According to the National Cancer Institute, cervical cancer begins in the lower portion of the uterus. Although often detected early in the United States due to the regular gynecological care, it still pays to be familiar with the symptoms, which include vaginal bleeding, localized pain in the pelvis, vaginal discharge, or pain throughout intercourse. Where cervical cancer is found, you have a number of treatment options to consider depending on the particulars of your cancer.
Instructions
Cervical Cancer
1. Determine how far cervical cancer has spread before attempting to consider a means of treatment. Various tests pinpoint how far the cancer has developed, including X-rays, CAT scans, lymphangiogram (an x-ray of the lymph node system), internal examination through surgery, ultrasounds, biopsies, and MRIs. Consult with your doctor to determine which tests are appropriate for you, and have them performed as quickly as possible.
2. Assign your cancer a stage depending on how far it has developed. In stage 0, precancerous cells have been found within the cervix. In stage I, cancer has occurred in the cervix, but the tumor is not larger than 4 cm wide or deep. In stage II, cancer has spread slightly to tissue within the upper portion of the vagina or upper uterus. In stage III, cancer has spread further to the lower portion of the vagina or to the pelvic wall. It is also possible that cancer has spread to adjacent lymph nodes in the hips and pelvis. Finally, in stage IV the cancer has spread to other organs and areas of the body such as the colon or bladder.
3. Collaborate with your physician to determine the appropriate treatment option and goal for your case of cervical cancer. The generally accepted available methods of treatment for cervical cancer include surgical procedures such as cryosurgery (freezing the cancerous tissue to destroy it), laser surgery (excising the tissue with a laser), or hysterectomy (complete removal of the uterus). Non-surgical methods include radiation therapy (application of high-energy radioactive waves to destroy cancer) and chemotherapy (application of hazardous drugs used to poison the cancerous cells).
4. Adhere to a cancer-proofing diet as recommended by the American Cancer Society. Eat a diet consisting of mostly plant-based foods such as fruits, veggies, and whole grains while minimizing your consumption of red meat, saturated fats, and trans fats. Keep the fat content in your diet limited to less than 30 percent of your total calories. Additionally, strive to perform at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise at least five days per week.
Tags: cancer spread, stage cancer, cervical cancer, stage cancer spread, lower portion