related to cervical cancer screening with a Pap Smear are related to abnormal results. Abnormal results of a Pap Smear can cause short-term psychological harms that include anxiety and distress (USPSTF, 2016a). Abnormal results can also lead to further or more frequent testing (USPSTF, 2016a). Diagnostic procedure harms include vaginal bleeding, pain, and infection (USPSTF, 2016a). Harms of cervical treatment primarily include risks related to “adverse pregnancy outcomes” which include preterm delivery, low birthweight, and perinatal death (USPSTF, 2016a). Harms related to cervical treatment are also associated with false-positives (USPSTF, 2016a). Thus, overtreatment can be detrimental to the patient (USPSTF, 2016a).
If cervical cancer is found treatment will be dependent on the type of cervical cancer and the stage of the cancer. There is a surgical treatment which is where the cancerous tissue is removed, such as by a hysterectomy, Chemotherapy to slow down or stop the growth of cancer cells. Lastly, there is radiation treatment to kill the cells and control the spreading of the cancer. These options can be used independently or altogether. There are constantly new treatments becoming available and sometimes a patient can be able to become part of this new treatment through clinical trials. The second test which can be done concurrently with the Pap test is the HPV test.
Cervical cancer is formed in the tissues of the cervix, an organ that connects the uterus and the vagina. Virtually all cervical cancers are caused by Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections (Schiffman et. al., 2007). HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. According to the CDC, 75% of sexually active people aged 15-49 have the infection at some point in their lives. (CDC). Because HPV infection is usually asymptomatic, infected people do not know exactly when they get the infection. In most cases, the body is able to fight off the virus before any symptom. However, health problems such as genital warts and cancer may
Cervical cancer has caused life to be difficult for women who have been diagnosed with it. It is hard for them to continue with a normal life due to treatments and just worrying about what could happen to them. Another complication with cervical cancer is your ability to have children. But, there are ways to prevent cervical cancer that everyone should be educated with.
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
Signs and symptoms of cervical cancer is adnormal virginal bleeding , increased virginal discharge , bleeding after going through menopause , pain during sex, and pelvic pain . to be diagnosed with cervix cancer you would get a pap
The opening of the cervix is termed the cervical os. The internal part of the cervical os is termed the internal os and opens into the uterus. The external part of the cervical os is termed the external os and opens into the vagina. The cervix can be divided into two sections based on location. The cervical canal is termed the endocervix and is lined with glandular cells of columnar epithelium. The portion of the cervix that descends downward into the vagina is termed the ectocervix and is lined with stratified squamous epithelium. The area where the glandular cells meets the squamous cells is termed the squamocolumnar junction (SCJ). As women age, the SCJ recedes back into the endocervical canal as columnar cells undergo squamous metaplasia. Right next to the SCJ is the area termed the transformation zone. This transformation zone is where HPV has its negative, carcinogenic
If you have a Pap test taken they can usually find the cervical cancer early. Cervical cancer may spread if not treated early. It could spread from the cervix to the vagina, and then into deeper tissue layers of connective tissue around the uterus. Then if it spreads further it would go to the pelvic lymph nodes and other pelvic organs. This could cause problems with the kidney and bowel functions and
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.
The morbidity and mortality rates for cervical cancer caused by HPV in the United States are 8.1 and 2.4 per 100,000 respectively; worldwide the mortality rate for cervical
Cervical cancer is the second foremost occurring cancer in women after breast cancer. Cervical cancer is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV. Infection by HPV typically occurs in the early years of sexual activity according to the World Health Organization (WHO), but it can take up to a full twenty years for it to develop into a full-blown malignant tumor. Scientists believe that for all intents and purposes all cervical cancer cases are caused by infection with a few types of cancer. Great strides have been made in recent years in the development of a vaccine to treat the cervical cancer. Scientists have cultivated a prophylactic vaccine that would protect against the human papillomavirus. HPV's
This year alone approximately 12,360 documented new cases of cervical cancer in the United States and 4,020 deaths according to National Cancer Institute (“Cervical Cancer”, 2014). Cervical cancer is a slow growing cancer that grows in the tissues of the cervix (an organ that connects the uterus and vagina). The disease is predominantly caused by the human papillomavirus infection (HPV). According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the HPV virus is so common that nearly all sexually active women and men get it at some point in their lives. Many types of HPV exist, some causing genital warts and potentially cervical cancer. Individuals can get HPV by having unprotected genital to genital touching, oral, vaginal, or anal sex. Anyone who is sexually active can get HPV, and can develop symptoms years after they had sex with someone who is infected, making it difficult to know when they first became infected.
Cervical cancer is a tumor of the cervix. The cervix is the part of the womb, which projects into the vagina. It measures less than one inch across and about one and a half inches in length. It is a block of a special type of muscle covered by a thin layer of surface cells. Cancer of the cervix develops in these surface cells, which first start to grow in an abnormal way (precancerous cells).
Did you know there is more of a link between cervical cancer and HPV than smoking and lung cancer? Cervical cancer is currently the fourth most common cancer in women and the second leading cause of death from cancer in women. Along with those statistics, human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted viral disease amongst men and women worldwide. The prevalence of women having a strain of HPV that ultimately leads to or increases the chance of cervical cancer is highly relatable. What is pathophysiology, signs, symptoms, prevention, and treatments of this ailment? You might ask will be covered in the next few pages of this paper.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading cause of cervical cancer remains Human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that passes from one person to another during sex.” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015) . Although HPV is a common Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD), physicians suggest that all women over the age of 21 be tested for cervical cancer