Cervical cancer still ranks second with the largest number of cases after breast cancer in Indonesia. Therefore, institutions and government are still focusing on raising awareness in the community, especially for women who are already sexually active, to do periodically screening tests.
What happens if cervical cancer is not treated properly?
Cervical cancer can cause complications either due to side effects of medical therapy being undertaken or caused by cancer that has entered the final stage. Some of the complications of cervical cancer that occur as a side effect of the treatments :
- Vaginal narrowing, infertility, and premature menopause due to radiotherapy
- Diarrhea, hair loss, and kidney damage from chemotherapy
- Dry vagina, urinary incontinence, and not being able to have children due to hysterectomy
- Emotional damage
Meanwhile, the complications that occur when cervical cancer has entered the final stage are:
- Lymphedema, which is inflammation of the limbs due to blockage of lymph vessels by cancer
- Blood clots due to cancer pressing on the veins in the pelvis
- Bleeding from cancer that has spread to the vagina, intestines, and bladder
- Kidney failure due to accumulation of urine in the kidneys
- Fistula is the formation of an abnormal connection between organs in the body
What Can We Do to Prevent Cervical Cancer?
The best way to prevent cervical cancer is to have regular Pap smears and regular HPV checks. A regular screening test can help women find abnormal changes in cervical cells early, so they can be treated immediately.
There are additional ways that you can do to prevent cervical cancer :
- Do pap smear test regurally
- If you are under 26 years old, make sure you get the HPV vaccine
- Practice safe sex by using a condom
- Avoid doing sexual intercourse at a very young age
- Avoid having sex with someone who has more than one partner, has genital warts, or is showing other symptoms
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle, avoid carcinogenic foods, and exercise regularly
Cervical Cancer Treatment
Doctor will provide treatment for cervical cancer based on the stage of cancer experienced and the patient's health condition. The medical treatment that will be given can be chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, or a combination of the three.
Cervical cancer has a big chance to be cured if it can be detected as early as possible. Therefore, every woman is advised to undergo cervical cancer screening tests regularly from the age of 21 years or since they’re married. In addition, the HPV vaccine can be given from the age of 10 years to prevent HPV infection which can cause cervical cancer. Being indifferent to risk factors and the appearance of cervical cancer symptoms will only make the condition worse. Don't wait until it's too late, you should do regular Pap smears tests and pelvic exams to keep an eye on cervical cancer symptoms.