All About Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women. In the recent past, there has been a lot of awareness effort put in by the experts. Today, more women and girls are more aware of the disease. This is a cancer that affects the lower part of the uterus known as the cervix. Cancer is a condition that manifests as abnormal multiplications of body cells. In this case cells in the cervix multiply faster than can be controlled, resulting to tumors. Cervical cancer is a very devastating condition. According to statistics, in 2006 American cancer society recorded 9,710 cases of the disease. From observations, 3,700 women will die. This is a high percentage and something needs to be done to ensure that fatalities are reduced.

First, it is vital to have some in depth knowledge about cervical cancer. The Internet is a reliable source endowed with resources that you are certainly going to find helpful. As a woman, you
Will want to know some of the symptoms that might announce the disease. Unfortunately like many cancers, the symptoms occur when the disease has already developed; sometimes at very invasive levels. Some of the symptoms include the following. Vaginal bleeding which is abnormal will be a major indicator. This kind of bleeding is not as a result of monthly periods.

The bleeding will occur after menopause and between periods. Women affected will bleed after sex. The bleeding might be heavier and long lasting. Another symptom is a bad smelling discharge. This kind of discharge is referred to as being malodorous due to its nature of bad smell. There are various risk factors and causes of cervical cancer. A virus has been found to be responsible for a large extent of the disease. This is the human papilloma virus. There more than 100 types of the virus. Many of these cause watts or papilloma They are benign or non cancerous. There are more than 6 viruses of this kind that cause cancer of the cervix. Early sexual intercourse has also been found as a risk factor. Another factor is the use of tobacco.

Women who smoke are at high risk of developing the disease than those who do not smoke. Women who have used diethylstilbestrol will suffer from the condition more. This is the medication administrated to expectant mothers to prevent miscarriages.

Prevention is always better than cure; there are several things you can do to prevent the condition. All women in the reproductive age should go for human papilloma virus vaccination.

the vaccine has been found to destroy 70% of the various kinds of viruses that cause the disease. he vaccine is approved by the United States food and drugs administration. A void sex at early age. Women should go for regular check ups. A pap test will be done to diagnose. If you find
lat you have the disease, early treatment will ensure that your life is prolonged. You can eliminate the disease totally in cases where treatment works.

Several treatments that can be administered to patients include chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Every case is usually unique and your doctors will advice on the suitable treatment regiment. Above all, you need to maintain a positive attitude as you empower yourself on the disease. Overall death from the disease has declined and the future looks brighter.

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What You Need to Know About Ovarian Cyst Symptoms

The list of symptoms associated with ovarian cysts is quite large and includes many of the same symptoms as several other physical problems, such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, pregnancy or ovarian cancer. Due to this fact, the appearance of one or two symptoms, depending on their individual severity may or may not be a point for concern. If the symptoms become regular or become worse with time, then it is very important for you to make an appointment with your family doctor in order to be properly diagnosed.

One of the most revealing signs to look for with ovarian cyst symptoms are any type of menstrual changes or irregularities. This can mean many things including pelvic pain that can be constant or intermittent dull ache that may radiate to your lower back and thighs, longer or shorter periods or even the lack of menstruation, abnormal bleeding or even unexplainable weight gain.

Some of the other symptoms include:

• Those that are similar to women during pregnancy, such as nausea, vomiting or breast tenderness.

• Pain during intercourse

• A feeling of fullness in your abdomen

• Feeling as though you can't empty your bladder completely

• Pressure on your bladder or rectum

• Pain during bowel movements

• Intense exercise during the beginning of your menstrual cycle can produce irritation to an already sensitive ovarian cyst

While ovarian cyst symptoms can be severe and more obvious that there is a problem, sometimes the symptoms are so similar to other physical signs from other conditions it can be hard to tell them apart. This is why it is very important to go to your doctor and be examined.

Leaving an ovarian cyst unchecked it can grow, sometimes very quickly, twist, bleed or even rupture. If you have sudden severe abdominal or pelvic pain or pain with a fever or vomiting, you need to seek immediate medical attention.

Luckily, most times ovarian cysts and the symptoms they bring with them will disappear just as quickly as they showed up. The most common forms of ovarian cyst only require time to heal.

If you suffer with ovarian cyst symptoms you know how very painful and uncomfortable they can be. Making the decision to forego traditional treatment, you should be prepared to take medications and possibly have surgery. There are natural ways to reverse and eliminate ovarian cysts. Discover what other women have already done to cure their ovarian cysts.

It's time to get your life back and stop suffering from ovarian cysts. Visit http://ovariancystfacts.com to find out more about ovarian cyst cures.

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Why Uterine Cancer Isn't Caught Earlier

Over a year ago my period started on schedule. But, then it never stopped. I got online to look up "long periods" and "heavy periods" because I had always been very regular and now besides going on forever there was a lot of blood. Even clots a few times, which was scary.

The internet relieved much of my fears. I was 51 and much of my searching online led me to believe that as a woman gets closer to menopause her periods get whacky. Either skipping and getting lighter or getting longer and heavier. Either way was "normal."

There were many other reasons listed for heavy periods too:

Hormonal Imbalances, which occur especially at the beginning or end of a woman's reproductive years. Usually it's from too much estrogen (estrogen domanence) and too little progesterone.

Infections of the uterus or cervix

Fibroids, which are abnormal growths or tumors inside the uterus, which are very common and usually something people decide to live with.

Or problems with blood clotting.

The site menopauseinsight.com reassured me further. It said, "A period lasting 3 weeks might be strange in your mid-twenties. If you are at the age where you may be approaching perimenopause, an unpredictable menstrual cycle is the norm. In fact, more than half of perimenopausal women complain about their offbeat menses - which can include skipped periods, periods that happen more than once throughout a month, or drastically lengthy periods. They can even include menses with thick blood clots and a very heavy flow. The menstrual cycle is usually the first indication that you might be approaching your menopausal years."

Later it did say, "If you're period is lasting 3 weeks and your menses flow is extremely heavy - so heavy that it's causing you to feel dizzy or nauseated -it might be wise to see your doctor immediately to get to the root cause and to calm your concerns."

To calm my fears? I wasn't dizzy or nauseated, so I was perfectly happy to choose one of their other possible reasons for my problem.

Yahoo Health reassured me even further. It stated, "Dysfunctional uterine bleeding is irregular vaginal bleeding. For example, you may get your period more often than every 21 days or farther apart than 35 days. Your period may last longer than 7 days. It is not serious, but it can be annoying and disrupt your life.

And from emedicinehealth.com; "Heavy periods are also said to be symptoms of fibroids, which most sites say aren't harmful and many women just live with them, or they go away at menopause." So at worst case I thought I was either going through menopause, had a fibroid or was estrogen dominant and just needed some progesterone to balance me out. None of which was any cause for alarm. But, the bleeding was getting old and since I was sure the doctor would just put me on a prescription for some progesterone to balance me out, I went ahead and scheduled my yearly "wellness physical".

My doctor said I might just not be ovulating and put me on 10 days of progestin to stop the bleeding. She said sometimes it just needs a "kick start." Then I could come in for a pap test since that was included in what I had paid for the physical.

In about 10 days the bleeding stopped and I was so glad I put off the Pap test for several more weeks until the bleeding started again. It was light though so I went in anyway and she did do the Pap test. 3 weeks passed and I hadn't heard from the office so I called. The nurse put the doctor on and she told me there were some strange cells that shouldn't be there and I needed to come in for a biopsy to find out where they were coming from.

That was a Friday and on Wednesday I had a uterine biopsy and Friday she called to tell me I had uterine cancer, but it looked like we caught it early and she was sending me to a specialist in Charlotte the following Wednesday. I went there and 1 week later he performed a hysterectomy, taking everything; cervix, uterus and ovaries. The next day I was home and six days later they called to tell me they had gotten everything, I would need no further treatment and should just come in for pap tests every 3 months for 2 years, then every 4 months for 2 more years and then twice the 5th year.

Normally uterine cancer is not detected by a pap test. I'm convinced that since it was done while I was bleeding that's how they found the cells. The point though is, even doctors don't think abnormal bleeding is that abnormal and women, especially as they get toward menopause can find hundreds of articles and advice forums online that will reassure them that it's no big deal.

For me it did end up not being that big of a deal. But, I caught it at Stage 1a. I know someone who didn't go in until she was Stage IV and she died. People also put off going in to get checked because they are so afraid they might find out they have cancer. I'm here to tell you, if you do, it's not the end of the world. From the day I found out I had it until the day I found out they had gotten it all was only 18 days. I like to say I only had cancer for 18 days.

The Internet is wonderful for many things. It can be a great place to gather information, but then you need to take that information in to a doctor. And even then follow up! As you can see by my story, there were many places it could have gone off track. If I hadn't called back for my pap results when would they have called me? I also wonder about the progestin I took for 10 days because I've heard it can actually cause cancer.

So don't put off check ups and screenings. Catching cancer early makes all the difference on your outcome!

Nancy Geiger is a freelance writer who also owns an online store called givitup: http://www.givitup.com writes 2 daily blogs: What I Learned Teaching Sunday School and Starting an Online Store Called givitup and has written a cookbook called 'A Bride's Cookbook or Surviving the First Year' which can be found in her store.

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Uterine Cancer

Women Over 50 More Likely to Develop Uterine Cancer
It is not known why some women develop uterine cancer, but scientific studies on what causes one woman to develop uterine cancer and another to not develop it are constantly ongoing. However, there are certain risk factors that are known put some women at a higher risk for developing uterine cancer. For those who develop uterine cancer, there are different treatment options, but most involve a hysterectomy. Unfortunately, despite the fact that it may cure (or at least help) a person's uterine cancer, a hysterectomy can affect a woman in both a physical and emotional way.
Risk Factors for Developing Uterine Cancer
There are about five factors that put you at a greater risk for developing uterine cancer. If you are a woman, and you're over the age of fifty, you are automatically at a higher risk of developing uterine cancer. Other factors include, undergoing hormone replacement therapy, being overweight, suffering from diabetes or high blood pressure, having a history of other types of cancer, of if you are Caucasian. Interestingly, if you are a woman who has never been pregnant or have never had a child, you are also at a higher risk of developing uterine cancer.
How is Uterine Cancer Treated?
Depending on the size of the cancerous tumor and the stage of the uterine cancer, different uterine cancer treatments are available. Your doctor will discuss all treatment options with you and will go over the possible side effects of each. In most cases, treatment for uterine cancer begins with surgery or a complete hysterectomy, which is a complete removal of the uterus. After surgery, it is possible that you may have to undergo additional treatments including, radiation, chemotherapy, and/or hormone therapy.
Hysterectomies are More than the Removal of the Uterus
When you undergo a hysterectomy, as a result of her having uterine cancer or for any other problem or disease related to the uterus, you must deal with both a physical recovery and an emotional recovery. The physical part of the recovery is a result of the pain that comes from having gone through surgery (although some hysterectomies do not require an incision). The emotional part of the recovery is usually due to you feeling depressed after the uterus is removed. Once it is removed, there is obviously no chance that you will ever be able to have another baby. This may not be a major factor to women who are at the greatest risk of developing uterine cancer because they are typically over the age of fifty. Nonetheless, it is always an emotional experience when a part of the body is removed due to cancer.
About the Author
Warren and Karen have been involved in the internet for a number of years and run several websites. They are most interested in providing opportunities for people to connect with information relating to business, health and creativity. Check out their Uterine Cancer blog for more information.

Gynecologic Cancer Second Opinion: Do I need one?

If you are already under the care of a board certified or fellowship trained board eligible gynecologic oncologist then whether or not you should get a second opinion depends upon your level of trust and personal interaction with your oncologist. Gynecologic oncologists receive 3-4 years of training after ObGyn residency, gaining extra surgical skills which put them into an elite category of highly skilled cancer surgeons. Physicians in this category are specifically trained for treatment of gynecologic cancers, including surgery, chemotherapy and integration of radiation therapy into a comprehensive treatment plan.
On the other hand if you have not seen a gynecologic oncologist, the prudent thing to do is to seek one out and obtain a second opinion from them!! Even if the recommended treatment for a presumed early cancer sounds reasonable to you, it would behoove you to obtain a second opinion. It may mean the difference between cure and no cure.
Almost all universities and academic centers, including NCI designated cancer centers, have gynecologic oncologists on staff. The links section on this site has several options. The main site which lists most of the board certified or eligible gynecologic oncologists in the US is the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists: www.sgo.org
Universities and academic centers are definitely NOT the only place to find qualified gyn oncologists. In fact, these centers have a mix of senior and junior faculty, some who have just recently completed their fellowship. While these junior faculty members are certainly well qualified to care for you and have support from the senior faculty, there are many gyn oncologists in private practice who have a wealth of experience and potentially a better skill set to take care of you. This is because some private practices have a high volume of patients, in some cases exceeding that found in academic referral centers. Therefore,some private practitioners have a greater experience base than academic practitioners. Finally, some private practices are involved in clinicial research, while many are not. If you seek an opinion which may involve research studies, first determine if the practitioner you are going to see is involved in such trials.
The final, and potentially most important, advice is that not all gyn oncologists are the same. Some have better surgical skills than others, some give chemotherapy while others refer to medical oncologists, practice philosophies differ, and as in any area....personalities differ. It is unfortunately impossible to determine who is best suited for your special needs, but a bit of "research" regarding your potential doctor is wise. A certain amount of information can be gleaned from the the Society of Gynecologic Oncologist's site and the National Practitioner's Data Bank NPDB, but personality and philosophy differences are more difficult to assess. Unfortunately, there is no overall performance card available like that used in baseball. Some information of this subjective kind is available in patient forums and chats.
Steven A. Vasilev MD,MBA,FACOG,FACS is a fellowship trained and board certified gynecologic oncologist, which means he is specially trained and certified to take care of women with gynecologic cancers using a broad spectrum of skills. He has practiced at academic as well as private centers, has been on the faculty of three universities and continues to be involved in research and education. You can visit http://www.gyncancerdoctor.com to learn more about screening, prevention and treatment of gynecologic cancers.
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Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors

Ovarian germ cell tumors are a disease in which cancer cells form in the egg cells of the ovary. These tumors typically begin in the reproductive cells of the body. This form of ovarian cancer typically occurs in teenager girls or young women and usually only effects one of the ovaries not both.
It is difficult to find ovarian germ cell tumors early. There is usually no symptoms in the early stages of this cancer. However, they can be found on regular gynecologic examines which is why regular checkups are so important. If a woman has abdominal swelling without weight gain in other places should be tested right away as well as those who have vaginal bleeding after their menopause.
There are several tests and procedures that may be done to detect ovarian germ cell tumors. The most common of these is the pelvic exam. Another procedure is a laparotomy which is a surgical procedure. A lymphangiogram is a process that use x-rays. A CT scan can also be done to look for tumors. Blood tests are also helpful for checking AFP and HCG levels which can be signs of ovarian germ cell tumors if they are found at increased levels.

The chance of recovery with ovarian germ cell tumors and treatment options depends largely on five things. One the type of cancer. Two the size of the ovarian tumor. Third the stage the cancer is in and whether or not it affects the whole ovary or just parts and whether or not it has spread to other parts of the body. Fourth is how the cancer cells appear under a microscope. Fifth is the overall general health of the person. Most of the time if ovarian germ cell tumors are found early they can be treated.
Jeanette Pollock is a freelance author and website owner of ovariancancerdomain.com. Visit Jeanette's site to learn more about ovarian germ cell tumors.

Cervical Cancer Signs - Do You Know Common Symptoms of Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide. And in the United States, an estimated 13,000 cases of invasive cervical cancer are expected to be diagnosed each year.
Cervical cancer is usually caused by a sexually transmitted virus called the human papilloma virus or ‘HPV’. Most HPV infections will not lead to cervical cancer. However, infection with these viral types can lead to abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix. Certain changes called ‘high-grade lesions’ may progress to cervical cancer and cervical cancer signs if not treated.
Common cervical cancer signs include these symptoms:
• Vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse
• Pelvic pain
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Abnormal bleeding between menstrual periods
• Heavy bleeding during your menstrual period
• Increased urinary frequency
Pap smears are the best screening technique currently available to evaluate the cells on the face of the cervix. The Pap smear is defined as a test for the signs of cervical cancer such as cancerous or pre-cancerous cells of the cervix. Most Pap smear test results come rated from Class I through Class V.
• Class I is normal,
• Class II means an irritation or inflammation,
• Class III means it is a true cervical dysplasia that can range from mild to serious,

€¢ Class IV may be one of a variety of pre-cancers or cancers,
• Class V is one of the serious invasive cervical cancer signs.
Pap smear tests are necessary, but they are not always accurate. And their results sometimes appear normal even when a woman has the abnormal cells of cancer. If cervical cancer is suspected and the pap smear test comes back either as normal or as positive, consider getting another pap smear from a different laboratory and a second opinion from another doctor. If your Pap smear shows dysplasia, a biopsy can rule out cervical cancer.
Another testing method is being developed that uses a small fiber optic probe that may replace pap smears. This method is still being tested. Hopefully, it should give women more accurate screenings, eliminate unnecessary biopsies and help diagnose cervical cancer in its early stages.
Early stages of cervical cancer often go on without any noticeable symptoms! Cervical cancer is usually a very slow growing cancer. Cervical cancer is often diagnosed and treated in an advanced stage when the success rate is much lower. Most women that have invasive cervical cancer will be treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation or some combination of these. There are women that will have a hysterectomy as a consequence of cervical cancer that has spread within the cervix.
There are two types of hysterectomy -- the partial and the complete. In a partial hysterectomy, only the uterus is removed. In a complete hysterectomy, the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries are removed (the medical term for removal of the ovaries is oophorectomy).
A complete hysterectomy will have a significant impact on a woman’s hormonal balance and health since the ovaries are such an important source of hormone production. Even a partial hysterectomy can have a significant effect, first because the uterus plays a role in hormonal balance, and second because in most cases the circulation to the ovaries is impaired enough by the surgery to seriously affect their function.
There are conditions for which hysterectomy is advisable or medically necessary. These include ovarian, uterine or cervical cancer, uncontrollable bleeding, severe endometriosis (adenomyosis) and complex hyperplasia, to name a few.
Women should know what the cervical cancer symptoms are so that proper medical help can be obtained when needed. To learn more about cervical cancer signs, causes and natural treatments, visit Cervical Cancer Signs and Treatments to read more.
Copyright 2005 Olinda Rola.
Olinda Rola is the webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com, a website of natural solutions for a variety of health problems. Visit her website and learn more about ways for improving your health. She is the editor of the free newsletter ‘Women’s Health Newsletter’. Go to http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/womenshealthnewsletter.html to subscribe.
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