Benign and Malignant Tumors of the Cervix

The cervix is part of a woman's reproductive system. It's in the pelvis. The cervix is the lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb).

The cervix is a passageway:

Anatomy and Physiology

The cervix connects the uterus to the vagina. During a menstrual period, blood flows from the uterus through the cervix into the vagina. The vagina leads to the outside of the body.

The cervix makes mucus. During sex, mucus helps sperm move from the vagina through the cervix into the uterus.

Anatomy and Physiology

Growths on the cervix can be benign or malignant. Benign growths are not cancer. They are not as harmful as malignant growths (cancer).

Benign growths (polyps, cysts, or genital warts):are rarely a threat to life don't invade the tissues around them

Malignant growths (cervical cancer):may sometimes be a threat to life can invade nearby tissues and organs can spread to other parts of the body.

Pathophysiology of Cervix

Cervical cancer begins in cells on the surface of the cervix. Over time, the cervical cancer can invade more deeply into the cervix and nearby tissues. The cancer cells can spread by breaking away from the original (primary) tumor.

Cancer of the Cervix

They enter blood vessels or lymph vessels, which branch into all the tissues of the body. The cancer cells may attach to other tissues and grow to form new tumors that may damage those tissues. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.

Cancer of the Cervix

Early cervical cancers usually don't cause symptoms. When the cancer grows larger, women may notice one or more of these symptoms:

Abnormal vaginal bleeding Bleeding that occurs between regular menstrual

periodsBleeding after sexual intercourse, douching, or a pelvic examMenstrual periods that last longer and are heavier than beforeBleeding after going through menopause.

Signs and Symptoms

Increased vaginal discharge Pelvic pain Pain during sex

Infections or other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A woman with any of these symptoms should tell her doctor so that problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Signs and Symptoms

Doctors recommend that women help reduce their risk of cervical cancer by having regular Pap tests. A Pap smear or cervical smear which is a simple test used to look at cervical cells. Pap smear tests can find cervical cancer or abnormal cells that can lead to cervical cancer.

Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer

Finding and treating abnormal cells can prevent most cervical cancer. Also, the Pap test can help find cancer early, when treatment is more likely to be effective.

Cont’d

If you have abnormal Pap or HPV test results, your doctor will suggest other tests to make a diagnosis:

Colposcopy: The doctor uses a colposcope to look at the cervix. The colposcope combines a bright light with a magnifying lens to make tissue easier to see. It is not inserted into the vagina. A colposcopy is usually done in the doctor's office or clinic.

Biopsy: Most women have tissue removed in the doctor's office with local anesthesia. A pathologist checks the tissue under a microscope for abnormal cells.

The Vira/Pap test to examination of the specimen’s deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) structure to detect HPV

Acute pain related to post procedure swelling and nerve damage manifested by patient verbalization of pain rated 9/10 on the pain scale.

Fear, related to diagnosis of cervical cancer Manifested by patient verbalization

Anxiety Related to metastasis and surgery manifested by patient verbalization of being nervous.

Nursing Diagnosis

• Discuss treatment alternatives, including the prognosis with each option.• Administer pain medications as prescribed.• Reassure the patient that this disease and its treatment shouldn’t radically alter her lifestyle or prohibit sexual intimacy.Monitor for complications of surgery – bleeding, infection

Nursing Intervention

Listen to the patient’s fears and concerns, and offer reassurance when appropriate.

Encourage the patient to use relaxation techniques to promote comfort during the diagnostic procedures.

Observe for signs and symptoms of radiation sickness such as nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, abdominal cramping.

Nursing Interventions

Explain the importance of complying with follow up visits to the gynecologist and oncologist.

• Refer to a local cancer support group so that she can interact with cancer survivors.

• Refer the patient to a social worker in preparation for her altered level of functioning

Nursing Interventions

• Develop strategies for pain control.• Maintain skin and tissue integrity during radiation treatment.• Express her feelings about the fear of cancer and death.

Expected Outcomes

Cervical Cancer, 2010, retrieved fromhttp://www.medicinenet.com/cervical_cancer/article.htm

References