Major bleeding may be treated temporarily by vaginal packing using gauze to stem the bleeding and later by surgery, radiotherapy or by cutting off blood supply to the cervix. A fistula is an uncommon but distressing complication that occurs in around 1 in 50 cases of advanced cervical cancer.
A fistula is an abnormal channel that develops between two sections of the body. In most cases involving cervical cancer, the fistula develops between the bladder and the vagina. This can lead to a persistent discharge of fluid from the vagina.
A fistula can sometimes develop between the vagina and rectum. Surgery is usually required to repair a fistula, although it's often not possible in women with advanced cervical cancer, because they're usually too frail to withstand the effects of surgery. In such cases, treatment often involves using medication, creams and lotions to reduce the amount of discharge and protect the vagina and surrounding tissue from damage and irritation.
Another uncommon, but distressing, complication of advanced cervical cancer is an unpleasant-smelling discharge from your vagina. The discharge can occur for a number of reasons, such as the breakdown of tissue, the leakage of bladder or bowel contents out of the vagina, or a bacterial infection of the vagina.
Treatment options for vaginal discharge include an antibacterial gel called metronidazole and wearing clothing that contains charcoal. Charcoal is a chemical compound that's very effective in absorbing unpleasant smells. If your doctors can't do any more to treat your cancer, your care will focus on controlling your symptoms and helping you to be as comfortable as possible. This is called palliative care. Palliative care also includes psychological, social and spiritual support for you and your family or carers.
There are different options for terminal care in the late stages of cancer. You may want to think about whether you'd like to be cared for in hospital, in a hospice or at home, and discuss these issues with your doctor.
Some organisations who provide care for people with cancer include:. The impact of cervical cancer on your daily life will depend on the stage of cancer and the treatment you're having. Many women with cervical cancer have a radical hysterectomy. This is a major operation that takes around 6 to 12 weeks to recover from.
During this time, you need to avoid strenuous tasks and lifting, such as lifting children or heavy shopping bags. You won't be able to drive for 3 to 8 weeks after the operation. Most women will also need 8 to 12 weeks off work to recover after having a radical hysterectomy. Some of the treatments for cervical cancer can make you very tired, particularly chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Because of this, you may need to take a break from some of your normal activities for a while. Don't be afraid to ask for practical help from family and friends if you need it. Practical help may also be available from your local authority. Ask your doctor or nurse about who to contact. Having cervical cancer doesn't necessarily mean you'll have to give up work, although you may need quite a lot of time off. During treatment, you may not be able to carry on as you did before.
If you have cancer, you're covered by the Disability Discrimination Act. This means that your employer isn't allowed to discriminate against you because of your illness.
They have a duty to make "reasonable adjustments" to help you cope. Examples of these include:. The definition of what's "reasonable" depends on the situation, such as how much it would affect your employer's business, for example. You should give your employer as much information as possible about how much time you'll need off and when.
Speak to a member of your human resources department, if you have one. Your union or staff association representative can also give you advice. If you're having difficulties with your employer, your union or local Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to help.
Macmillan Cancer Support also has more information and advice about work and cancer. If you have to reduce or stop work because of your cancer, you may find it difficult to cope financially. If you have cancer or you're caring for someone with cancer, you may be entitled to financial support.
For example:. It's a good idea to find out what help is available as soon as possible. You could ask to speak to the social worker at your hospital, who can give you the information you need. Many women feel nervous about having sex soon after treatment for cervical cancer, but it's perfectly safe. Sex won't make the cancer come back and your partner can't catch cancer from you. If you want to, you can resume your normal sex life within a few weeks of finishing radiotherapy or having surgery.
This will give your body time to heal. If you're having chemotherapy, male partners should wear a condom when you have sex, because it's not clear if having sex after chemotherapy can have an effect on them. Some women find sex difficult after being treated for cervical cancer, because the side effects of some treatments can include vaginal dryness and narrowing of the vagina.
In these cases, there are treatments that can help, such as vaginal dilators. See complications of cervical cancer for more information. Macmillan Cancer Support has more information on how treatment for cervical cancer may affect your sex life. There's no single way to completely prevent cervical cancer, but there are things that can reduce your risk.
Most cases of cervical cancer are linked to an infection with certain types of human papillomavirus HPV. HPV can be spread through unprotected sex, so using a condom can reduce your risk of developing the infection. However, the virus isn't just passed on through penetrative sex — it can be transmitted during other types of sexual contact, such as skin-to-skin contact between genital areas and by using sex toys. Your risk of developing an HPV infection increases the earlier you start having regular sex and with the more sexual partners you have, although women who have only had one sexual partner can also develop it.
Read more about sexual health. Regular cervical screening is the best way to identify abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix at an early stage. Cervical screening also known as a smear test is routinely offered to anyone with a cervix in Scotland between the ages of 25 and 64 every five years.
Make sure that your GP surgery has your up-to-date contact details, so that you continue getting screening invitations. It's important that you attend your cervical screening tests, even if you've been vaccinated for HPV, because the vaccine doesn't guarantee protection against cervical cancer. If you've been treated for abnormal cervical cell changes, you'll be invited for screening more frequently for several years after treatment.
How regularly you need to go will depend on how severe the cell change is. Therefore, you should report symptoms such as unusual vaginal bleeding to your GP, even if you've recently been tested. The NHS cervical cancer vaccination programme uses a vaccine called Gardasil. It also prevents genital warts. Girls are offered the childhood immunisation programme. The vaccine is given to girls when they're years old, with three doses given over a six-month period.
Although the HPV vaccine can significantly reduce the risk of cervical cancer, it doesn't guarantee that you won't develop the condition. You should still attend cervical screening tests, even if you've had the vaccine.
You can reduce your chances of getting cervical cancer by not smoking. People who smoke are less able to get rid of the HPV infection from the body, which can develop into cancer. If you decide to give up smoking, you could contact the Quit Your Way Scotland on 84 84 If you want to give up smoking, but you don't want to be referred to a stop smoking service, your GP should be able to prescribe medical treatment to help with any withdrawal symptoms that you may experience after giving up.
For more information and advice on giving up smoking, see stopping smoking and treatments for stopping smoking. Home Illnesses and conditions Cancer Cancer types in adults Cervical cancer. Cervical cancer See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About cervical cancer 2. Symptoms of cervical cancer 3. Causes of cervical cancer 4. Diagnosing cervical cancer 5. Treating cervical cancer 6. Complications of cervical cancer 7. Living with cervical cancer 8. Preventing cervical cancer.
About cervical cancer Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that develops in a woman's cervix the entrance to the womb from the vagina. Read more about the symptoms of cervical cancer and diagnosing cervical cancer Screening for cervical cancer Cervical screening also known as a smear test is routinely offered to anyone with a cervix in Scotland, between the ages of 25 and 64, every five years.
Read more about cervical screening What causes cervical cancer? Read more about the causes of cervical cancer and preventing cervical cancer Treating cervical cancer If cervical cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, it's usually possible to treat it using surgery. Read more about treating cervical cancer Complications Many women with cervical cancer will have complications.
Read more about the complications of cervical cancer Outlook The stage at which cervical cancer is diagnosed is an important factor in determining a woman's outlook.
Who's affected by cervical cancer? Symptoms of cervical cancer The symptoms of cervical cancer aren't always obvious, and it may not cause any symptoms at all until it's reached an advanced stage. Unusual bleeding In most cases, vaginal bleeding is the first noticeable symptom of cervical cancer. Visit your GP for advice if you experience any type of unusual vaginal bleeding.
Other symptoms Other symptoms of cervical cancer may include pain and discomfort during sex and an unpleasant smelling vaginal discharge. Advanced cervical cancer If the cancer spreads out of your cervix and into surrounding tissue and organs, it can trigger a range of other symptoms, including: constipation blood in your urine haematuria loss of bladder control urinary incontinence bone pain swelling of one of your legs severe pain in your side or back caused by swelling in your kidneys, related to a condition called hydronephrosis changes to your bladder and bowel habits loss of appetite weight loss tiredness and a lack of energy When to seek medical advice You should contact your GP if you experience: bleeding after sex postcoital bleeding bleeding outside of your normal periods new bleeding after the menopause Vaginal bleeding is very common and can have a wide range of causes, so it doesn't necessarily mean you have cervical cancer.
Causes of cervical cancer In almost all cases, cervical cancer is the result of a change in cell DNA caused by the human papilloma virus HPV. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia CIN Cancer of the cervix usually takes many years to develop. Read more about cervical screening results Increased risk The fact that HPV infection is very common but cervical cancer is relatively uncommon suggests that only a very small proportion of women are vulnerable to the effects of an HPV infection.
These include: smoking — women who smoke are twice as likely to develop cervical cancer than women who don't; this may be caused by the harmful effects of chemicals found in tobacco on the cells of the cervix having a weakened immune system — this can occur as a result of taking certain medications, such as immunosuppressants, which are used to stop the body rejecting donated organs, or as a result of a condition such as HIV or AIDS taking the oral contraceptive pill for more than five years — women who take the pill are thought to have twice the risk of developing cervical cancer than those who don't, although it's not clear why having children the more children you have, the greater your risk — women who have two children have twice the risk of getting cervical cancer compared with women who don't have any children The reason for the link between cervical cancer and childbirth is unclear.
The spread of cervical cancer If cervical cancer is undiagnosed and untreated, it will slowly spread out of the cervix and into the surrounding tissue and organs. Diagnosing cervical cancer If cervical cancer is suspected, you'll be referred to a gynaecologist a specialist in treating conditions of the female reproductive system. Colposcopy If you've had an abnormal cervical screening test result, or your symptoms suggest that you may have cervical cancer, your gynaecologist will usually carry out a colposcopy.
Cone biopsy In some cases, a minor operation called a cone biopsy may also be carried out. Further testing If the results of the biopsy suggest you have cervical cancer and there's a risk that the cancer may have spread, you'll probably need to have some further tests to assess how widespread the cancer is.
Treating cervical cancer Treatment for cervical cancer depends on how far the cancer has spread. The different treatment options are discussed in more detail below. Removing abnormal cells If your screening results show that you don't have cervical cancer, but there are biological changes that could turn cancerous in the future, a number of treatment options are available.
These include: large loop excision of the transformation zone LLETZ — the abnormal cells are cut away using a fine wire and an electrical current cone biopsy — the area of abnormal tissue is removed during surgery laser therapy — a laser is used to burn away the abnormal cells Read more about treating abnormal cells in the cervix Surgery There are three main types of surgery for cervical cancer.
They are: radical trachelectomy — the cervix, surrounding tissue and the upper part of the vagina are removed, but the womb is left in place hysterectomy — the cervix and womb are removed; depending on the stage of the cancer, it may also be necessary to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes pelvic exenteration — a major operation in which the cervix, vagina, womb, bladder, ovaries, fallopian tubes and rectum are removed Radical trachelectomy A radical trachelectomy is usually only suitable if cervical cancer is diagnosed at a very early stage.
Hysterectomy A hysterectomy is usually recommended for early cervical cancer. Two types of hysterectomies are used to treat cervical cancer. They are: simple hysterectomy — where the cervix and womb are removed and, in some cases, the ovaries and fallopian tubes are also removed; this is only appropriate for very early stage cervical cancers radical hysterectomy — where the cervix, womb, surrounding tissue and lymph nodes, ovaries and fallopian tubes are all removed; this is the preferred option in advanced stage one and some early stage two cervical cancers Short-term complications of a hysterectomy include infection, bleeding, blood clots and accidental injury to your ureter, bladder or rectum.
The risk of long-term complications is small, but they can be troublesome. They include: the risk that your vagina can become shortened and drier, which can make sex painful urinary incontinence swelling of your arms and legs, caused by a build-up of fluid lymphoedema your bowel becomes obstructed because of a build-up of scar tissue — this may require further surgery to correct As your womb is removed during a hysterectomy, you'll no longer be able to have children. Pelvic exenteration A pelvic exenteration is a major operation that's usually only recommended when cervical cancer returns after what was thought to be a previously successful course of treatment.
A pelvic exenteration involves two phases of treatment: the cancer is removed, plus your bladder, rectum, vagina and the lower section of your bowel two holes called stomas are created in your abdomen — the holes are used to pass urine and faeces out of your body into collection pouches called colostomy bags Following a pelvic exenteration, your vagina can be reconstructed using skin and tissue taken from other parts of your body.
Radiotherapy Radiotherapy may be used on its own or combined with surgery for early-stage cervical cancer. There are two ways that radiotherapy can be delivered. These are: externally — a machine beams high-energy waves into your pelvis to destroy cancerous cells internally — a radioactive implant is placed inside your vagina and cervix In most cases, a combination of internal and external radiotherapy will be used. Side effects of radiotherapy are common and can include: diarrhoea pain when urinating bleeding from your vagina or rectum feeling very tired fatigue feeling sick nausea sore skin in your pelvis region similar to sunburn narrowing of your vagina, which can make having sex painful infertility damage to the ovaries, which will usually trigger an early menopause if you haven't already experienced it bladder and bowel damage, which could lead to incontinence Most of these side effects will resolve within about eight weeks of finishing treatment, although in some cases they can be permanent.
Chemotherapy Chemotherapy can be combined with radiotherapy to try to cure cervical cancer, or it can be used as a sole treatment for advanced cancer to slow its progression and relieve symptoms palliative chemotherapy. Side effects are therefore common and can include: nausea and vomiting diarrhoea feeling tired all the time reduced production of blood cells, which can make you feel tired and breathless anaemia and vulnerable to infection because of a lack of white blood cells mouth ulcers loss of appetite hair loss — your hair should grow back within three to six months of your course of chemotherapy being completed, although not all chemotherapy medications cause hair loss Some types of chemotherapy medication can damage your kidneys, so you may need to have regular blood tests to assess the health of your kidneys.
Follow-up After your treatment has been completed and the cancer has been removed, you'll need to attend regular appointments for testing. Complications of cervical cancer Complications of cervical cancer can occur as a side effect of treatment or as the result of advanced cervical cancer.
Side effects Early menopause If your ovaries are surgically removed or they're damaged during treatment with radiotherapy , it will trigger an early menopause if you haven't already had it. This leads to the following symptoms: you no longer have monthly periods or your periods become much more irregular hot flushes vaginal dryness loss of sex drive mood changes stress incontinence leaking urine when you cough or sneeze night sweats thinning of the bones, which can lead to brittle bones osteoporosis These symptoms can be relieved by taking a number of medications that stimulate the production of oestrogen and progesterone.
Narrowing of the vagina Radiotherapy to treat cervical cancer can often cause your vagina to become narrower, which can make having sex painful or difficult. The Macmillan Cancer Support website has more information about sexuality and cancer Lymphoedema If the lymph nodes in your pelvis are removed, it can sometimes disrupt the normal workings of your lymphatic system.
Read more about treating lymphoedema Emotional impact The emotional impact of living with cervical cancer can be significant. Cervical cancer occurs when cells in the cervix grow and divide uncontrollably.
Unlike many other cancers whose causes are largely still unknown, cervical cancer is most often caused by human papillomavirus HPV. Women can get an HPV vaccine, which protects against the strains of HPV that are most likely to lead to cervical cancer. These tests can help your physician detect abnormal changes in the cervix before cancer fully develops. When detected early, cervical cancer is highly treatable. Moffitt Cancer Center offers comprehensive screening, diagnostic and treatment services for patients with cervical cancer.
If you are showing symptoms of this condition, or if you have received a diagnosis and would like to explore your treatment options at Moffitt, request an appointment by calling or submitting a new patient registration form online. You do not need a referral. Please call for support from a Moffitt representative. New Patients and Healthcare Professionals can submit an online form by selecting the appropriate buttonbelow. They can be caused by other conditions.
Tell your doctor or specialist nurse if you're worried about a symptom or if it continues for more than a few days. The most common places for cervical cancer to spread is to the lymph nodes, liver, lungs and bones. Lymph nodes are part of a system of tubes and glands in the body that filters body fluids and fights infection. The most common symptom that happens when cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, is that they feel hard or swollen.
Cervical cancer can spread to lymph nodes in the area between the hip bones pelvis. Cancer cells can also stop lymph fluid from draining away. This might lead to swelling in your legs due to fluid build up.
The swelling is called lymphoedema. Cervical cancer may spread to the bones. The most common symptom if cancer has spread to the bone is bone pain. It is usually there most of the time and wakes you up at night. It can be a dull ache or stabbing pain.
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