Cervical cancer is caused mainly by HPV (or human papilloma virus), which is a sexually transmitted infection (or STI) contracted by sexually active women. To provide an idea of HPV prevelance, an estimated 75% of the reproductive-age population has contracted genital HPV (causing roughly 5.5 million new HPV infections annually), yet HPV only develops into cervical cancer in a very small number of patients. Other sources of cervial cancer include long term use of oral birth control, cigarette smoking, and being overweight. Thankfully, with the rise of HPV vaccines (i.e., Gardasil, Gardasil 9, and Cervarix) many women can safeguard themselves against contracting HPV.
Cervical Cancer exists in two major types:
- Adenocarcinoma, a glandular cancer that develops in columnar cells within the cervix canal.
- Squamous cell carcinoma, the more common type, which develop from thin squamous cells that line the outer portion of the cervix.
Cervical cancer is reported as the third most prevelent malignancy in women, which is why regular screening is important. If diagnosed with cervical cancer, individualized treatment plans depend on the patient’s family history, if you want to become pregnant in the future, current health, age, and cancer stage:
1. Surgery
Several surgeies are avabilable to remove cervical cancer, depending on the stage and size of the tumour:
- Cone biopsy – removes a cone-shaped area of tissue, including the outer part of the cervix near the vagina and a poriton of the endocervical canal, in early cervial cancer cases.
- Ovarian transposition – shifts the ovaries higher up into the abdomen to safeguard them from radiation damage.
- Radical trachelectomy – is usually recommended for younger women with early stage cancer who still wish to become pregnant in the future. This surgery removes the cervix, upper part of the vagina, some of the tissues surrounding the cervix (parametrium) as well as the pelvic lymph nodes.
- Hysterectomy – is the complete removal of the cervix and uterus with later stage cervical cancer.
- Radical hysterectomy – removes the most aggressive cervical cancers by taking the cervix, uterus, parametrium and surrounding lymph nodes.
- Pelvic exenteration is the complete removal of the uterus, vagina, overeis, cervix, fallopian tubes and lymph nodes, often as well as the bladder and rectum in recurrent cervical cancer cases.
2. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are often used simulatneously to treat cervical cancer. Chemo (or chemoradiation) prepares the cells for radiation, and then external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy are used to target and kill cancerous cells.
3. Targeted therapy
Targeted cervical cancer therapies—such as Bevacizumab (Avastin)—are often used in combination with chemo to treat recurrent and aggressive cervical cancer cases.
4. Clinical trials
Patients with aggressive cancers that don’t respond to more traditional treatments can take part in clinical trials, which test emerging cervical cancer drugs and therapies.
