Is cervical cancer curable?

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Phung Thi Phuong Chi - Oncologist at Oncology Center, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.

Each year in Vietnam, more than 4,100 women are newly found to be living with cervical cancer, and about 2,400 women die each year from the disease. So, how likely is the cure for cervical cancer? Dr. Phung Thi Phuong Chi at Oncology Center, Vinmec Central Park Hospital will answer this question for you.

1.1 Common symptoms of cervical cancer 80% of patients have abnormal vaginal bleeding, especially after intercourse Some cases of menopause have been around for a long time, but suddenly there is abnormal vaginal bleeding. often. The lower abdomen or back is often painful, the degree of which increases during menstruation or when going to the toilet. The discharge is profuse, irregular in color and has an unpleasant odor. In a few cases, when the disease is in the late stages, there will be symptoms of leakage of stool or urine through the vagina

1.2 The dangers of cervical cancer Cervical cancer causes pain in the lower abdomen and pelvic cavity, abnormal vaginal bleeding, or foul-smelling discharge. Depending on the sites of spread, different metastases, patients have different manifestations, such as cough, chest pain, blood in urine, rectal bleeding. Many patients who present with clinical symptoms such as frequent urination, painful urination and blood in urine are often misdiagnosed as a urinary tract infection for a long time and reduce the possibility of cancer cure. Cervical.

In many cases, a hysterectomy or radiation therapy causes loss of uterine and ovarian function, which means reduced sexual function and loss of a woman's ability to bear children.
If not treated promptly and properly, the disease will progress more and more seriously, causing serious complications as a result of tumors invading neighboring organs such as kidney failure, leg edema, severe anemia. or due to metastatic disease to other organs such as lungs, liver, bones...

Currently, with increasingly modern and advanced medical technology, cervical cancer can be cured if detected early. The earlier it is detected, the higher the cure rate (patients are healthy for more than 5 years) and the ability to preserve reproductive function. If the disease is detected at an advanced stage, it is very difficult to treat.

Depending on the stage of cervical cancer, the possibility of successful treatment will vary, specifically as follows:
In situ stage: The patient is detected early and is treated by leading experts on cervical cancer. Gynecology and oncology are actively treated, at this time, the chance of survival for more than 5 years can be up to 96%. Stage 1: The 5-year survival rate is reduced to 80-90%. Stage 2: The probability of surviving more than 5 years is 50-60%. Stage 3: Only 25-35% chance for the patient to live more than 5 years. Stage 4: This number is less than 15%. More than 90% of diseases with distant metastases will die within 5 years. Thus, cervical cancer can be cured if detected in time. Therefore, women need to perform screening and early detection of gynecological cancer in order to detect and treat cervical cancer promptly with treatment regimens suitable to the disease condition. The more advanced the disease, the more difficult it becomes to treat.

Cervical cancer does not occur suddenly, but progresses silently. Starting from HPV infection, causing abnormal symptoms for cervical cells, leading to precancerous lesions and then cancer, usually lasting about 10-15 years. If this cancer is detected in time, the doctors will conduct treatment, prevent the cancer from developing and spreading to other parts. So, how long cervical cancer lives depends on the stage of detection.

With the great development of modern medicine, cancer in general as well as cervical cancer in particular can be completely cured. However, all diseases in this group of cancers have one thing in common, that is, the longer they are left, the less likely they are to be cured. For that reason, girls 9-26 years old, and unmarried and unmarried women should be vaccinated against HPV. For married women aged 21-65, it is necessary to have regular checkups every 12 months, cytology and HPV tests to promptly detect gynecological diseases in general and cervical cancer. in particular. Thus, you will no longer need to worry about whether cervical cancer is curable.

Girls from 9-26 years old, unmarried and unmarried women need to be vaccinated against HPV virus. In addition, to prevent the risk of contracting the disease, women should use self-protection measures (condoms can protect against most sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, but does not completely protect against HPV, because HPV can be transmitted directly through skin contact that is not covered by a condom.) Always keep the intimate area clean at sensitive times, such as during menstruation, after menstruation, after physical activity, after sex. In addition, women need to have a cheerful spirit, limit stress, balance work and family... Especially, women need to avoid smoking, build a reasonable diet. Rich in vitamins and minerals for the body.
Above is the expert information to answer the question Cervical cancer is curable. Never be subjective with this disease because it can take your life at any time!
When cervical cancer screening at Vinmec, customers can apply the ThinPrep Pap Test for early detection of cervical cancer, a method approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). in use since May 1996. This new method is currently being used widely in the US and Europe. ThinPrep Pap Test has changed the traditional Pap smear method, through membrane controlled cell transfer technology, increasing the sensitivity and specificity in detecting precancerous cells. , especially glandular epithelial cells, a type of cancer cell that is difficult to detect. At the same time, it is possible to perform an HPV test to identify women infected with high-risk HPV groups that cause cervical cancer.

If you have any questions about cervical cancer treatment at Vinmec, please book an appointment on the website for service.