Cancer cervix is the most common cancer in women in India. It is still the most common cancer in rural India.

Risk Factors

• Early onset of sexual life
• Poor hygiene
• Decreased immunity
• High risk sexual partner
• Multiparity
• History of STD

Clinical features

• Foul smelling discharge
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Post coital bleeding
• Pelvic pain and urinary problems in advanced cases.

Evaluation

• Biopsy of cervix lesion, where tumor is visible with naked eye
• Colposcopic guided biopsy in microscopic tumors
• Staging investigations like sonography, CT scan, MRI or PET scan

Stage of Disease

• Very early – Disease is microscopic and limited only to cervix
• Early stage – Disease can be seen with naked eye and limited to cervix
• Advanced stage – Disease spread form cervix to surrounding tissues(parametrium) and vagina
• Very advanced stage – Disease spread to surrounding organs like urinary bladder , rectum and other parts of body.

Treatment

• Very early stage – in this stage the disease is microscopic and hence a simple surgery like conisation or hysterectomy is sufficient.
• Early stages – In this stage a bit radical surgery like radical hysterectomy or radiation therapy is needed.
• Advanced cases- surgery is not possible in this stage and only chemotherapy and radiation therapy is given concurrently.