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January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.  Cervical cancer is cancer that starts in the cells of the cervix. The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus (womb). The cervix connects the uterus to the vagina (birth canal). Cervical cancer usually develops slowly, over time. Before cancer appears in the cervix, the cells of the cervix go through changes known as dysplasia, in which abnormal cells begin to appear in the cervical tissue. Over an extended period of time, if not destroyed or removed, the abnormal cells may become cancer cells and start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and to surrounding areas.

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The cervix has two main parts:

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• The ectocervix (also called exocervix), which is the outer part of the cervix that can be seen during a gynecologic exam. The ectocervix is covered with thin, flat cells called squamous cells.
   

• The endocervix is the inner part of the cervix that forms a canal that connects the vagina to the uterus. The endocervix is covered with column-shaped glandular cells that make mucus.
   

The transformation zone is the border where the endocervix and ectocervix meet. Most cervical cancers begin in the squamous cells in the transformation zone.

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Cervical cancers are named after the type of cell where the cancer started. The two main types are:

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• Squamous cell carcinoma: Most cervical cancers (up to 90%) are squamous cell carcinomas. These cancers develop from cells in the ectocervix.
   

• Adenocarcinoma: Cervical adenocarcinomas develop in the glandular cells of the endocervix. Clear cell adenocarcinoma, also called clear cell carcinoma or mesonephroma, is a rare type of cervical adenocarcinoma.
   

Sometimes, cervical cancer has features of both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. This is called mixed carcinoma or adenosquamous carcinoma. Very rarely, cancer develops in other cells in the cervix.  In the early stages, cervical cancer may not have signs and symptoms. However, advanced cervical cancer may cause bleeding or abnormal discharge from the vagina that is not normal for you, such as bleeding after sex. If you have any of these signs, see your doctor. They may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know is to see your doctor.

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To detect cervical cancer, you can get a Pap test. If your Pap test result is normal, your doctor may tell you that you can wait three years until your next Pap test. If your doctor says that you have cervical cancer, ask to be referred to a gynecologic oncologist, which is a doctor who has been trained to treat cancers of a woman’s reproductive system. This doctor will work with you to create a treatment plan that is best for you.

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Cervical cancer is treated in several ways. It depends on the kind of cervical cancer and how far it has spread. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

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• Surgery: Doctors remove cancer tissue in an operation.
   

• Chemotherapy: Using special medicines to shrink or kill the cancer. The drugs can be pills you take or medicines given in your veins, or sometimes both.
   

• Radiation: Using high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to kill the cancer.
   

Different treatments may be provided by different doctors on your medical team. Those doctors are: 

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• Gynecologic oncologists are doctors who have been trained to treat cancers of a woman’s reproductive system.
   

• Surgeons are doctors who perform operations.
   

• Medical oncologists are doctors who treat cancer with medicine.
   

• Radiation oncologists are doctors who treat cancer with radiation.

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The best thing that all women can do to detect any type of cervical cancer is to schedule an appointment to see your OB/GYN as soon as possible.

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Source: Cancer.org

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By Dietra Myers