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- Email: oncology-pv@metrohositals.com
Chronic diseases all around the world don’t discriminate when it comes to age, body, race and even gender. However, when it comes to general well-being, a woman’s body is more prone to chronic diseases such as cancer. Due to low body tolerance and weak immunity, women’s bodies are likely to be more vulnerable to fighting any sort of infection. One of the most commonly found cancers among women worldwide is – Cervical Cancer.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “ Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally with around 660 000 new cases and around 350 000 deaths in 2022”. Reproductive health issues have been a major concern amongst women in India, due lack of awareness and resources. The status of reproductive health in Indian women is deteriorating day by day because some of them don’t get an early diagnosis and some can’t afford a treatment post-diagnosis. In India, there is not much awareness about cervical cancer, therefore even a majority of educated people are oblivious to the existence of this life-threatening disease. Let’s discuss it in detail so you can get an early diagnosis or treatment if suspected:
Cervical cancer is a type of cancer found in women where the cancer call builds in the cervix (a narrow end at the end of the uterus). The cervix works as a bridge to connect the uterus with the birth canal. These cancer cells are like malignant tumours in the cervix that develop slowly over a long period.
The primary reason that causes Cervical cancer is HPV, also known as human papillomavirus. HPV is transmitted to the infected body through any sexual contact. At first, it is not harmful, because as soon as it exposes itself, the immune system of the body starts fighting against it. However in some cases, a few cervical cells are left behind and stay in the body for years, and with time these cells convert themselves into cancer cells,
● Bleeding through the vagina ( During intercourse, menopause or after periods)
● Unusual Menstrual cycle with severe pain
● Unusual Vaginal Discharge (watery, bloody, foul smell)
● Severe Pelvic pain
Early Screening Diagnosis: The first step toward seeking treatment is getting the right diagnosis. In the case of Cervical cancer. Early and right diagnosis plays an essential role. Testing methods such as PAP Test, HPV Test, Imaging Test and other Physical Examinations can help the suspect to get an accurate diagnosis.
Surgery: The approach to your treatment procedure should be opted based on the status of your cancer, however for the early stage, surgical methods are proven to be the best option. These surgeries can be performed either with a surgical blade or through laser beams, where the entire uterus is removed to stop the cancer from spreading any further.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is preferred when the cancer has spread to a severe level. In chemotherapy, strong medications (drugs) are inserted into the patient’s body. This can be done through oral medicines or injecting them into the patient’s veins.
Radiation Therapy: In the process of radiation therapy, high-beam X-rays are used to kill the cancer cells. This procedure is also used before any surgery to lessen the effects of cancer cells. The most commonly used radiations are External beam radiation and Brachytherapy, which is performed under the supervision of professionals only.
The treatment of cervical cancers such as radiation therapy is quite critical and requires assistance from specialists only. Dr. Piyusha Kul Shrestha is a qualified radiation oncologist in Delhi NCR, specializing in Cancer, Radiation Oncology, and Truebeam Linac. With 20+ years of experience in performing strenuous procedures such as IMRT, IGRT, SRT, SRS and CyberKnife surgeries, she is someone you can blindly rely on.