Cervical Cancer Adenocarcinoma
Published on Jun 18 2010, in the categories: Causes, cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the cervix. This is the passageway between the vagina and the uterus and it plays an important part during pregnancy. Women who don't want to have babies are still under its influence since it has a significant impact on a woman's ability to be pleasured through sexual intercourse.
As with most cancers, cervical cancer is caused by an out of control growth of the cells that make up the cervix, especially those in the lining of the cervix. As they begin to grow, divide and spread some abnormalities can be detected at first and then solid masses form also known as tumors.
From these, cancer cells can break away and travel through the blood stream or the lymph system to other parts of the body. If diagnosed while these abnormalities are pre-cancerous cervical cancer can be 100% prevented. The best way to detect pre-cancerous conditions also known as dysplasia is through regular Pap screening.
If cervical cancer develops before it is detected it can take two forms: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The first one it the most common type of cervical cancer while adenocarcinoma only accounts for 10% of all cervical cancers.
Adenocarcinoma, though less common, poses still a significant threat for all women. The fact that is is less common makes it even more difficult to deal with. Actually, in recent years, adenocarcinoma has become slightly more common for unknown reasons. This type of cervical cancer develops in the cells that line the glands of the cervix that produce mucus. Even less common is when this cancer begins in the supportive tissue around the cervix.
This type of cancer is treated in the same way though some secondary types generated by it can show a much poorer prognosis. If diagnosed in its early stages it can be removed through surgery. The success or the degree of invasiveness of the procedure depends on the stage of the cancer. Women in an early stage have the choice for surgery that allows them to hold a pregnancy in the future, such as the LEEP procedure or the cone biopsy.
Vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy are called for in more advanced stages. These prevent the woman from having anymore babies and don't have such a high success rate and a low risk of relapse as the others. With each stage the cancer goes through the procedures become more invasive and for the last stage, right before metastasis the 5-year survival rate is around 20%.
Additional adjuvant therapies might also be recommended. Radiation therapy can also be administered before operation, to shrink the tumor, or after, to kill any remaining cancerous cells and to minimize the risk of relapse. Chemotherapy can also considerably reduce risks of relapse.
As with most cancers, cervical cancer is caused by an out of control growth of the cells that make up the cervix, especially those in the lining of the cervix. As they begin to grow, divide and spread some abnormalities can be detected at first and then solid masses form also known as tumors.
From these, cancer cells can break away and travel through the blood stream or the lymph system to other parts of the body. If diagnosed while these abnormalities are pre-cancerous cervical cancer can be 100% prevented. The best way to detect pre-cancerous conditions also known as dysplasia is through regular Pap screening.
If cervical cancer develops before it is detected it can take two forms: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The first one it the most common type of cervical cancer while adenocarcinoma only accounts for 10% of all cervical cancers.
Adenocarcinoma, though less common, poses still a significant threat for all women. The fact that is is less common makes it even more difficult to deal with. Actually, in recent years, adenocarcinoma has become slightly more common for unknown reasons. This type of cervical cancer develops in the cells that line the glands of the cervix that produce mucus. Even less common is when this cancer begins in the supportive tissue around the cervix.
This type of cancer is treated in the same way though some secondary types generated by it can show a much poorer prognosis. If diagnosed in its early stages it can be removed through surgery. The success or the degree of invasiveness of the procedure depends on the stage of the cancer. Women in an early stage have the choice for surgery that allows them to hold a pregnancy in the future, such as the LEEP procedure or the cone biopsy.
Vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy are called for in more advanced stages. These prevent the woman from having anymore babies and don't have such a high success rate and a low risk of relapse as the others. With each stage the cancer goes through the procedures become more invasive and for the last stage, right before metastasis the 5-year survival rate is around 20%.
Additional adjuvant therapies might also be recommended. Radiation therapy can also be administered before operation, to shrink the tumor, or after, to kill any remaining cancerous cells and to minimize the risk of relapse. Chemotherapy can also considerably reduce risks of relapse.
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