Sunday, 1 July 2012

Prevent Cervical Cancer


 Prevent Cervical Cancer, Naturally In 4 Tips:


Cervical cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancers affecting a significant number of women worldwide every year. Though unlike breast cancer, it has certified preventive measures. The medical condition starts with the cervix cancer undergoing precancerous changes. This is termed as cervical dysplasia, which can be mild to severe. Its development to cervical cancer takes years to happen, and it is aided by other factors. However, as earlier mentioned, cervical cancer can be prevented and one can reduce her risk of having it.
Have a Check Up
Those who have a family history of cervical cancer have a higher risk. The same is the level of risk with women who had an intercourse at a relatively younger age and those who had multiple partners. If you are one of these people, then it is best to see an OB-GYN doctor and have a pap smear. With this test, the doctor can check and treat if you have precancerous/abnormal cells before they can even progress to cervical cancer. You can also ask your doctor for recommendation as to how frequently should you get a pap smear.
Use a Condom and Limit Sexual Partners
For women who have multiple sexual partners, it is recommended that condoms should be used during the intercourse. However, it is best that the woman should limit the number of sexual partners as contracting HPV or human papilloma virus can cause cervical cancer. Self-discipline must be done as not only will the risk of having cervical cancer lessened, but the chances of acquiring sexually transmitted disease also decreases.
Stop Smoking
According to researches, smokers have a higher risk of up to 4 times greater than nonsmokers. This is due to the fact that the cervix can absorb the toxins released from smoking. The cells in the body may undergo changes because of this exposure, which can then lead to cancer of cervix. Plus, by quitting smoking, you also lessen your risk of having other forms of cancer.
Healthy Diet and Exercise
Eating healthy truly does a difference on your risk level. The most recommended foods are vegetables, fruits, and whole grains as they are rich in fiber, photochemical, and antioxidants. These can help in preventing precancerous cells from turning to this type cancer.
Food supplements may also be taken, after consultation with a doctor. Vitamin C is mostly advised to be taken as it is also rich in antioxidants. Exercise is also very important and must be done at least 4 hours in a week. Even just walking can suffice.
Aside from these, be wary if you are also having immunosuppressant or if your immunity has been decreased. This is largely attributed to prolong use and high dosage intakes of steroids, and other chemicals consumed to treat other diseases such as HIV or Leukemia. Immunosuppressant increases the risk of your body to develop cervical cancer.
With these four tips, you may have noticed that they mostly pertain to disciplining the self. So, to sum it all up, the primary key to preventing cervical cancer naturally is by having a healthy lifestyle.


 

Cervical Cancer Treatment Options


Cervical Cancer Treatment Options

Like so many other organs in the body, the cervix can develop cancer. Unlike the others, it is the second-most prone to develop them, next to breast cancer. Cervical cancer doesn't develop quickly. In fact, it can develop very slowly cervical cancer  that the individual doesn't even know it is there until they go for a screening or a physical exam. Since this is very prone to females, it is critical that we talk about different cervical cancer treatment options.
The most accepted way the medical industry treats cervical cancer is through hysterectomy. It is the surgical procedure to remove the uterus. If the cancer is already in the advanced stages, removal of the lymph nodes may prove to be a necessity. This type of treatment is most female’s worst nightmare as it removes their capability to give birth.
Fortunately, there are other, more gentle ways to treat cervical cancer, and keep the maternal capabilities intact. And for those women that want to stay fertile, there are a few cervical cancer treatment options they may opt to choose.
One of the more established processes is the LEEP or loop electrosurgical excision procedure. The benefits include it being on the inexpensive side, a highly successful rate of treatment, doesn't require major surgery, and uses only local anesthesia and can be done in the doctor's office.
Another procedure is the cone biopsy. This surgical process includes removing only the cone-shaped samples from the mucous membrane, and then radiation therapy is applied.
If the cone biopsy doesn't work positively, the next step will be to do trachelectomy. This procedure involves the surgeon trying to remove only area that is cancerous while maintaining the integrity of the uterus and the ovaries. Though, this can only be done if the cervical cancer hasn't scattered to the other regions of the uterus. One disadvantage with this is that there are only a few qualified specialists that are expert enough to perform this complicated and intricate process.
There are also more traditional options:
Radiation Therapy - This is done by applying an external beam to the pelvis. It can even be done internally through a procedure called brachytherapy.
Chemotherapy - This is the most popular and most widely used procedure across all kinds of cancer.
The most important thing to remember when looking for various cervical cancer treatment options is that there is always a possibility that the ability to have children in the future will be compromised.