Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer develops slowly from precancerous lesions, often without early symptoms, making routine screening vital for women aged 21-65. Key risk factors include multiple sexual partners, smoking, weakened immunity, and long-term oral contraceptive use, with HPV types 16 and 18 responsible for over 70% of cases.?

Common symptoms emerge in later stages: unusual vaginal bleeding (post-intercourse, between periods, or post-menopause), watery or foul-smelling discharge, pelvic pain, and pain during sex or urination. Diagnosis involves Pap/HPV tests, colposcopy, biopsy, and imaging like CT or MRI to assess spread.?

Treatment varies by stage: Early localized disease uses cone biopsy, hysterectomy, or trachelectomy for fertility preservation. Advanced cases rely on chemoradiation (cisplatin with external/internal radiation), targeted therapies like bevacizumab, or immunotherapy such as pembrolizumab. Five-year survival exceeds 90% for localized cancer but drops with metastasis; clinical trials offer emerging options like HPV-targeted vaccines. Prevention through HPV vaccination (Gardasil-9), safe sex, and screening has reduced incidence dramatically worldwide.