Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer starts in the cervix, where the vagina connects to the lower part of the uterus. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 12,000 women every year in the United States receive a cervical cancer diagnosis.

Cervical cancer is a severe disease, and the women’s health specialists of Newton-Wellesley OB/GYN provide medical treatment and support every step of the way.

Symptoms of Cervical Cancer

In the early stages of the disease, many women don’t have signs or symptoms of cervical cancer. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include:

Pelvic pain
Pelvic pain during intercourse
Vaginal bleeding after intercourse
Vaginal bleeding after menopause
Vaginal bleeding between menstruation
Bloody, watery vaginal discharge with a strong, foul odor

Since there aren’t always symptoms in the early stages of cervical cancer, it’s important to have regular gynecological checkups. This allows your women’s health specialist to check for an array of abnormalities and conditions.

Causes of Cervical Cancer

Various strains of HPV, or human papillomavirus, can cause cervical cancer. HPV strains that are sexually transmitted can develop into cervical cancer if left untreated.

When you’re exposed to HPV, your immune system usually stops the virus from hurting you, but in some cases, the virus survives and contributes to cervical cancer forming.

To protect yourself from the sexually transmitted strains of HPV, you should:

Practice safe sex
Get an HPV vaccine
Get regular screenings

Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer

Some of the risk factors for cervical cancer include:

Smoking
Engaging in sexual activity at an early age
A weakened immune system due to a health condition
Having many sexual partners
Contracting other sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea

Early Detection and Prevention of Cervical Cancer

There are two tests that can either prevent cervical cancer or find it early:

Pap test is one of the most reliable and effective cancer screening tests available. It looks for precancers and cell changes on the cervix. This test is recommended for all women between the ages of 21 and 29 years old. If you are 30 years old or older you may choose to have a Pap test or an HPV test or both tests together. The Pap test looks for precancers, cell changes, on the cervix that can be treated, so that cervical cancer is prevented. The Pap test also can find cervical cancer early, when treatment is most effective. If the cells collected from your cervix during your Pap test look abnormal, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer, but it tells your doctor that other tests need to be done for confirmation, such as a colposcopy The Pap test only screens for cervical cancer and does not screen for any other gynecological cancer.
The HPV test looks for HPV–the virus that can cause precancerous cell changes and cervical cancer.

Treatment Options for Cervical Cancer

Your women’s health specialist of Newton-Wellesley OB/GYN can treat cervical cancer in the early stages with a hysterectomy, a surgery to remove the uterus.

Your women’s health specialist may recommend other treatment options, such as radiation or chemotherapy, as well as medications to relieve associated pain.

Contact Us

Cervical cancer is the easiest gynecologic cancer to prevent with regular screening tests and follow-up. It is also highly curable when found and treated early. If you have symptoms or are due for a checkup and screening, call Newton-Wellesley OB/GYN in Newton at (617) 332-2345 or in Walpole at (508) 668-5555 to schedule an appointment. For your convenience, you may also request an appointment online.