Sex life after cervical cancer. Life after cervical cancer: what recommendations to follow

Doctors identify several prognostic factors that affect survival rates for cervical cancer:

stage of the disease;
condition lymph nodes;
depth and volume of the tumor.

Determining factor– staging of the disease, then - the state of the lymph nodes.

After radical hysterectomy in stages I and IIA, statistics on five-year survival shows the following numbers:

88 - 99% with non-tumour-affected lymph nodes;
50 - 74% in the presence of metastases in the pelvic lymph nodes.

I want to consult a gynecologist

Survival rates are lower if the pathology has affected the paraortal lymph nodes. Also, the prognosis depends on the number of affected lymph nodes.

The five-year survival rate of patients with one affected lymph node is 62%, with two - 36%, with three or four - about 20%, and with 5 or more it is 0%.

Stage forecast

Properly selected treatment of cervical cancer at times increases the patient's chances of normal life after operation. The five-year survival rate ranges from 5 to 85%, depending on the stage of the disease. Over the past 10 years, the life expectancy of patients with stage I and II cancer has increased significantly, while indicators for stage III and have not changed.

Within 3 years after the first treatment, 70-75% of patients experience a relapse of the disease. Further, the frequency of renewals falls by more later dates is 10 - 15%. Most often, renewals begin in the vagina (40-45%), pelvic lymph nodes (25-30%) and on distant organs (25-30%).

In 25% of cases, radiation therapy small pelvis helps to get rid of renewals. If the tumor gives metastatic renewal, then the effect of treatment is small - about 10%.

Life after illness

cervical cancer and its treatment certainly have a negative impact on the quality of life of patients. The effects may be seen within years after treatment procedures.

A study was conducted in which 120 women took part after surgery with and without subsequent (adjuvant) cancer treatment. None of them showed recurrence after the operation for 7 years. Basically, these were patients with initial stages cancer.

Another study included 98 women who underwent surgery 5 to 15 years ago. All observed showed symptoms of intoxication, pain in the pelvic area, sexual, intestinal disorders, urinary incontinence.

reproductive function

Treatment of cervical cancer leads to disruption/failure of ovarian function. However, about 40% of patients are women under 45 years of age. Many of them want to have children in the future, so the question of conservation reproductive function extremely important.

With a radical hysterectomy, the ovaries are generally not removed, but after the operation there is a possibility of their function fading due to impaired blood supply. Radiation therapy definitely leads to disruption of ovulation due to high doses. Problems with ovulation can lead to infertility, early menopause, sexual disorders.

Before starting treatment, it is important to consult a doctor and indicate the desire to keep childbearing function. The doctor determines the possibility of an organ-preserving operation. In case of radiotherapy, the doctor may move the ovaries to reduce their dose of radiation.

In early menopause after cervical cancer treatment, substitution therapy is indicated. hormone therapy. Drugs help to cope with such unwanted symptoms as dryness in the vagina, pain during intimacy.

Hysterectomy and radiation often lead to a change in the structure of the vagina, its length, tissue elasticity, which affects the quality sexual life. After a series of studies, doctors have identified the following patterns in sexual disorders:

patients who underwent radiation after surgery had worse life outcomes than those who received no follow-up treatment;
patients treated for cervical cancer without subsequent adjuvant had the same quality of life indicators as healthy women.
the most common complication is a weak vaginal secretion;
in reaching orgasm special problems has not been identified;
most are observed pain within 3 months after the operation. After radiation therapy, pain may appear for up to two years after the course of treatment.

Problems sexual in nature in this context are treated with vaginal lubricants, moisturizers, estrogens.

Statistics show that cervical cancer is in 3rd place among all malignant diseases. Most often, women from 30 to 55 years old are affected.

If on early stages this disease treatment, in most cases, has a positive prognosis, then for stage 3 the indicators are not so comforting.

Cervical cancer is wall damage this body malignant cells resulting in the replacement of healthy tissue with fibrous tissue. This pathology exactly on final stages characterized by a low survival rate. The development of the tumor is difficult to predict, since it is characterized by both a passive form of development and an aggressive one.

Classification

Stage III cervical cancer is characterized by certain symptoms, according to which 3 degrees of the disease are distinguished:

3A. Characterized by localization malignant neoplasm in the pelvic area and the upper third walls of the vagina. At this degree pathological process does not involve other structures of the penis. Treatment carried out at this stage has positive results in 60% of cases.
3B. It is characterized by an increase in the activity of tumor growth over a large area of the small pelvis and lower part walls of the vagina. In this case, the urinary system is not affected. The survival prognosis for stage 3B disease is only 42%.
3B. With the last degree of its development at stage 3, the formation completely affects the tissues of the small pelvis and the organs of the urinary system, including the kidneys. Kidney damage is accompanied by the development of severe hydronephrosis. Treatment in this case It has disappointing forecasts. Only 30% of patients survive.

Symptoms

You can identify the presence of a malignant lesion of the cervix by the appearance of the following symptoms:

abnormally fast loss weight;
constant drowsiness and lethargy;
lack of appetite;
fast and excessive fatigue;
increase in body temperature to subfebrile indicators. At the same time, the temperature during the day can change its value several times;
the appearance of regular intermenstrual heavy bleeding;
pain during intercourse;
discharge with impurities of whites and bad smell;
disruption of the menstrual cycle and a change in the nature of the secretions at the same time.

With the defeat of the urinary system, the appearance of swelling and infrequent urination. Also, the occurrence of sharp short pains localized in the lower abdomen is characteristic.

Diagnostics

Often, early symptoms of the disease can be confused with common symptoms diseases of this organ, therefore, a number of specific research methods are used to confirm the diagnosis:

blood biochemistry. Designed to detect violations in the composition of the blood. The presence of cancer pathology in this case, first of all, is detected by a decrease in the amount of iron;
inspection with a mirror. It is carried out to study the structure of the walls of the uterus and identify oncological formations;
colposcopy. Designed for bimanual examination and similar procedures that may cause bleeding;
diagnostic tests. Help to determine the quality of the affected tissue and the degree of tumor growth;
smears. They can reveal violations in the microflora of the vagina;
bimanual examination of the vagina. With its application, it is possible to determine seals that are not visible to visual perception;
biopsy. Designed to identify the type of cancer cells, as a result of which the correct treatment will be prescribed;
rectal-vaginal examination. Allows you to determine the form of cancer and examine the degree of uterine mobility;
rectal-abdominal-wall examination. Designed to determine the state of the uterine sacral ligaments and to identify wall infiltration.

Therapy

At the 3rd stage of the development of this pathology, combined treatment, with the inclusion of chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy. Surgical intervention on this stage tumor formation gives effect in isolated cases.

Radiation therapy

For the treatment of pathology, combined radiation therapy is used, which includes remote and intracavitary irradiation.

Remote irradiation is carried out in 2 stages. At the 1st stage, it is irradiated the entire volume of the small pelvis, right up to abdominal aorta. The second step is irradiation regional group of lymph nodes. Often, 2-fold irradiation of nodes is prescribed with a dosage of up to 48 GR.

This procedure is carried out 5 times per week and then take a break. After a break, intracavitary therapy is prescribed. Intracavitary irradiation is point exposure to gamma rays pointwise on the neck of the organ. To do this, a special tube is inserted into the vagina, through which X-rays are fed.

It is carried out no more than 3 times a week.

Typically, treatment includes several courses of radiation therapy. To date, this technique is the most effective for stage 3 cancer localized on the cervix. High dose irradiation gives results in 60% of cases.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is used only if the tumor is highly differentiated. In other situations, treatment with chemotherapy drugs has only a slight effect. positive effect. This is explained features of the blood supply to organs small pelvis.

If tissues are damaged, blood does not flow well to the uterus along with drugs, only in a small amount, which means therapeutic effect is reduced to a minimum. Most often, chemotherapy acts as a complementary treatment, in which the following drugs are used:

Paclitaxel. It is applied intravenously once a day;
Cisplatin. It is also used intravenously 2 times a day.

The introduction of drugs is carried out during 2 or 5 days, depending on the degree of injury. The course of treatment includes several such procedures, which are carried out with an interval of 3 weeks. At the last degree of stage 3, drugs are prescribed one month before radiotherapy using once a week.

Statistics showed that the number of survivors who received chemotherapy in combination with radiation is 58%.

Immunotherapy

Therapy of this nature, is applied only as a complementary and supportive methods. It involves the use of high-dose interferon, which increases protective functions immune system and provokes increased functioning causation of the cause, as a result, the overall resistance of the body to cancer diseases increases.

Dosages for each case are set individually, depending on general condition organism. immune therapy appointed after complex impact radiation and chemotherapy. As a rule, it is carried out in a single course without the inclusion of intervals.

The use of immunotherapy, in general, does not affect the prognosis immediately after treatment. But boosting immunity by 27% reduces the risk of primary relapses.

Forecast

The main difference of this stage is that the complex treatment has an effect in 60% of cases. However, in the first year after treatment 31% relapses are observed. Maximum effect can only be achieved using high doses of therapy.

If radiation exposure is used as a single independent method treatment, the survival rate reduced to 45%. Stage 3 is characterized by high mortality, because the organs of the urinary system are involved in the pathological process.

At this position 5% of the total number of cases, they die precisely from complications localized in these organs. The results of treatment will primarily be affected by the size of the tumor. If the volume of the lesion is 15 centimeters in diameter, positive results for a five-year survival will be only in 40% of patients.

If the main growth is within 7 centimeters, then the probability of survival is 60%. But, despite the successful outcome of therapy, in most cases, relapses occur, which are explained by the peculiarity of radiation exposure.

In some cases, after therapy, the remaining active cancer cells, start to grow from new force, metastasizing to adjacent organs and tissues. In this case, the presence of such metastases is observed in 70% of patients.

Case histories

Although this stage has a high mortality rate, positive result from treatment still prevails, which is proved by numerous stories of cured women:

Woman 56 years old. Diagnosis: squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. Pathology burdened diabetes 2 degrees in subcompensated form and arterial hypertension. A course of treatment was prescribed, which includes 6 courses of intracavitary irradiation, with the use of chemicals.

After 4 courses of treatment, there was a positive trend with a decrease in the tumor by 70%. After completing all the courses, the tumor completely disappeared. To date, there has been a four-year remission period.

Woman 36 years old. Diagnosis: Adenocarcinoma of the cervix 3 stages with active growth in the walls of the small pelvis. Treatment was prescribed, including 7 cycles of radiation and chemotherapy. Each cycle consisted of two weeks of intensive therapy at intervals of two weeks.

After the full course treatment, there was a decrease in the volume of growths on the walls of the small pelvis by 60% and the main tumor by 70%. As a result, the therapy was supplemented with several more courses of intensive treatment. To date, the patient has been in remission for the third year.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

In our article today:

Today, doctors offer many ways to treat such dangerous disease like cervical cancer. This also includes surgical intervention, and radiation and chemotherapy: the course is developed individually for each patient, depending on the stage of the disease, the general health of the woman, concomitant diseases. However, no matter what treatment is prescribed, it will be followed by a long and in some cases difficult rehabilitation.

Recovery after surgery

As you can read on the site, if a woman was scheduled for a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus, appendages, pelvic lymph nodes and part of the vaginal tube), then the patient may experience the following complications:

Pain due to poor healing wounds or adhesions.
Allocations.
Bleeding (should be minor, otherwise seek immediate medical attention).
Difficulty urinating (associated with postoperative inflammation Bladder).

Usually the stitches are removed after the operation on the 6th-7th day. Inflammation is not uncommon, in which case doctors prescribe antibiotics.

The main requirement for all patients who have recovered from oncological diseases is to regular examinations. It is important to prevent a relapse, for this you need to take tests - blood, ultrasound, CT or MRI. At first, it is recommended to visit a doctor every few months, then at least once every six months.

For successful rehabilitation, it is very important that life after cervical cancer returns to normal as soon as possible. However, it must be borne in mind that some side effects treatment ( chronic fatigue, weakness, fast fatiguability) can persist for an extended period of time. That is why a woman needs to limit physical exercise and take care of a good rest.

It is desirable to lead healthy lifestyle life. It will include not only special diet(it is worth excluding fatty, salty, fried foods from the diet, try to eat less red meat and more vegetables and fruits), but also a number of physical exercises. Be sure to give up bad habits (smoking, alcohol consumption), as they can provoke a relapse of the disease.

important and psychological rehabilitation. It should be noted that the help of relatives is not always enough: in order to return the patient peace of mind may need to see a specialist. There are even cancer support groups: studies show that people who attend such group sessions recover faster.

They can be either local or general. They can appear both at an early stage, even during treatment, and months or even a year after its completion.

The early stage of the response to therapy is manifested by such symptoms as nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, a decrease in the number of thrombo-, leuko- and lymphocytes in the blood. You can cope with these complications with the help of a sparing diet, high-calorie foods, blood transfusions, and taking vitamins. But if these measures do not give a result, you have to stop the course of radiation therapy.

Some of the patients may experience problems in life after radiation therapy of the cervix due to oppression. hematopoietic organs. To prevent this problem, you need to take a blood test every 3 months in the first few years, and then do the same procedure at least 2 times / year. If leukopenia or anemia occurs, the analysis may be done more often if indicated.

Inhibition of hematopoietic activity in bone marrow after therapy will require special treatment which must be systematically correct and comprehensive. Life after cervical cancer then takes place in such general strengthening measures as improving working and rest conditions, enhanced nutrition, and taking vitamins. The following procedures are also carried out:

additional transfusion of blood or erythrocytes or leukocytes;
taking medications that stimulate the appearance of leukocytes;
taking drugs that improve the reproduction of red blood cells.

Food

With oncology, it is recommended to eat more vegetable, berry, fruit products, as well as cereals. They contain antioxidants that help detoxify the body. free radicals. Products must also be fresh and of high quality.

Medical research shows that in preventive purposes or with an already existing illness, you need to eat up to 5 servings every day herbal products. Food must be consumed in fresh without passing heat treatment(the maximum that can be allowed is steaming).

In case of cancer of the cervix, you should use fatty acid. Include in your diet sunflower oil and also fish.

Protein in the body should come from dairy products, meat can also be consumed, but you can do without it, replacing it with fish. In the event that you decide to leave meat in the diet, you should eat it no more than 1-2 times / week, trying to consume its low-fat varieties.

Herbal decoctions and tinctures will also be very useful. Can I drink green tea because it also contains antioxidants.

The diet should not contain the following products:

Semi-finished products;
fried and fatty food;
Spicy, heavily salted, smoked dishes;
cocoa and chocolate;
Strong tea;
Sweets with cream;
Alcohol;
Control sugar and salt intake.

Sport

Thanks to constant physical exercises, you can not only improve your physical form, but also speed up the process of treatment and recovery after oncological disease. Studies show that regular exercise improves mood, good sleep, strengthen immunity, relieve depression.

For those who have just completed an intensive course of treatment, it is not recommended to immediately start serious loads. It is best to start rehabilitation with a quick walk and walks on the street. At bad weather You can exercise on an exercise bike or a treadmill. You can increase the load only after consulting a doctor. Optimal mode - classes brisk walking for 30-40 min. 4-5 times/week.

Life after cervical cancer should be active, physical exercises should please, not strain, so you should not play sports when feeling unwell or fatigue. Adjust the load, taking into account your capabilities.

Majority scientific research demonstrates that due to constant sports, the risk of getting a recurrence of the disease becomes much lower, and most body systems become stronger and more resilient.

Intimate life after cervical cancer

Most of the patients, after a successfully completed course of treatment, quickly undergo rehabilitation and continue to live a full life. intimate life after cervical cancer. Although there are also many patients who, because of this, experience serious problems and don't know how to deal with them.

Intimate life after cervical cancer is quite possible. Exist various options in which doctors allow patients to continue having sex:

If the uterus is preserved. In this case, after rehabilitation therapy sometimes even the opportunity to become pregnant and give birth to a child returns;
If the patient's uterus is removed. Under such conditions, libido will depend on whether the ovaries are removed - if not removed, the ability to have sex can be restored;
If all organs are removed. Reestablish hormonal background and feminine sexual health it is possible with the help of hormonal procedures and the implementation of intimate plastic surgery.

In any case, women who are forced to undergo surgery due to cervical cancer should not lose faith in themselves and an optimistic attitude. Returning to a full-fledged rhythm of life will depend only on you, you just need to find the desire and strength in yourself in order to recover.

rehabilitation period

What life will be like after cervical cancer and how a woman feels depends on several factors. This is the method of treatment, the stage at which the disease was diagnosed, and the age of the patient. After finishing medical therapy it is important to pass the correct rehabilitation period, consisting of several restorative procedures that can increase efficiency and improve health. There are such methods:

Eating lungs and natural products, change in diet;
Hiking everyday;
Daily sports;
Maintaining optimal weight and maintenance wellness;
Regular medical examinations;
If necessary, go to a psychologist.

Since you will need to lead a healthy lifestyle, oh bad habits you have to forget - smoking and alcohol will be unacceptable for you. Even being close to smokers can cause a relapse that can worsen the patient's condition.

It is also very important to be constantly examined by an oncologist for several years - this way any problems or recurrence will be detected in time. Early detection of the disease will allow surgical treatment without causing any complications.

Sick leave

During the treatment of cervical cancer, it may be necessary to perform a biopsy. In this case, a small piece is taken for examination under a microscope with high power. According to the results of the biopsy, correct diagnosis and is selected best method treatment. The diagnosis made after a biopsy becomes final, the accuracy is no longer disputed.

When the biopsy is performed on an outpatient basis, the woman receives a sick leave for 2 days, and if this procedure performed in a hospital, the list can be extended up to 10 days.

If carried out abdominal operation The patient needs to stay in the hospital for about 2 weeks. Staples from the seam are removed 7 days after the operation, and the speed of wound healing depends only on the woman's body.

With the global removal of all lymph nodes and ligaments in the pelvis, major changes which results in a longer recovery period.

Postoperative therapy helps restore fluid and electrolyte balance and prevent inflammation.

In general, the term sick leave after surgery to remove the uterus can be 25-45 days.

Cervical cancer is malignant tumor, which appears in the lower part of the uterus (c). Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women worldwide.

Why does cervical cancer appear?

The exact causes of cervical cancer (like any other cancer) are not yet known, because it is not clear why, all other things being equal, one woman develops cancer and another does not.

However, not all women infected with the human papillomavirus develop cervical cancer. What's more, in the vast majority of women, HPV infection goes away on its own without treatment. Only 5-10% of women infected with HPV develop a precancerous condition (), which within 10-20 years may develop into cervical cancer.

There are several factors that increase the risk of developing cervical cancer:

The presence in the body of several at once.

reduced immunity as a result malnutrition, chronic diseases, HIV infection, long-term use medicines that lower the immune system steroid hormones, chemotherapy drugs).

early start sexual life (up to 18 years).

Early pregnancy and childbirth (up to 16 years).

A large number of sexual partners, or a sexual partner who has had many women.

Sexually transmitted diseases (,).

The presence of one or more of the factors listed above will not necessarily lead to cervical cancer, but such a risk exists.

Who can develop cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer can develop at any age, but most often this disease is detected in women older than 35-40 years. In women younger than 30 years, cervical cancer is very rare, as this type of cancer develops rather slowly (usually within 10-20 years). In young women under 30-35 years old, precancerous conditions are more common, namely,.

Symptoms and signs of cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is often asymptomatic and unnoticed by the woman herself. However, in some women, the first symptoms of cancer are:

If suspicious areas are found during colposcopy, a biopsy of the cervix is performed.

Biopsy of the cervix

A biopsy can tell if cervical cancer is real, and if so, how much it has spread - this information will be important to formulate a treatment plan.

HPV tests

The main condition for the development of cervical cancer is the presence in the body of the human papillomavirus of a high oncogenic risk (HPV 16, type 18, etc.). If cervical cancer is suspected, the gynecologist must prescribe.

Analysis for tumor markers in cervical cancer

Tumor markers are specific substances found in the blood that can indicate cancer. For different oncological diseases there are "their" markers, depending on which cells the cancer developed from. In cervical cancer, an increase in the level of the tumor marker SCC can be detected in the blood.

It has been noted that the higher the level of SCC in cervical cancer, the more sizes tumors, "neglected" cancer, and the more difficult it will be to treat. During cancer therapy, changes in the level of the tumor marker SCC can indicate how successful the treatment is. After the end of the course of treatment for cervical cancer, an increase in the level of SCC may indicate a relapse of the disease.

It is important to note that an increase in SCC is not proof of cervical cancer. This tumor marker can also be elevated in cancer of the vulva, vagina, esophagus, lungs, etc. But with a confirmed diagnosis of cervical cancer (using a cervical biopsy or histological examination after surgery) measurements of this tumor marker may have prognostic value and even influence treatment.

When the diagnosis of cervical cancer is considered confirmed, additional tests, which help to clarify the degree of spread of the tumor (stage of cancer).

For this, x-rays of the lungs can be prescribed, CT scan, and organs abdominal cavity, blood tests, urine tests and some other tests.

Types of cervical cancer

Histological examination in cervical cancer can give important information about what the tumor is made of. Depending on what cells the neoplasm consists of, there are several types of cervical cancer:

Squamous cell (non-keratinizing) cervical cancer accounts for 85% of cervical cancer cases. This type of cancer is made up of cells from the ectocervix (the vaginal part of the cervix).

Glandular cancer (adenocarcinoma) - occurs in 10-15% of cases of cervical cancer and consists of cylindrical epithelial cells located in the cervical canal (in the endocervix).

Mixed type of cancer (adenosquamous cervical cancer, adenosquamous carcinoma) is a fairly rare type of cancer, which accounts for 3% of all cases of cervical cancer. This type of cancer has characteristics and squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinomas.

Stages (degrees) of cervical cancer

In order to determine the tactics of treatment, the doctor must establish the stage of cervical cancer. The stage (grade) of a cancer tells you how much the cancer has spread. AT different countries different classifications of cancer by stages can be used.

We will consider the significance of cervical cancer stages, which are most often used in Russia and the CIS countries.

Carcinoma in situ (carcinoma in situ, CIS, stage 0 cervical cancer)

Carcinoma in situ is a condition in which some of the cells in the cervix have become cancer-like, but there are not many of them and they have not spread very deeply. Carcinoma in situ is not cancer, but a precancerous condition, which is also called grade 3 cervical dysplasia, or CIN 3. Sometimes this condition is also called stage 0 cervical cancer.

If you remove the changed areas of the cervix at this stage, then cervical cancer can be prevented. If no treatment is given at this stage, there is a risk of developing cervical cancer in the coming years.

First stage (grade) of cervical cancer

With stage 1 cervical cancer, the size of the tumor is still very small, so the tumor may not be visible or noticeable with difficulty. In the first degree of cancer, the tumor is located within the cervix and does not spread to neighboring organs.

Stage 1A - The tumor is so small that it can only be seen through a microscope or during a colposcopy. Stage 1A has 2 subgroups:

1A1 - the tumor has a size not exceeding 7 mm, and it has spread deep into the cervix by no more than 3 mm.
1A2 - the tumor has a size of no more than 7 mm, and it has spread into the tissue of the cervix to a depth of 3-5 mm.

Stage 1B or 1B - The tumor is slightly larger than stage 1A, but has not yet spread deeply. This stage also has 2 subgroups:

1B1 - the tumor has a size of no more than 4 cm.
1B2 - The tumor is larger than 4 cm.

Second stage (grade) of cervical cancer

With stage 2 cervical cancer, the tumor begins to spread to neighboring tissues and organs.

Stage 2A - The tumor has spread down toward the vagina. Stage 2A has 2 subgroups:

2A1 - the tumor has a size of no more than 4 cm.
2A2 - the tumor is larger than 4 cm.

Stage 2B or 2B - The tumor has spread to the tissues around the cervix.

The third stage (degree) of cervical cancer

In stage 3 cervical cancer, the tumor grows into the cervix, spreading to the structures of the small pelvis and to the lower half of the vagina.

Stage 3A - The cancer has spread to the lower third of the vagina.

Stage 3B or 3B - the cancer has spread to the structures of the small pelvis or disrupted the patency of one of the ureters (the ureter is the tube through which urine enters the bladder from the kidney).

Fourth stage (degree) of cervical cancer

it last stage cancer, which means the tumor has spread to other organs.

Stage 4A - The cancer has spread to the bladder or rectum.

Stage 4B or 4B - The cancer has metastasized to other organs. Cervical cancer can metastasize to the lungs, liver, bones, and other organs.

Statistics on life expectancy in cervical cancer

We tend to think that cancer is incurable. fatal disease, but this is no longer true. cervical cancer on early stages can be completely cured and late stages treatment helps to significantly prolong life.

Many women, when they find out they have cervical cancer, wonder how great their chances of survival are. In order to answer this question, we will give some figures that can give general idea about the state of affairs.

Before you read this, please note:

*AT medical science when statistics are compiled on life expectancy at various diseases, a time period of 5 years is used. This does not mean that you will live only 5 years: it means how many people will live at least 5 years after being diagnosed (but it can be 10, 20 years or more).

*Statistics are only correct if the woman is receiving adequate treatment. Without treatment, the chances will be much lower.

*These figures have been derived from various studies around the world. There are no national statistics that would reflect the state of affairs in Russia, Ukraine or any other country.

*Please note that averages cannot tell you exactly what to expect. You can get the opinion of your doctor, but even he will not be able to say exactly what are your chances to overcome cancer and how many years you will live.

With stage 1 cervical cancer, the chances of recovery are very high. How smaller sizes tumors, the more successful the treatment. So, for example, at stage 1A1, as a result of treatment, 98-99% of women recover, at stage 1A2, 95-98% of women recover after treatment.

At stage 1B1 or 1B1, the chances of recovery as a result of treatment are 90-95%, and at stage 1B2 or 1B2 - 80%.

With stage 2 cervical cancer, the chances of recovery are also very high, provided adequate treatment. At stage 2A, 70-90% of women will live for 5 years or more. At stage 2B or 2B, the statistics are as follows: 60-70% of women will live for at least 5 years.

With stage 3 cervical cancer, about 30-50% of women will live for at least another 5 years.

With stage 4 cervical cancer, about 20% of women will live for at least 5 more years. In stage 4A, the chances are slightly higher than in stage 4B or 4B.

Treatment of cervical cancer

The choice of treatment for cervical cancer depends mainly on the stage of the cancer.

The early stages of cervical cancer are the first stage (1A, 1B) and the second stage (2A).

Stage 2B, when the tumor has spread to adjacent tissues, is considered late, just like stages 3 and 4.

Treatment of early cervical cancer (1A, 1B, 2A)

In the earliest stages of cervical cancer (stage 0 cancer, cancer 1A1), it is still possible to remove only part of the cervix, leaving the cervix in place, or to remove only the cervix, leaving the uterus and other organs in place.

Removal of a section of the cervix is an operation called cervical conization (or wedge resection cervix, or wedge biopsy).

Removal (or amputation) of the cervix is an operation that may be recommended if a woman plans to have a baby in the future. Amputation of the cervix (radical trachelectomy) may not be effective in all cases and is not available in all clinics. Also, this operation cannot give a 100% guarantee that you will be able to become pregnant and have a baby in the future.

If you have stage 2A2, 1B, or 2A cervical cancer, you will most likely be offered surgery to remove your uterus and cervix (hysterectomy).

Radiotherapy may be given as an alternative surgical operation if a woman does not want to remove the uterus, either as additional treatment after operation. In some cases, in addition to surgery and radiation therapy, your doctor may prescribe chemotherapy ( medicinal treatment that destroys cancer cells that may have remained in the body).

Treatment of advanced cervical cancer

The main treatment for cervical cancer in stages 2B and 3 is radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy.

With cancer at stage 4A, a radical operation can be performed - an operation to remove the uterus, cervix, vagina, and neighboring organs affected by cancer. After surgery (or, sometimes, instead of it), radiotherapy and / or chemotherapy is prescribed.

For stage 4B cancer, when the cancer has metastasized to distant organs, treatment is prescribed that eliminates or reduces the symptoms of cancer and helps prolong life.

cervical cancer during pregnancy

AT rare cases cervical cancer can be detected during pregnancy. If a Pap smear reveals precancerous changes (grade 1, 2, or 3) or early-stage cervical cancer, your gynecologist will recommend a colposcopy.

Colposcopy is not dangerous during pregnancy and does not increase the risk of miscarriage. If suspicious changes are found during a colposcopy, your doctor may recommend a cervical biopsy.

It may slightly increase the risk of miscarriage or, therefore, it is prescribed only in last resort, if you can't do without it.

Cervical cancer usually develops slowly, so a woman often has time to “wait” until delivery and then undergo treatment.

If the cancer has become dangerous enough to wait until delivery, the doctor may recommend more early delivery(by caesarean section), which will save the child and "save" a few weeks. Sometimes, immediately after a cesarean section, they are performed, and immediately after the operation, radio and chemotherapy are prescribed.

Is pregnancy possible after cervical cancer?

Unfortunately, in most cases of cervical cancer, treatment is prescribed that deprives a woman of the ability to become pregnant in the future. It's about about the removal of the uterus, without which pregnancy becomes impossible.

However, in the early stages of cancer, the uterus can sometimes be saved, allowing the woman to become a mother in the future. Ask your doctor if you will be able to have children after treatment, and if so, when is the best time to start planning for pregnancy.

Prevention of cervical cancer

The main condition for the development of cervical cancer is infection. Prevention of cervical cancer includes measures to reduce the risk of contracting the virus.

General recommendations

Compliance following tips gynecologists allows several times to reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer:

Don't start sexual life up to 18 years old. Early onset of sexual activity increases the risk of earlier human papillomavirus infection and cervical cancer.

Use . Condoms do not guarantee 100% protection against HPV, but they significantly reduce the risk of contracting this virus and other sexually transmitted infections.

Join sexual intercourse only with well-known men who did not have before you a large number women. Limit the number of sexual partners to a minimum. The fewer sexual partners you and your man had, the lower the risk of developing cervical cancer.

Quit smoking. Smoking increases the risk of cervical and other cancers.

Contact your gynecologist if you have any suspicious symptoms (discharge with an unpleasant odor, bloody issues after sex, etc.)

If you are over 25 years old and have never had a Pap smear, be sure to visit a gynecologist and take this test. If you have taken a smear for a long time (3 years or more), then you should repeat this analysis.

If you are under 26, get vaccinated against the human papillomavirus. Read more about HPV vaccines at the end of this article.

Screening for cervical cancer

Currently, in developed countries, it has been possible to significantly reduce the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer. This is made possible by screening tests that include a Pap test and a human papillomavirus (HPV) test.

Girls and women under 25 are not recommended for screening (although in the US, the first screening is recommended at age 21). Screening includes a smear for cytology.

Over 65 years old: if a woman has had adequate screening before this age and the results were normal, then screening can no longer be carried out, since the risk of developing cervical cancer will be extremely small.

Vaccines (vaccinations) against cervical cancer

In order to reduce the risk of developing cancer, a woman needs to protect herself from the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the cause of cervical cancer in 99.9% of cases.

At present, vaccines (inoculations) have been developed that create immunity and do not allow dangerous viruses"settle" in the body.

The vaccine is effective against HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 (protects against cervical cancer and against), and the Crvarix vaccine is effective against HPV types 16 and 18 (protects only against cervical cancer).