Effects of radiation therapy for cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is considered a serious pathology, which can have dangerous consequences. The disease is most often diagnosed in women between thirty and fifty years old, and most of the time progresses without symptoms, which can lead to undesirable consequences.

Cervical cancer develops in the formation and progression of malignant tumors. The pathological process can be marked as in the vaginal portion of the cervix, as well as in the cervical canal. Quite often found in malignant changes so-called zone of transformation.

structural features

The cervix is ​​not considered by experts as a separate body. In fact - this is the lower part of the uterus, its narrowest department that performs a number of necessary functions. The neck of the womb protects from harmful flora, as a kind of barrier. through the cervix appears sloughed endometrium during menstruation. In addition, the cervix is ​​directly involved in the birth and conception.

The cervix can be either conical or cylindrical shape. Appearance of the uterus depends on realizovanna female fertility. The neck resembles a narrow muscular tube that has a small length.

The structure of the cervix secrete two departments.

1. Supravaginal. This is the most significant largest department, which nonetheless is not visualized during the inspection.
2. Vaginal. This site, which is adjacent to the vagina and examined during gynecological examination.

Vaginal part of the cervix has the following characteristics:

• pale pink color;
• smooth surface;
• uniformity of the epithelium in color and texture.

Any deviation from the norm They can talk about the disease and have serious consequences.

The cervix is ​​lined with epithelium of the following types:

• flat multilayer (Vaginal part);
• cylindrical single-layer (Cervical canal).

Vaginal part of the cervix is ​​lined with epithelium, composed of stratified squamous cells. Cellular elements are located in three primary layers and are of varying maturity.

1. The basal layer It contains immature rounded cells with a large nucleus inside.
2. Intermediate layer It includes the ripening flattened cells with a reduced core.
3. The surface layer It consists of a flat mature cellular elements with a small size core.

Cervical Canal is located inside the uterus. Entrance to the canal in nulliparous women slit-shaped. The surface of the cervical canal is formed cylindrical monolayer cells. The cervical canal also function gland producing protective mucus. The narrowness of the channel and mucus prevent penetration of the infection into the uterus.

Cervical mucous surface has a reddish color and a velvety texture. The upper end of the channel is open into the uterine cavity that forms the internal os. The lower edge of the cervix opens into the vagina, thereby forming the outer mouth. Its depth is a transition zone called the transformation region.

Statistically, a significant number of malignancies formed in the area of ​​transformation.

Classification

The consequences of cervical cancer depends on its species. Gynecologists secrete a variety of forms of cervical cancer, some are quite rare. Classification of cervical cancer include species that produce on the basis of different criteria.

Depending upon the tissue which forms a malignant tumor, is isolated:

• squamous a form of cancer;
• glandular Oncology species.

Squamous cell carcinoma is diagnosed in 90% of cases, while the oncology or glandular adenocarcinomas occur no more frequently than in 10% of cases.

According to the degree of invasion distinguish cervical cancer:

• preinvasive, signifying zero step;
• mikroinvazivny, comprising the step 1A;
• invasive, signifying step 1B - 4.

According to the degree of cell differentiation, cervical cancer is:

• highly differentiated;
• moderately differentiated;
• poorly differentiated.

Highly differentiated tumors, as opposed to poorly differentiated or undifferentiated, have a good prognosis, not aggressive, rarely metastasize. However, moderately differentiated tumors are diagnosed in the overwhelming number of cases.

stage

The consequences of cervical cancer depends on the stage diagnosed. The stages or steps indicate severity.

The progression of the cervical cancer is divided into four stages.

1. cervical lesions. A1 - invasion to 0.3 cm. A2 - invasion of up to 0.5 cm. B1 - germination up to 4 cm. B2 - germination than 4 cm.
2. The involvement of the uterus. And - without defeat serous membrane. B - germination in the serosa.
3. Extension to the pelvic wall and vagina. A - the involvement of the lower third of the vagina. In - involving the pelvic wall.
4. The formation of distant metastases, organ damage is small pelvis. And - the germination of the bladder and intestines. In - the spread of the tumor to distant organs, metastasis formation.

The severity of the consequences It depends on the stage.

Causes

Cervical cancer is caused by dysplastic changes. In fact dysplasia implies a precancerous condition.

Under the dysplastic process involves changing the structure of the cells related to the violation of their maturation and differentiation. It is known that in normal cells are arranged in three layers of squamous epithelium. When dysplasia consequences occur as a change in the shape and structure of cells, the disappearance of dividing into layers.

Precancerous process has several degrees of course:

• 1/3 epithelial lesion (CIN I);
• involving epithelial tissue half stratum (CIN II);
• detection of atypical cells around the epithelial layer (CIN III).

Consequences of dysplasia:

• rounded cells become misshapen;
• It increases the number of nuclei;
• division into layers disappears.

If abnormal cells acquire the ability to intensive reproduction and germination in the surrounding tissue develops a consequence of cancer.

The main cause of dysplastic changes become infected with HPV. Science knows more than one hundred strains of the virus, but only a few are highly tumorigenic and the ability to cause cancer. For example, cervical cancer usually causes strains 16 or 18. Some strains have not transformative and productive action, resulting in the formation of papillomas, warts.

However, in the presence of dangerous strains of cancer develops when the patient has a history of comorbidities exist. A healthy immune system displays the virus from the body within a few months.

Consequences in the form of cancer developing in the following negative factors:

• genital infections, especially complex, such as HPV and herpes;
• ignoring condoms during sexual intercourse random;
• multiple sexual partners;
• early sexual relations that increase the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, cervical trauma;
• chronic inflammatory processes in the pelvis;
• the role of heredity;
• cervical epithelial damage;
• smoking;
• adverse environmental conditions;
• carcinogenic male smegma is not the cervix.

Women with HPV should undergo regular routine inspections in order to prevent the consequences of cervical cancer.

Symptoms and diagnosis methods

It is known that cervical cancer leads to serious consequences and long-term recovery after treatment. Often, cancer progression to serious consequences due to the latent course and irregular nature of the survey.

Typically, the effects of the symptoms appear on the third or fourth stage, when there is a disruption of the functioning of organs and multiple metastases. Gynecologists are the following signs, which may indicate the development effects in cervical cancer:

• spotting with bad smell, appearance resembling meat slops;
• bleeding;
• contact separation occurring during a gynecological examination, sexual intercourse;
• leucorrhea with lesions of the lymph capillaries;
• swelling as a result of the involvement of regional lymph nodes;
• signs of compression of the bladder, intestines, blood appears in the urine and feces, constipation, painful, frequent urination;
• pelvic pain;
• weakness;
• nausea;
• dizziness;
• anemia;
• temperature rise.

The consequences of cervical cancer may be similar to the symptoms of many diseases. That is why when a characteristic clinical picture it is necessary to conduct a survey, which includes the following methods.

1. Gynecological examination Cervical cancer is informative in the later stages. In the early stages is necessary to satisfy laboratory and instrumental studies.
2. colposcopy means inspection of the cervix using a colposcope. During the procedure, a doctor is studying a simple epithelium under the microscope. Extended procedure is required when deviations are detected. After treatment, the acetic acid solution of the white areas indicate papilloma virus infection. If after the application of Lugol are NOT, sites can atypia.
3. Biopsy It is carried out only after the detection of atypical sites. Biopsy specimens for histological examination carried out in different ways. After the diagnosis is necessary to observe the doctor's recommendations in the recovery period.
4. Smear on onkotsitologiyu It held for all women every six months. Cytological examination shows the presence of abnormal cells and inflammation.
5. Endocervical curettage necessary for suspected adenocarcinoma. The procedure and the early days of the recovery period are in the hospital.

Examination in order to exclude the effects of metastasis involves the use of MRI, CT, X-ray and other investigations.

radiation therapy method

Radiation therapy is considered one of the most effective methods for the treatment of malignant diseases, including cervical cancer. Radiation therapy has been used successfully in many countries around the world. With the help of radiotherapy can destroy cancer cells and prolong the life of cancer patients in the later stages of the disease. However, the method has the features of radiotherapy and of recovery after treatment.

Radiation therapy or radiotherapy is conducted by ionizing radiation, which acts on the affected tissue cancer. Under the influence of radiation therapy manages to suppress the growth, the spread of cancer cells in the body. To create a beam of elementary particles, used medical accelerators.

It is noteworthy that radiation therapy does not cause the collapse of the affected tissue cancer, however, leads to changes in the DNA. Nevertheless, the growth and division of cancer cells is stopped or slowed down. Radiation therapy leads to rupture molecular bonds atypical structures. Radiation therapy affects largely on the cancer cell elements. Healthy tissue is practically not exposed to facilitate recovery.

The doctor may change the direction of radiation during radiation therapy. This is to ensure the maximum dose of radiation in affected tissues.

In general, radiation therapy has been used successfully as an independent method of treatment. However, radiation therapy may also be used in combination with surgery. Of particular value radiotherapy is the presence of multiple metastases, which can not be removed surgically. The recovery period after radiotherapy is easier than after the use of chemotherapy.

It is known that to achieve maximum efficiency and to facilitate the recovery period doctors may use both internal and external radiation exposure. two ways of using radiation therapy in complex used usually specialists. Application only internal or external action is carried out very often.

The outer shape

External or remote use of radiation therapy is recommended for five to six weeks. Radiation therapy is performed on an outpatient basis. Before the radiotherapy woman undergoing tests. Of particular importance is the determination of the exact location of the tumor.

Before applying radiation therapy on the skin are set special markers for precise direction of impact. Radiation therapy is carried out 5 times a week, every day. The duration of radiation therapy procedure depends on the following factors:

• the size of a malignant neoplasm of the cervix;
• general condition of the female organism.

Typically, radiation therapy session lasts about two to three minutes. During radiotherapy procedure painful not arise. An important condition is to keep the body motionless.

If the patient had missed one of the sessions of radiotherapy, the procedure can be carried out twice a day, observing an interval of six to eight hours.

internal form

Intracavitary radiation is carried out within the framework of inpatient or outpatient treatment. In order to obtain maximum results, special applicators are placed in the cervical area for radiotherapy. Before performing the procedure is carried out anesthesia. To prevent displacement of the tube, the tampon is introduced into the vagina. The correctness of the applicator arrangement is evaluated using RT.

After performing the radiation therapy session appointed painkillers. The duration of a session of radiation therapy is determined by the attending physician. Typically intracavitary radiation therapy performed or a long course, any short duration sessions.

Internal radiotherapy can be performed following radiation doses:

• high;
• medium;
• low.

Typically use high doses of radiation therapy. And radiotherapy sessions are used for ten minutes every two or three days. Between treatments special tube is removed from the cavity of the uterus or cervix.

If you are using low-dose radiation, it is advisable to use it only once. The duration of treatment of from one day to several days. In order to prevent displacement of the tube, the patient is in the supine position.

Sometimes the experts use pulsed irradiation that resembles low-dose technique. However, in the framework of this method, there is no permanent effects, and periodic exposures.

Efficiency

Radiotherapy can not guarantee a full recovery in cervical cancer. However, the use of the method has a high efficiency. Radiation therapy can prevent the appearance of new metastases. It is known that after surgery may cause a relapse in 20 years.

Radiation therapy has the following positive effects:

• reducing pain;
• reducing the risk of metastasis in the surrounding tissue;
• destruction of the malignant cells after surgery;
• the possibility of a full recovery in the early stages onkoprotsessa.

Radiation therapy for cervical cancer is the main method of treatment. At the first stage of cancer radiotherapy is used as an adjunct to the surgical method. However, in the second - the third stage of radiation therapy is seen as the only effective method of treatment. In cancer, the last stage of cervical radiation therapy is palliative in nature, that is, appointed to facilitate the status of cancer patients.

Recovery after radiotherapy

Typically, radiation therapy is well tolerated by patients, and the recovery is normal. However, the recovery period may cause side effects. In such cases, you should consult a doctor.

Side effects

One of the most common effects during the recovery period is considered to be the occurrence of bleeding.

Side effects during recovery from radiation therapy include the following manifestations.

1. Stool irregularities. This is quite a common consequence which is observed during the recovery after treatment by radiation therapy. The recovery process may consume doctors recommend not less than two liters of water to prevent dehydration.
2. Nausea. Typically, this manifestation is accompanied by vomiting and loss of appetite. In such cases, women are recommended to high-calorie drinks.
3. Weakness. Fatigue often occurs against a background of radiation therapy. In order to reduce the unpleasant consequences to the patient, it is desirable to pay special attention to rest.
4. The narrowing of the vagina. This condition can make it difficult to conduct gynecological examinations and the introduction of special applicators. To maintain the required diameter of the vagina, gynecologists recommend the introduction of tubes. Moreover, the risk of trauma is minimal with proper treatment.

Sometimes, on the background of the minor side effects are observed serious consequences, such as premature menopause. When the complex application of radiotherapy and surgery may cause limfademy recovery period. At this later swelling of the lower extremities is observed.

Often the side effects and complications are treatable. That is why women should be attentive to the state of health in the recovery period.

Methods of radiation therapy constantly optimized, which reduces the risk of effects in the recovery period, and increases the effectiveness of treatment.

Events

Essential during the recovery has proper nutrition after radiotherapy. Diet to prevent such a consequence, as the frustration of a chair, and nausea. Doctors recommend eating small portions. The diet in the recovery period should be diverse, include the necessary vitamins.

During the restoration in order to prevent the consequences for the organism, it is desirable to give the following products:

• canned;
• fat;
• smoked.

Also during the recovery it is not recommended to consume spices, alcohol and soft drinks, to avoid unpleasant consequences. Dairy products during the recovery and should not be consumed in large quantities.

Recovery from radiation therapy include:

• vacation and stay in the open air;
• rejection of hot tubs;
• restrictions in the use of cosmetics.

Cervical cancer is treated quite successfully by radiation therapy. Effects after the procedure appear in a small number of cases. The duration and number of treatments determined by the physician depending on the stage of the disease and tumors size. Recovery time depends on the amount of radiation therapy, the patient's age, the nature of the spread of the malignant process.