These procedures give the doctor the opportunity to take a closer look at the affected cervical tissues as well as collect larger samples for analysis.
Should those tests confirm the presence of cervical cancer, your doctor will order imaging tests to determine the stage of the disease.
Staging the disease is essential to choosing a treatment option.
Potential Treatment Options For Cervical Cancer
At the early stages of cervical cancer, surgery is usually the preferred option. Depending on the test results, the doctor may recommend removing only the affected areas, the entire cervix, or the cervix and uterus.
Other treatment options include radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted drug therapy. These may also be used for more advanced stages of cervical cancer.
Persons Who Are at Risk
Anyone under the age of 65 who has an intact cervix is at risk for cervical cancer. Doctors advise that smokers should be on the lookout for all types of cancer, including cervical cancer.
Persons who are sexually active and do not use protective barrier methods such as condoms are also at risk. According to recent studies, African American women are the second-largest ethnicity to be affected by cervical cancer. Interestingly, they are also more likely to have a negative outcome within 5 years of a diagnosis.
The early signs of cervical cancer can be easy to miss. Given that African American women are highly likely to be affected by it and can die even after being diagnosed, it’s essential that you visit a doctor if you notice these slight changes in your body. Additionally, scheduling annual check-ups can find issues that you might miss.