Cracking The Brain Cervical Cancer

One of the most familiar types of cancer occurring among women is cervical cancer. It occurs in the female reproductive system; in the cervix, a part of the uterus. This type of cancer found in women has been linked to a virus known as HPV (Human Papillomavirus).

This virus is sexually transmitted and is known to be one of the major causes of cervical cancer. If a woman has a strong immune system, the chances of an infection from the virus are low. Most of the people who contract the HPV virus do not develop cancer.

However, in some cases, this virus may invade the tissues of the cervix and keep low for years before causing malignant growth in the cervix cells. The cause of invasive growth is the result of DNA mutations in the cells of the cervix caused by the HPV.

What follows is a phenomenon of rapid multiplication of cervical cells that spirals out of control at an evasive rate. This abnormal growth of cells results in the formation of a tumour in the cervix.

Sometimes, some cancerous cells get separated from the tumour and advance or metastasize to other parts of the body.

In rare cases, these cancerous cells can metastasize to the brain leading to what is sometimes known as brain-cervical cancer.

Symptoms

Symptoms of brain-cervical cancer may include headaches, partial paralysis, or weakness in the limbs, disorientation, lesions, and seizures.

These symptoms do not always correlate with the ones of cervical cancer like bloody discharge from the vagina after sexual intercourse, in-between menstruation periods, or following menopause that is characterized by a feculent odour, or pain in the pelvic region after sexual intercourse.

Causes

Many causes may lead to an increase in the risk of contracting HPV that results in cervical cancer. Some of the causes include weak immunity, habits that weaken the immune system like smoking, engaging in coitus at an early age, multiple sexual partners, STDs like HIV/AIDS, syphilis, etc.

Prevention

Some specific measures can prevent the occurrence of this lethal cancer. A person may undergo surgical procedures of inducing vaccines against HPV to avert this cancer.

One may also consider taking pap smears, a procedure to screen or test cervical cancer, periodically to reduce the risk of cancer. Keeping the immune system healthy by eating healthy foods and avoiding activities that are injurious to health like smoking.

And most importantly, adopting safe sex methods like using a condom every time one engages in sexual intercourse.

In the case of early detection of cervical cancer in women, the five-year survival rate for women is around 91% after cervical cancer treatment. However, this is only when cervical cancer is localized, and the cells have not spread to other parts of the body.

But in the case of brain-cervical cancer, that is, when the cancerous cells from the cervix are metastasized to the brain, the five-year survival rate is only about 16%. Cervical cancer treatment may include a mix of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery.