The cervix is the lowest part of the uterus, or the ‘neck of the womb,’ and connects the womb to the vagina. It has an opening allowing fluids to pass to and from the uterus, for example, in menstruation or sexual intercourse – and expands to become part of the birth canal during childbirth.
Cervical cancer is, therefore, a type of cancer that only affects women, and is most common between the ages
of 25 and 45. The early stages of cervical cancer may have no symptoms, but, like all cancers, the outlook is best when it is discovered early. This is why routine ‘pap’ or ‘smear’ tests are routinely offered in many countries, to screen those at risk and catch cancer in its early stages.
Cervical cancer makes up around 2% of cancers in women, and the most common forms of cervical cancer are squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma.
Signs And Symptoms Of Cervical Cancer
In the early stages, cervical cancer often has no symptoms. The most common symptom is vaginal bleeding, especially just after sex, in-between periods or after the menopause. As this is a relatively common and non-specific symptom that doesn’t usually mean anything serious, it is easily missed or dismissed. However, it’s imperative to get unexplained vaginal bleeding checked out to rule out any serious cause.
Other symptoms to look out for include:
- Pain during vaginal intercourse.
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding. Such as heavy periods, heavy spotting between periods, or an additional period during the monthly cycle.
- A vaginal discharge that may or may not have an odor.
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Causes And Risk Factors For Cervical Cancer
- Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus or HPV – which is a very common virus that is spread during sexual intercourse. It may have no symptoms or may present as genital warts. There are over 100 different types of HPV, and many of them are harmless. However, two strains of the HPV virus – HPV 16 and HPV 18 – are known to be responsible for 70% of all cases of cervical cancer. These types of HPV infections have no symptoms.
- Smoking.
- Those with a weakened immune system. Such as those with HIV, AIDS, or those taking drugs to suppress the immune system after an organ transplant.
- Women who have had a higher risk of exposure to different forms of HPV
- Exposure to certain chemicals. Tetrachloroethylene – a chemical commonly used for dry-cleaning fabric – is thought to increase the risk of cervical cancer.
Screening For Cervical Cancer
Pap testing (or a cervical smear test) is offered to women over the age of 25 in many countries and usually takes place every three years. During a screening, a small sample of cells is taken from the cervix and checked under a microscope for abnormalities.
Changes to the cervical cells can be detected at a very early stage, and treatment can reduce the risk of cervical cancer developing. However, it’s important to bear in mind that an abnormal smear test does not necessarily mean you have cancer. In fact, most abnormal results are caused by an infection or can indicate the presence of treatable ‘precancerous’ cells.
5 Year Survival Rates
The chances of living for at least five years after being diagnosed with cervical cancer depend largely on how far cancer has spread. The SEER database of cancer survival rates between 2009 and 2015 gives us the following indication:
- Local cancer – cancerous cells limited to the cervix: 92%
- Regional – cancer which has spread to the immediate surrounding areas: 56%
- Distant – cancer which has spread (‘metastasized’) to other regions of the body: 17%
These numbers should be very compelling to anyone putting off their pap test – early identification of cervical cancer dramatically improves survival rates.
Natural Treatments For Cervical Cancer
At The Budwig Center, we focus on natural treatments for cancer and base our recommendations on the essentials of healthy living, diet, and lifestyle. Combined with a sensitive, individualized approach to physical and emotional health, we value the importance of treating the person as a whole, not just cancer. Addressing the root cause of disease helps to create the foundation for self-healing and a holistic approach.
Testimonials
At The Budwig Center, we are incredibly proud of our clients – people who’ve used The Budwig Method to improve their health and manage their cancer and symptoms. For some of our patient’s stories, head to our cervical cancer testimonials page.
Contact us for more advice and information.
Note: This post was originally published in March, 2015 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.