How to Learn About the Stages of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is any cancer that originates in the tissue of the cervix. The two most common types are squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Both have the potential to progress through several stages if left untreated, each with varying degrees of severity. The survival rate for women who have developed cervical cancer is high, with the greatest chance of survival for those who detect and begin treating the disease in its earliest stages.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Doctor/gynecologist/oncologist

1. Know that Stage 0 cervical cancer is characterized by minor tissue damage, and then only on the very surface of the cervix. If you discover the cancer during this stage, your survival rate is highest.
2. Be aware that Stage I cervical cancer consists of several degrees, but in each the cancer has not spread beyond the cervix. 1A cervical cancer is still such a small invasion you cannot see it without a microscope, while 1B indicates that a microscope is no longer required for visual detection.
3. Be aware that later stages, like II and III, indicate that cervical cancer has spread beyond the cervix itself. Stage II cervical cancer is still restricted to the pelvic region, while Stage III indicates the cancer has spread to other organs in the pelvis as well as the tissues closest to the cervix.
4. Detect cervical cancer prior to its developing into Stage IV. A Stage IV diagnosis indicates the cancer has spread throughout the body and into other organs. By this stage the cancer is, or rapidly becomes, inoperable.
5. Follow up by learning about the types of treatment appropriate for each stage of cervical cancer. Ask your doctor to guide you through the treatment options.
6. Stop smoking right away if there is even a possibility you have cervical cancer. Smoking not only dramatically increases your chances of developing cervical cancer but also intensifies the side effects of treatment.

Tips & Warnings

• Take part in any discussion related to your treatment for cervical cancer. You have the right to assist in any decision making related to your health, as granted in the Patient's Bill of Rights. Listen to the advice of your doctors and play an active role in the decision making.
• Ask your doctor to repeat herself as many times and as plainly as possible so you fully understand your diagnosis. You have a right to understand the full extent of your disease and treatment options.
• Don't rely on your own research to learn about the dangers and stages of cervical cancer. It is critically important that you speak to a doctor the moment you feel there may be a problem, no matter how minor.
• If you are battling cancer, watch for the symptoms of depression. Treat anxiety and depression as seriously as you would treat purely physical problems, as they can adversely affect your healing.