Cervical Cancer - Essay Example

Cancer is a disease in which certain cells in our body do not function properly and undergoes cell division at a fast rate, producing too much tissue which forms into a tumor. Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus.

The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb). It is sometimes called the uterine cervix. The body of the uterus (the upper part) is where a baby grows. The cervix connects the body of the uterus to the vagina (birth canal). The part of the cervix closest to the body of the uterus is called the endocervix. The part next to the vagina is the exocervix (or ectocervix). The 2 main types of cells covering the cervix are squamous cells (on the exocervix) and glandular cells (on the endocervix). The place where these 2 cell types meet is called the transformation zone. Most cervical cancers start in the transformation zone (Cancer.org. What is Cervical Cancer, 2012).

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 12,000 women develop cervical cancer each year in the United States and about 4,200 die from it. Worldwide, it continues to be the second most common type of cancer in women (after breast cancer). Each year, about 500,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and approximately 250,000 die from it (Labtestsonline: Cervical Cancer, 2012).

Cause of Cervical Cancer

Most cervical cancers begin in the cells lining the cervix. These cells do not suddenly change into cancer. Instead, the normal cells of the cervix first gradually develop pre-cancerous changes that turn into cancer. Doctors use several terms to describe these pre-cancerous changes, including cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL), and dysplasia. There are 2 main types of cervical cancers: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. About 80% to 90% of cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. These cancers are from the squamous cells that cover the surface of the exocervix. Under the microscope, this type of cancer is made up of cells that are like squamous cells. Squamous cell carcinomas most often begin where the exocervix joins the endocervix (Cancer.org, 2012).

Most of the other cervical cancers are adenocarcinomas. Cervical adenocarcinomas seem to have becoming more common in the past 20 to 30 years. Cervical adenocarcinoma develops from the mucus-producing gland cells of the endocervix. Less commonly, cervical cancers have features of both squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. These are called adenosquamous carcinomas or mixed carcinomas (Cancer.org, 2012).

Symptoms and Effects

Women with early cervical cancers and pre-cancers usually have no symptoms. Symptoms often do not begin until the cancer becomes invasive and grows into nearby tissue. When this happens, the most common symptoms are abnormal vaginal bleeding, such as bleeding after sex (vaginal intercourse), bleeding after menopause, bleeding and spotting between periods, and having (menstrual) periods that are longer or heavier than usual. Bleeding after douching or after a pelvic exam may also occur, an unusual discharge from the vagina -- the discharge may contain some blood and may occur between your periods or after menopause, and pain during intercourse.

These signs and symptoms can also be caused by conditions other than cervical cancer. For example, an infection can cause pain or bleeding. Still, if you have any of these signs or other suspicious symptoms, you should see your health care professional right away. Ignoring symptoms may allow the cancer to progress to a more advanced stage and lower your chance for effective treatment (Cancer.org., 2012).

Cervical cancer begins slowly. The earliest, precancerous changes cause the cells lining the inside or outside of the cervix to appear different from normal cervical cells. These changes, when present on a Pap smear, are termed "atypical cells." Atypical cells are not entirely specific for a precancerous condition, however, and can temporarily appear in response to infections or irritation of the cervix lining. If precancerous, the atypical cells can become more abnormal in appearance over time and are more likely to progress to cancer if left untreated. In Pap smears, these more abnormal (intermediate) cellular changes are called low-grade or high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. If these cells become cancerous, they are initially limited to the surface lining (in situ). Without treatment, the cancer cells can become invasive by growing into the supporting tissues of the cervix and can potentially spread to other body sites.

About 80-90% of cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, occurring in the flat squamous cells that cover the outside of the cervix. Most other cases are adenocarcinomas, rising from mucus-producing gland cells of the opening of the cervix (the endocervix). A few cervical cancers are mixtures of both types.

Given time, cervical cancer can spread to the rest of the uterus, the bladder, the rectum, and the abdominal wall. Eventually, it can reach the pelvic lymph nodes and metastasize further, invading other organs throughout the body (Labtestsonline: Cervical Cancer, 2012).