ONCOLOGY_6_CERVICAL CANCER

-
Hi Folks!! Follow our blog on Instagram


Cervical cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Almost all cervical cancer cases (99%) are linked to infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV), an extremely common virus transmitted through sexual contact.
When exposed to HPV, the body's immune system typically prevents the virus from doing harm. In a small percentage of people, however, the virus survives for years. This contributes to the process that causes some cervical cells to become cancer cells.
One can reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer by having screening tests and receiving a vaccine that protects against HPV infection.
When cervical cancer happens, it's often first treated with surgery to remove the tumor. Other treatments may include medicines to kill the cancer cells. Options might consist of chemotherapy and targeted therapy medicines. Radiation therapy with powerful energy beams also may be used. Sometimes treatment combines radiation with low-dose chemotherapy.

TYPES

Cervical cancer is divided into types based on the cell type in which the cancer begins. The main types of cervical cancer are:
  • Squamous cell carcinoma. This type of cervical cancer begins in thin, flat cells, called squamous cells. The squamous cells line the outer part of the cervix. Most cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.
  • Adenocarcinoma. This type of cervical cancer begins in the column-shaped gland cells that line the cervical canal.
CAUSES
Signs and symptoms of Stage I cervical cancer can include:
  • Watery or bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and can have a foul odor.
  • Vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods or after menopause.
  • Dyspareunia
If cancer has spread to nearby tissues or organs, symptoms may include:
  • Difficult or painful urination, sometimes with blood in urine.
  • Diarrhea, or pain or bleeding from the rectum when pooping.
  • Fatigue, loss of weight and appetite.
  • A general feeling of illness.
  • Dull backache or swelling in your legs.
  • Pelvic/abdominal pain.
DIAGNOSIS 
Regular cervical cancer screenings with a Pap test can detect most cases of cervical cancer. The goal of cervical cancer screening is to detect cell changes on the cervix before they become cancer. A Pap test, or Pap smear, involves looking at cells from the cervix under a microscope. These cells are examined for signs of precancers or other irregularities. If Pap comes back as abnormal, further testing is necessary. This could include an HPV test, which is a specific test that checks the cells of the cervix for the HPV strains that are most likely to cause cancer. 

TREATMENTS 
There are different treatments for cervical cancer depending on how advanced it is and may need more than one form of treatment. If the cancer is only on the surface of the cervix, the doctor can remove or destroy cancerous cells with procedures such as LEEP or cold knife conization. If cancerous cells have passed through a layer called the basement membrane, which separates the surface of the cervix from underlying layers,  probably need surgery. If the disease has invaded deeper layers of the cervix but hasn’t spread to other parts of the body,  might have an operation to take out the tumor. If it’s spread into the uterus, the doctor will probably recommend a hysterectomy. Surgery and radiation therapy are the most common treatments for advanced cervical cancer. Other cervical cancer treatments include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and biological therapy.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ONCOLOGY_2_MELANOMA

-
Image
Hi Folks!! Follow our blog on Instagram  LAB IN THE BOX MELANOMA What is Melanoma? Melanoma is a form of skin cancer arising from melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells in the skin. While it is less common than other skin cancers, it is significantly more dangerous due to its ability to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body if not caught early. Causes and Risk Factors The primary cause of melanoma is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds. Factors that increase the risk of melanoma include: - Fair Skin : Less melanin provides less protection from UV radiation. - History of Sunburns : Severe, blistering sunburns, especially in early life, increase risk. - Excessive UV Exposure : Frequent use of tanning beds or extensive sun exposure. - Family History : A family history of melanoma increases risk. - Moles : Having many moles or unusual moles can be a risk factor. - Weakened Immune System : Immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk. Signs an
Read more

Warmer climate may Drive Fungi to be more dangerous to our Health!!

-
Image
  Warmer climate may Drive Fungi to be more dangerous to our Health!! The world is filled with tiny creatures that sometimes found it delicious. Bacteria and viruses are so obvious that they are pathogenic . However recent news from Duke University School of medicine found that raised temperature  cause a pathogenic fungus known as Cryptococcus deneoformans to turn its adaptative responses into overdrive. This increases its number of genetic changes, some of which might presumably lead to higher heat resistance, and others perhaps toward greater disease-causing potential . " Fungal diseases are on the rise, largely because of an increase in the number of people who have weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions," Gusa said. But at the same time, pathogenic fungi may be adapting to warmer temperatures as well. Materials  provided by  Duke University .                                            
Read more

History of Biotechnology

-
Image
HISTORY OF BIOTECHNOLOGY: People have been harnessing biological processes to improve their quality of life for some 10,000 years, beginning with the first agricultural communities. Approximately 6,000 years ago, humans began to tap the biological processes of microorganisms in order to make bread, alcoholic beverages, and cheese and to preserve dairy products. But such processes are not what is meant today by biotechnology, a term first widely applied to the molecular and cellular technologies that began to emerge in the 1960s and ’70s. A fledgling “biotech” industry began to coalesce in the mid- to late 1970s, led by Genentech, a pharmaceutical company established in 1976 by Robert A. Swanson and Herbert W. Boyer to commercialize the recombinant DNA technology pioneered by Boyer, Paul Berg, and Stanley N. Cohen. Early companies such as Genentech, Amgen, Biogen, Cetus, and Genex began by manufacturing genetically engineered substances primarily for medical and environmental uses. For
Read more