•That Killed ADUKE GOLD
A few days after the passing away of popular Gospel musician, Aduke Gold, whose real name is Aduke Ajayi, at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, information has it that she died of Cervical Cancer.
The elder brother of the deceased artiste, Theophilus Ajayi, who is a Cleric, disclosed this, a few days ago during an interview with newsmen on the circumstances surrounding the singer’s demise.
Medical experts have revealed that Cervical Cancer is deadly. It is a Cancer that begins on the surface of the Cervix. It happens when the cells on the cervix start to change to precancerous cells. HPV (human papillomavirus) infection causes almost all cases of cervical cancer. HPV is a virus that spreads through sexual contact. Experts say you can lower the risk of cervical cancer by getting regular cervical cancer screenings (like a Pap smear) and receiving the HPV vaccine.
Cervical cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms until it begins to spread. That’s why regular screenings and the HPV vaccine are so important. Cervical cancer is highly treatable when found in the early stages. A healthcare provider can treat it with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and other cancer medications.
What are the types of Cervical Cancer? There are 2 main types of Cancer of the Cervix: Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Adenocarcinomas. About 80% to 90% of cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, while 10% to 20% are adenocarcinomas. You can also have a mix of both types.
What are the Symptoms and Causes? Medical experts say early stages of cervical cancer don’t usually involve symptoms and are hard to detect. The first signs of cervical cancer may take time to develop. Signs and symptoms of Stage I cervical cancer can include:
Watery or bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and can have a foul odor.
Vaginal bleeding after sex, between menstrual periods or after menopause.
Pain during sex (dyspareunia).
If cancer has spread to nearby tissues or organs, symptoms may include:
Difficult or painful urination, sometimes with blood in urine.
Diarrhea, or pain or bleeding from your rectum when pooping.
Fatigue, loss of weight and appetite.
A general feeling of illness.
Dull backache or swelling in your legs.
Pelvic/abdominal pain.
If you experience abnormal bleeding, unusual vaginal discharge or any other unexplainable symptoms, you should contact a healthcare provider.
Most cervical cancers are caused by HPV, a sexually transmitted infection. HPV spreads through sexual contact (anal, oral or vaginal) and can lead to cancer. Most people will get HPV at some point in their lives and not realize it because their bodies fight the infection. But if your body doesn’t fight the infection, it can cause the cells of your cervix to change to cancerous cells.
Experts say there are more than 100 kinds of HPV and about a dozen of them have been shown to lead to cancer. Early detection of these HPV strains is key in preventing cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine can help prevent HPV infection by protecting you against the HPV that causes up to 90% of all cervical cancers.
Who’s at risk for Cervical Cancer? In many cases, you can have no known risk factors for Cervical Cancer. Other times, you have one or more risk factors. Some risk factors within your control are:
Screening history: People who haven’t had Pap tests at regular intervals are more likely to get cervical cancer (because Pap tests can detect precancerous cells).
HPV infection: Certain types of HPV cause cervical cancer. Lowering your risk for HPV can also lower your risk for cervical cancer.
Sexual history: Having sexual intercourse before the age of 18 and having many sexual partners may put you at higher risk of HPV infection.
Smoking: Smoking cigarettes increases your risk of cervical cancer.
HIV infection: People with HIV have a higher-than-average risk of developing cervical cancer.
Having a weakened immune system: Having a weak immune system makes your body unable to fight infections.
There are some risk factors you can’t change or control. These are:
DES (diethylstilbestrol): DES is a medication that was given to people between 1938 and 1971 to prevent miscarriage. If your birth parent took DES, you may be more likely to get cervical cancer.
Family history: Cervical cancer may have a genetic component.
What are the complications of Carvical Cancer? Early detection and treatment of cervical cancer are key to avoiding life-threatening complications of the disease say expert. That’s why regular Pap smears and HPV tests are critical.
Some possible complications of cervical cancer include:
Pain: Cancer can be painful when it spreads.
Bladder and bowel changes: Cervical cancer can cause urinary problems like difficulty peeing. It can also cause constipation.
Kidney damage: Kidney failure is a complication of advanced cervical cancer.
Blood clots: Your risk for blood clots increases because blood becomes “sticky” when you have cancer. This may slow your blood flow and lead to a clot developing.
Bleeding: You may experience bleeding from your vagina, rectum or bladder if cancer spreads to those organs.
Fertility or pregnancy challenges: Depending on the treatment you have, you could lose the ability to get pregnant. Surgery on your cervix to remove cancer cells could also increase your chance of miscarriage with future pregnancies.
Side effects of cancer treatment: Chemotherapy, radiation and other cancer treatments can cause unpleasant side effects like nausea and vomiting, fatigue and sexual dysfunction.
What are the diagnosis & Tests? Cervical cancer usually develops slowly and over many years. Before turning into cancer, the cells in your cervix go through a lot of changes. The once normal cells in your cervix start to appear irregular or abnormal. These abnormal cells may go away, stay the same or turn into cancer cells.
Regular cervical cancer screenings with a Pap test can detect most cases of cervical cancer. The goal of cervical cancer screening is to detect cell changes on your cervix before they become cancer. A Pap test, or Pap smear, involves looking at cells from your cervix under a microscope. These cells are examined for signs of precancers or other irregularities.
If your Pap comes back as abnormal, further testing is necessary. This could include an HPV test, which is a specific test that checks the cells of your cervix for the HPV strains that are most likely to cause cancer.
What are the stages of Cervical Cancer? There are 4 main stages of cervical cancer, and within each stage, there can be several different substages. The main stages of cervical cancer are:
Stage I: Cancer is found only in the neck of your cervix. It hasn’t spread to the deeper parts of your cervical tissue.
Stage II: Cancer has spread beyond your cervix and uterus but hasn’t yet spread to your pelvic wall (the tissues that line the part of the body between your hips) or your lower vagina.
Stage III: Cancer has spread to the lower part of your vagina and may have spread to your pelvic wall, ureters (tubes that carry pee from your kidneys to your bladder) and nearby lymph nodes.
Stage IV: Cancer has spread to your bladder, rectum or other parts of the body like your bones or lungs.
Your healthcare provider is the best person to discuss what stage of cervical cancer you have and what it means.
How is it treated? Doctors say treatment for cervical cancer is based on many factors, including the stage of the disease, your age and general health, and if you want children in the future.
The treatments for cervical cancer are radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
Clinical trials are another treatment option. They’re controlled research studies to test new treatments for cancer. Talk to your oncologist if you’d like to participate in a clinical trial.
Some people use alternative treatments like diet, herbs, acupuncture and other methods to supplement their cancer treatment. Talk to your healthcare provider about alternative methods that claim to relieve cancer symptoms. Some may help, but others could be harmful.
Radiation therapy uses energy beams to kill cancer cells on your cervix. There are two types of radiation therapy: External beam radiation therapy (EBRT): Aims high-powered radiation at cancer from a machine outside your body. Brachytherapy: Puts the radiation in or just near cancer.
Chemotherapy (chemo) uses drugs injected into your veins or taken by mouth to kill cancer cells. It enters your blood and is effective for killing cells anywhere in your body. There are several drugs used for chemo and they can be combined. Chemo is often given in cycles. The length of the cycle and the schedule or frequency of chemotherapy varies depending on the drug used and where the cancer is in your body.
Different kinds of surgery are used to treat cervical cancer. Your provider can remove just the cancerous tissues when the cancer is in its early stages. Some of the most common kinds of surgery for cervical cancer include:
Laser surgery: This surgery uses a laser beam to burn off just the cancer cells.
Cryosurgery: This surgery freezes cancer cells, destroying them.
Hysterectomy: This surgery involves the removal of your uterus and cervix.
Trachelectomy: This procedure removes your cervix and the upper part of your vagina but not your uterus.
Pelvic exenteration: This is the same as a hysterectomy but also includes your bladder, vagina, rectum and part of your colon, depending on where the cancer has spread.
Some people may have a combination of treatments. Your provider may use radiation or chemotherapy to treat cancer that has spread or come back (recurred). Sometimes, your provider will use radiation and chemotherapy before or after surgery.
Cervical cancer is serious, but Medical experts say it’s highly treatable, especially in the early stages. If you do receive a diagnosis, it’s normal to worry about your health or feel angry that cancer happened to you. You want the cancer to go away so you can continue living a long and fulfilling life. Ask your healthcare provider about what treatment they recommend.
my.clevelandclinic.org
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