Cervical Cancer Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Cervical cancer is a slow-growing cancer that develops in the lining of the cervix, which is the lower, narrow part of the uterus that connects the uterus to the vagina. An estimated 12,200 women in the United States were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2010 and 4,210 died from it during that year. Fifty-eight percent of those 12,100 women were between the ages of 45 and 74. The 5 year survival rate from 1999 to 2006 was 70 percent. New early screening tests and a new vaccine are contributing to improved outcomes for this form of cancer.

There are two main types of cervical cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common form, occurring in about 80 to 90 percent of all cases. It develops in the thin, flat cells, called squamous cells, that cover the surface of the endocervix, the portion of the cervix closest to the uterus. Adenocarcinoma is more common in younger women and forms in the gland cells within the endocervix.

Although scientists are not 100 percent sure on how cervical cancer develops, they have been able to identify a number of risk factors which can lead to the disease. The chief risk factor is associated with sexually transmitted viruses such as some types of the human papillomavirus, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The bacterial based Chlamydia, also transmitted during sexual activity, is another risk factor for cancer of the cervix. Other factors which can lead to an increased risk of include: smoking, a diet low in fruits and vegetables, obesity, long-term use of oral contraceptives, and multiple pregnancies. A family history of cervical cancer is another high risk consideration.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of cervical cancer are asymptomatic (showing no symptoms) in the early stages. It is not until it has reached the later sub-stages and stages that it becomes noticeable. The most common symptoms include:

Abnormal vaginal bleedingAbnormal vaginal discharge with light blood spots or light bleeding between periods.A higher amount of blood loss than normal during menstruation.Bleeding following intercourse, pelvic exam, or douching.Pain during intercourse.General pelvic pain.

A diagnosis of cervical cancer can be made with the aid of several instruments and imaging devices. The two most common instruments include a cystoscope, (a thin, tube-shaped instrument with a light and optical device at one end which is inserted into the vagina) and a proctoscope (similar to a cystocope but is inserted into the anal cavity to examine invasive forms of cervical cancer). The most common imaging tests include an x-ray, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and intravenous urography. Doctors may also perform a PAP smear, and a biopsy is taken in many cases.

While traditional cancer treatment methods of chemotherapy and radiation are often utilized in cervical cancer, there are eight different types of surgical procedures used which include:

Cryosurgery: A type of surgery which uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and kill cancer cells.Laser Surgery: A type of surgery which uses a laser beam as a sort of knife to cut away tumors without causing bleeding.Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP): Type of surgery which uses a thin wire loop positioned around the tumor and delivers a low intense electric current.Conization: Type of surgery where a cone shape mass of tissue is removed from the cervix with the help of a laser or LEEP.Simple hysterectomy: Removal of the uterus without adjacent tissues.Total hysterectomy: Type of surgery where the uterus is removed together with adjacent structures or organs (parametria and uterosacral ligaments, the upper part of the vagina located next to the cervix, the lymph node, and sometimes the fallopian tubes and ovaries).Trachelectomy: A new type of surgery where the cervix is removed while attempting to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible. The lymph nodes are also removed. A "purse-string" stitch is also created which will act as the opening to the cervix. Early trials show that women that have this type of surgery have fewer relapses of cervical cancer.Pelvic exenteration: Similar to a total hysterectomy but more organs are removed which include: uterus, parametria and uterosacral ligaments, upper part of the vagina closest to the cervix, lymph node, fallopian tubes, ovaries, rectum, and part of the colon and urine bladder.

Cervical cancer can be prevented with changes to those risk factors associated with the disease. These changes include:

Delaying sexual intercourse until marriageLimiting the number of sexual partners.Avoiding sexual contact with promiscuous partners.Quitting smoking.Eating more fruits and vegetables, and foods high in vitamins and minerals.Exercising.Losing weight if obese.

Women can also receive Gardasil, a new vaccine aimed at HPV viruses 6,11, 16, and 18, which can all lead to cervical cancer. This vaccine prevents infection of HPV and can not be used to treat an existing infection. Gardasil requires a series of three injections over a six month period. Gardasil only works on these four types of HPV and does not prevent other HPV types from causing to cervical cancer, although these occurrences are extremely rare.

Jason L Morrow is the founder and editor of OmniMedicalSearch.com where you can learn more about cervical cancer symptoms.

Original article

What Are The Different Causes of PCOS?

PCOS, also known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, is caused by an imbalance in the body, typically hormones. It's a disease that is the causative factor in infertility in a major number women. One of the typical causes of PCOS is resistance to insulin.

Insulin resistance and the resultant other things that are symptoms or causes of PCOS are something that affects literally thousands of women around the world every year.

It will affect about 10 percent of all women and can cause periods that are irregular, it can cause skin patches that are brown in color. It can also cause baldness in women, as well as causing sleep apnea.

The causes of PCOS are that the body is not able to handle the glucose due to its own resistance to insulin. The insulin is not uptaken properly which means that the glucose is not used correctly by the body.

Studies that have been done worldwide recently show that PCOS and insulin resistance typically go hand in hand and that nearly half of all women who have PCOS are afflicted by insulin resistance.

Many women will develop other secondary symptoms in response to their PCOS. Among the issues that the women who have insulin resistance in their causes of PCOS are prone to will be:

Metabolic Syndrome
Cardio Vascular diseases
High cholesterol
Liver symptoms
High blood glucose
High blood pressure

Since part of the causes of PCOS is insulin resistance and the insulin production that takes place in the pancreas is not correct, the way that your body converts or uses foods is also impaired. PCOS diets and other changes in your lifestyle may be helpful in your condition. Changing not only the amount of foods that you may eat, but also the kinds of foods that you eat will be helpful in getting the insulin resistance and consequently the PCOS under control.

It is often difficult for women who have causes of PCOS such as insulin resistance to lose weight, but in many cases it is imperative in order that you can negate some of the secondary symptoms. Lowering weight and changing your habits so far as eating and exercise may be one way in which you can change your health for the better when it comes to your PCOS.

The consumption of carbohydrates and other things that have a higher amount of sugar are not recommended. In fact, steering clear of sugar when possible is one of the first ways in which you can halt the forward progression of your disease process.

Causes of PCOS such as insulin resistance very often will improve when you lose weight. Curbing sugar intake and steering more toward proteins and fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as exercising for a moderate amount on a daily or weekly basis will be the first step toward losing weight and helping your body to overcome the causes of PCOS.

Are you living with PCOS now and want to learn more about the causes of PCOS?

Discover a natural cure for this bothersome condition that sadly, can lead to infertility, by visiting http://www.pcostreatmentdigest.com/

Original article

What Causes PCOS? Learn the Cause Of PCOS and What It Can Do To Your Body

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome--also called PCOS is something that is known but yet has a great deal more that we need to know about it. What causes PCOS isn't always easy to identify.

It is in fact an imbalance that is usually brought on the resistance to insulin, but the reason for the insulin resistance isn't always clear. The root of the issue is resistance to insulin, but different things provoke or promote that in different women.

What causes PCOS may not be entirely clear in every case, but what PCOS can do to you and your body is:

Excess amounts of body hair
High Cholesterol
Dark skin patches
Multiple Ovarian cysts
Acne
Skin Tagging
Lowered Sex Drive
Difficulty in breathing
Baldness or thinning of the hair
Thyroid problems

Studies which are currently taking place show strong links between insulin resistance in women and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Recently new studies show that more than a third of all women who have PCOS have a high level of insulin in their bodies along with impaired tolerance to glucose.

It also shows that about a third of the women with PCOS will develop diabetes in their early forties. In many cases these women will also suffer lifelong battles with infertility and with obesity The vast link between polycystic ovarian syndrome and the insulin resistance is something that physicians have been looking at more closely.

They are hoping to be able to pinpoint not only what causes PCOS but what may be done to treat it, and also to prevent it. The production of insulin is thrown off base by the body being resistant to insulin.

As a result the body may have other issues that can lead to infertility, fatigue and many other detrimental things. All of these issues are symptoms of PCOS, not actually what causes PCOS.

What causes PCOS is an endocrine disorder with the pancreas, but what may actively help to prevent that and to treat it is diet, weight loss, more exercise and numerous other more natural paths to a better lifestyle.

Getting fit and watching your diet is one of the ways that you can outwit what causes PCOS and begin to work your way back to a healthier lifestyle. PCOS and what causes it can be overcome using more natural lifestyles, avoiding certain foods and lowering your weight.

Adding exercise and getting healthier may also be a way to avoid adult onset, or type 2 diabetes and to head that off at the pass too. What causes PCOS is an endocrine disorder and to overcome PCOS is making lifestyle changes that you make in order to accommodate your own desire to live a longer and healthier life

Are you living with PCOS now and want to learn more about what causes PCOS?

Discover a natural cure for this bothersome condition that sadly, can lead to infertility, by visiting http://www.pcostreatmentdigest.com/

Original article