Medical Tourism in India, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia

The uterine cervix is the narrow lower portion of the uterus or the womb, where it joins with the top of the vagina.  Cervical cancer is cancer that starts in the cervix and most cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, arising in the squamous (flattened) epithelial cells that line the cervix. Adenocarcinoma, arising in glandular epithelial cells is the second most common type.

Cervical cancer occurs when cells of the cervix grows abnormally and invades other tissues or organs of the body.  It is the third most common cancer in women across the world.  Cervical cancer usually develops very slowly and thus not easily detectable in early stages. Cervical cancer usually starts as a precancerous condition called dysplasia and if detected in precancerous condition by a Pap smear test, it can be completely treated.  If undetected dysplasia develops into cervical cancer and may spread to the bladder, intestines, lungs, and liver.  Since, the cancer growth is slow, It can take years for dysplasia to grow into cervical cancer. Thus, patients with cervical cancer usually do not find any problems in their normal day-to-day life activities until the cancer is advanced and has spread.

Almost all cervical cancers are caused by human papilloma virus, commonly known as HPV in medical terminology.  HPV is usually spread through sexual intercourse.

 

Cervical Cancer Symptoms

In precancerous or early cervical cancer stage symptoms are not easily detectable by the patients.  Once it grows over a period of time, certain symptoms show up which may occur and include:

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods, after intercourse, or after menopause
• Any bleeding after menopause
• Continuous vaginal discharge
• Menstrual periods become heavier and longer than usual

Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer may include back pain, bone fractures, fatigue, heavy bleeding from the vagina, leaking of urine or feces from the vagina, leg pain, loss of appetite, pelvic pain, single swollen leg, weight loss.

Cervical cancer may occur due to:

• Having sex at an early age
• Multiple sexual partners
• Poor economic status (may not be able to afford regular Pap smears)
• Sexual partners who have multiple partners or who participate in high-risk sexual activities
• Weak immune system

 

Cervical Cancer Tests & Detection

During precancerous stage, as the patient does not feel or see changes of the cervix, it goes undetected as cervical cancer cannot be seen with the naked eye.  Diagnosing cervical cancer requires special tests.  Some of them are;

• Pap smears screening for pre-cancers and cancer.
• If abnormal changes are found, the cervix is usually examined under magnification called colposcopy.   In this test, pieces of tissue are surgically removed (biopsied) and sent to a laboratory for examination.

Other tests may include:

• Endocervical curettage (ECC) to examine the opening of the cervix
• Cone biopsy

 

Treatment

Treatment of cervical cancer depends on stage of the cancer, size and shape of the cancer tumor, age of the woman, general health condition, size of the tumor, patient’s age, health.

Cervical cancer in primary stage can be cured by removing the precancerous or cancerous tissue through surgery and without removing the uterus or damaging the cervix.  Since, the uterus is not removed, the patient after complete recovery can have children if she desires so.

Various surgeries to treat early cervical cancer are:

• Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) — using electricity to remove abnormal tissue
• Cryotherapy – in this procedure, abnormal cells (cancerous cells) are frozen
• Laser therapy – in this type of surgery, laser light is used to burn abnormal cancerous tissue

A patient having detected at early stage of cervical cancer where it has not spread or overgrown is usually spared from hysterectomy (removal of the uterus but not the ovaries).

For advanced cervical cancer, treatments may include:

• Radical hysterectomy – This surgical process in which the uterus is removed along with surrounding tissues so that the cancerous cells are extracted, including lymph nodes and the upper part of the vagina.
• Pelvic exenteration – This process is for those patients where the cervical cancer has spread to most organs in the pelvic region.  This being an extreme type of surgery, all of the organs of the pelvis, including the bladder and rectum, are removed.
• Radiation therapy – Radiation therapy may be used to treat cervical cancer that has spread beyond the pelvis, or cancer that has returned.
• Chemotherapy – Drugs to kill cancer are used for cervical cancer.

 

Prevention

Cervical cancer prevention is possible through medical advancement and personal hygiene.  Vaccination to prevent cervical cancer is now available which prevents infection against the two types of HPV responsible for most cervical cancer cases.  It has been found that vaccination has effectively prevented early stage cervical cancer and precancerous lesions.

Practicing safe sex through use of condoms also reduces risk of HPV and other sexually transmitted diseases. HPV infection causes genital warts, which may be visible barely or clearly, and it is best that sex is avoided with such person.  Avoiding multiple sexual partners or indulging in high-risk sexual activity also reduce the risk of cervical cancer.

If cervical cancer is detected, patients need to get treated for the same at the earliest.  Whether it is in early stage or advanced stage treatment is important.  Cervical cancer treatment in India, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand is offered through most advanced cancer treatment centers, yet these are affordable when cost are compared in the US or Europe.  Planning ahead for the treatment of cervical cancer through medical tourism will help you get treated and also saves you money.