Hi,
This is a little bit embarresing to be honest umm ive had two out of three of my cervical needles i didnt get the third.
Over the ast two weeks i had my period that usually lasts about 4 days - a week and that it.
This time its been two weeks and my period was still pretty much as heavy as it was on the first day. Little worrying.
I get quick sharp pains in my lower stomach every now and again even when im not due for my period,
And i was in the shower and realised that i have a lump in the side of my vagina im quite concerened. Before you say why havnt u been to a doctor the reason i havnt is because our closest doctor is 45KMs from here and hes only here on a Tuesday.
I looked up symptoms on the internet for cervical cancer and it said that some of these things that im having now are of a more advanced stage of cervical cancer and now im really worried can someone please give me some opinions and advice?
Im only 19 by the way but i will be 20 in July.
Thanks so much. Hi,
Pl. read the details then decide.Cervical cancer is a disease caused by the abnormal growth and division of cells that make up the cervix (the portion of the uterus attached to the top of the vagina). Ninety percent of the cervical cancers arise from the flattened or squamous cells covering the cervix. Most of the remaining 10% arise from the glandular, mucous-secreting cells of the cervical canal leading into the uterus.
What are the causes?
The development of cervical cancer is gradual and begins as a pre-cancerous condition called dysplasia. In this form it is 100% treatable, usually without the need for a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus). Dysplasia, depending on its severity, can resolve without treatment, particularly in young women. However, it often progresses to actual cancer called 鈥榗arcinoma in situ鈥?(CIS) if it has not spread, or 鈥榤icroinvasive鈥?if it has spread only a few millimeters into the surrounding tissue but not into the lymph channels or blood vessels.
The risk factors for cervical cancer are:
Infection with the virus that causes genital warts (human papilloma virus or HPV) may increase the risk of developing dysplasia and subsequent cancer. Fortunately, not all women who have had HPV infection or genital warts develop cervical cancer. Other factors, such as smoking, may increase the risk of developing cervical cancer in those who have had HPV
Early age at first sexual intercourse
Multiple sexual partners or partners who have multiple partners
There is a small increased risk of abnormal Pap smears among women who take birth control pills. It is because such women are more sexually active, are less likely to use condoms, and have more frequent Pap smears in order to be prescribed the birth control pill
Women whose immune systems are weakened - such as those with HIV infection or women who have received organ transplants and are taking drugs to suppress the immune system - may be at a higher risk
Infections with genital herpes or chronic chlamydia infections, both sexually transmitted diseases, may increase risk
What are the symptoms?
Most often, cervical cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages does not cause any symptoms. When there are symptoms, the most common are:
Persistent vaginal discharge, which may be pale, watery, pink, brown, blood streaked, or dark and foul-smelling
Abnormal vaginal bleeding, especially between menstrual periods, after intercourse or douching, and after menopause, which gradually becomes heavier and longer
Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer may include:
Loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue
Pelvic, back, or leg pain
Leaking of urine or faeces from the vagina
Bone fracture
How is the diagnosis made?
Invasive cervical cancer often appears as an irregular fleshy growth, often firm or hard, that tends to bleed easily. But even on pelvic examination by a doctor, pre-cancers and even early cancers of the cervix are often not visible to the naked eye. Special tests are necessary to diagnose cervical pre-cancers and cancers:
Pap smears screen for cervical pre-cancers and cancers. The Pap smear test consists of cells wiped or brushed off the cervix and placed on a microscope slide. This is usually done at the time of a pelvic examination, though not every pelvic exam includes a Pap smear.
Colposcopy is an examination of the cervix under magnification in order to locate an abnormality of the cervix
Biopsy, colposcopy, or sometimes the use of LASER (a loop electrode) or other instrument allows a diagnosis to be made
When cervical cancer is found, additional tests - such as X-rays, using an instrument to look into the bladder (cystoscopy), and rectum and colon (colonoscopy) - are used to determine how far the cancer has spread and what stage the disease is in
What is the treatment?
Treatment of cervical cancer depends on the type of cancer, the stage, the size and shape of the tumour, the age and general health of the woman, and her desire for future childbearing.
In its earliest stages, the disease is curable by removing or destroying the pre-cancerous or cancerous tissue. This can often be done in various ways without removing the uterus or damaging the cervix so that a woman is still capable of having children.
In other cases, a removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) is performed, with or without removal of the ovaries. In more advanced disease, a radical hysterectomy may be performed which removes the uterus and much of the surrounding tissues, including internal lymph nodes. In the most extreme surgery, called a pelvic exenteration, all of the organs of the pelvis, including the urinary bladder and rectum, are removed.
Radiation or chemotherapy may be used to treat cancer that has spread beyond the pelvis, or has recurred. A variety of chemotherapeutic drugs, or combinations of them, are used. Sometimes radiation and chemotherapy are used before or a you better make a phone call to see the doctor urgently it could be possible that he may do a urgent trip to see you if you give him your signs and sytoms have you got a hospital close by to you? to get checked The thing with diagnosing things on here is that there are other cases that could have the exact same symptoms, so I wouldn't just go with an Internet diagnosis and panic. I understand that your doctor is far away but you need to call him and tell him its urgent. I know its scary but its better knowing than not knowing. In the meantime try lower your stress level, it only makes things harder on yourself. =] relax, call your doctor and wait for the results. good luck! |
