Among all types of existing malignant tumors, cervical cancer is the third most common among women in Brazil — only behind breast and colon and rectum. According to data from the National Cancer Institute (Inca), it is estimated that around 17 thousand cases are diagnosed per year in the country.
One of the main factors responsible for the development of cervical cancer is HPV infection. According to the Ministry of Health, 75% of sexually active Brazilian women will come into contact with the virus throughout their lives, and the peak of transmission occurs in the 25-year-old range.
Therefore, the tumor is considered preventable. The main ways to protect yourself are linked to prevention against HPV, such as condom use during sexual intercourse and vaccination.
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In 2017, the Ministry of Health incorporated the use of the tetravalent immunizer in the vaccination schedule for girls aged 9 to 14 years, boys aged 11 to 14 years, and also for women and men with immunosuppression up to 45 years of age. The vaccine can be applied at any health unit and the number of doses varies according to age.
The disease can also be linked to the early onset of sexual life, multiple partners, history of sexually transmitted disease, immunosuppression, use of contraceptives and smoking.
The oncologist draws attention to the importance of carrying out an annual gynecological examination, rigorously, for every woman who has ever had sexual initiation. Treatment is more likely to be successful when the tumor is at an early stage.
Symptoms
The disease is considered silent, that is, it does not cause symptoms in all patients, which makes it dangerous. But, when diagnosed early, there is a possibility of remission of up to 80%.
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“Gynecological cancer does not initially show symptoms — when they do appear, the disease is usually already quite advanced, making treatment difficult and reducing the chances of cure”, points out oncologist Augusto Portieri, from the Brasília Cancer Center.
According to Portieri, patients with the tumor may experience pain, discomfort and/or bleeding during sexual intercourse. Signs happen when the tumor lesion in the cervix is already large and looks like an ulcerated wound, which is painful to the touch and bleeds with friction during the sexual act.
Another symptom is the presence of brown and odorous vaginal discharge. The problem is caused by necrotic tumor cells and clotted blood remnants that form from the rapid growth of the tumor lesion. This is a sign of advanced disease.
In more serious cases, blockage of the urinary tract may also occur. “Less common signs of cancer development are difficulty in defecating and even intestinal obstruction, which happens when the cervix tumor grows invading the intestine”, explains the oncologist.
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