Cervix Cancer (Cervical Cancer) is a malignant tumor that grows in the womb neck / cervix (the lowest part of the uterus attached to the top of the vagina. Cervical cancer usually affects women aged 35-55 years.90% of cervical cancers derived from squamous cells lining the cervix and the remaining 10% comes from the mucus-producing gland cells in the cervical canal leading into the uterus.
CAUSE
Cervical cancer occurs when cervical cells become abnormal and divide uncontrollably. If the cervical cells continue to divide it will form a mass of tissue called a tumor can be benign or malignant. If the tumor is malignant, then the condition is called cervical cancer.
The cause of abnormalities in cervical cells are not known for certain, but there are some risk factors that influence the occurrence of cervical cancer:
1. HPV (human papillomavirus)HPV is the virus that causes genital warts (condylomata akuminata) that is transmitted through sexual intercourse. A very dangerous type is HPV types 16, 18, 45 and 56.2. SmokeTobacco damage the immune system and affect the body’s ability to fight HPV infection in the cervix.3. First sexual intercourse carried out at an early age4. Changing sexual partners5. Husband / partner first sexual intercourse at age under 18 years old, have multiple sexual partners and had been married to women who suffer from cervical cancer6. The use of DES (diethylstilbestrol) in pregnant women to prevent miscarriage (widely used in the year 1940 to 1970)7. Impaired immune system8. The use of birth control pills9. Infection with genital herpes or chronic chlamydia infections10. Economically weak groups (because it is not capable of doing Pap smears on a regular basis)In cervical precancerous conditions
The cells on the surface of the cervix sometimes appear abnormal but not malignant. Scientists believe that some abnormal changes in cervical cells is the first step of a series of slow changes, a few years later, can cause cancer. Therefore, some abnormal changes are precancerous conditions, which can turn into cancer.
It now used a different term for abnormal changes in cells on the surface of the cervix, one of them is squamous intraepithelial lesions (mean lesion tissue disorders, intraepithelial means that abnormal cells are found only in the surface layer).
Changes in these cells can be divided into 2 groups:
1. Low-level lesions: an early change in the size, shape and number of cells that form the surface of the cervix. some low-level lesions disappear by itself. But others grow into larger and more abnormal, forming a high-level lesions.Low-level lesion also called mild dysplasia or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 (NIS 1).Low-level lesions most often found in women aged 25-35 years, but also can occur in all age groups.2. High level lesions: found a large number of precancerous cells that look very different from normal cells.These precancerous changes occur only in cells on the surface of the cervix. For months, even years, these cells will not become malignant and will not infiltrate into the deeper layers of the cervix.High-level lesion also called secondary or dysplasia severe dysplasia, NIS 2 or 3, or carcinoma in situ.High level lesions most often found in women aged 30-40 years.If abnormal cells spread deeper into the cervix or to other tissues or organs, then the condition is called cervical cancer or invasive cervical cancer.Cervical cancer is most often found at the age above 40 years.
SYMPTOMS
Precancerous changes in the cervix usually do not cause symptoms and these changes are not detected except if the woman underwent a pelvic examination and Pap smear.
Symptoms usually only appear when the abnormal cervical cells become malignant and infiltrate into surrounding tissue. At this time there will be the following symptoms:
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding, especially between the 2 periods, after sexual intercourse and after menopause- Menstrual abnormalities (longer and more)- Whitish who settled, with a watery liquid, pink, brown, contains blood or black and foul smelling.
Symptoms of advanced-stage cervical cancer:- Decreased appetite, weight loss, fatigue- Pelvic pain, back or leg- from the pussy out of urine or feces- Broken bones (fractures).
DIAGNOSIS
Diagnosis based on symptoms and results of the following:
1. Pap smearPap smears can detect up to 90% of cervical cancer cases are accurately and at a cost that is not too expensive. as a result the death rate from cervical cancer also decreased by over 50%.
Every woman who has been sexually active or have reached 18 years of age, should undergo regular Pap smear that is 1 times / year. If for 3 consecutive times showed normal results, Pap smears can be done 1 time / 2-3 years.Pap smear results indicate the stage of cervical cancer:- Normal- Dysplasia mild (early changes are not yet malignant)- Dysplasia weight (a change that has not advanced malignant)- Carcinoma (cancer confined to the outermost layer of the cervix)- Invasive cancer (cancer has spread to the deeper layers of the cervix or to other organs).
2. BiopsyBiopsy was performed if the pelvic examination seemed a growth or injury to the cervix, or if the Pap smear showed some abnormality or cancer.
3. Colposcopy (examination of the cervix with a magnifying lens)
4. Schiller testCervical smeared with iodine solution, healthy cells will turn into brown color, whereas the abnormal cells turn white or yellow color.
To help determine the stage of cancer, conducted some examination follows:- Cystoscopy- Chest X-rays- Urografi intravenous- Sigmoidoscopy- Scan for bone and liver- Barium enema.