The main treatments for cervical cancer are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. The choice of treatment depends on several factors.

Factors

• Whether the tumor has penetrated into the muscle layer of the uterus;
• Whether the tumor has spread to tissue outside the uterus;
• Tumor type;
• The age and general health of the patient.

Surgery

Surgery is the most common treatments for cancer of the uterus. During usual operation removes not only the uterus, but also the surrounding structures, including the ovaries, fallopian (uterine) pipe nearby lymph nodes, part of the vagina.

The recovery time after operation may vary from woman to woman. As a rule, women after a hysterectomy is performed in the hospital a few days, but some are sent home the same day. Back to the usual rhythm of life can usually last four to eight weeks after surgery.

During the first days of the postoperative period, the patient may experience pain and discomfort. Doctor prescribes painkillers to alleviate the condition.

Fatigue, weakness, nausea and vomiting are also common signs of recovery period.

If a woman has not menopause, the menstrual period after the operation stop, and can appear symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness Vaginal dryness: Causes and Symptoms   and sweating at night. These symptoms are caused by a sharp decline in the level of female hormones. Removal of lymph nodes may lead to leg edema. Doctors prescribe specific medication to alleviate these symptoms.

Hysterectomy may be a significant impact on the sexual life of a woman. Sometimes patients need psychological counseling, which you can walk like one, and with a partner.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is used at all stages of cancer of the uterus. It can be used before or after surgery. Women who, for whatever reason, is contraindicated surgery, instead of it can be assigned to radiation therapy. If uterine cancer has invaded other tissue, radiation therapy may be used in combination with chemotherapy.

For the treatment of uterine cancer, two types of radiation therapy (in some cases, both types are used):

• External radiation therapy: using a special device large high-frequency radiation is directed at the pelvic area and, if necessary, to other areas where the cancer had spread. Treatment is generally given in the clinic. External radiation therapy sessions conducted five days a week for several weeks. Each treatment lasts only a few minutes.
• Internal radiation therapy (also called brachytherapy): placed on the vagina narrow cylinder, inside which is a radioactive substance. Usually treatment session lasts only a few minutes, and then the patient can go home. The procedure is carried out twice a week or more, in a few weeks.

Side effects mainly depend on the type of radiation therapy used in the treatment, which received a radiation dose the patient, and how extensive part of the body exposed to radiation. External radiation therapy abdomen and pelvis can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or problems in the urogenital area. Sometimes this leads to a loss of hair in the genital area, redness, dryness and soreness of the skin.

Radiation therapy often results in fatigue, especially in the last weeks of treatment. It is important to give yourself a rest, but doctors recommend patients stay active as possible.

The consequences can also be dryness, itching and burning in the vagina, as well as the cessation of menstruation and menopause symptoms. Young women after therapy the menstrual cycle can be restored.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy - is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. It is often used after surgery if there is a high risk of the cancer returning. In addition, it is used in cases where the cancer can not be completely removed surgically.

Preparations for the chemotherapy treatment of uterine cancers are usually administered intravenously. Usually, treatment is carried out in cycles, after each of which is followed by a period of rest. Some women during treatment need to be in hospital. Side effects of chemotherapy can be loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sores in the mouth or on the lips, hair loss, increased risk of infections, weakness, fatigue, skin rashes, tingling or numbness in the arms and legs, problems with hearing disorders in the vestibular system, joint pain Joint pain - how to understand what is going on? , Swelling of the legs. Most of these side effects is held after the end of treatment.

Hormone therapy

For the treatment of uterine cancer, hormone-sensitive, can be used hormone therapy. Such cancers have estrogen hormone receptors Estrogen - the key to bone health   and / or progesterone Progesterone - norm and pathology . Hormone therapy is also used instead of surgery to treat cancer in the later stages, and the first stage of uterine cancer in women who in the future want to have children.

Possible side effects of hormonal therapy include weight gain, breast tenderness and swelling.

We are all familiar with slogans like: "Diet, prevents the development of cancer," "Reduce by half the risk of cancer just a few minutes a day! "Is it true that it is fashionable to reduce the risk of cancer with the help of simple steps that we are taking every day? There is nothing magical in the prevention of cancer, anything that immediately make us healthy. In matters of cancer genetics plays a big role, so even if you try to live a healthy lifestyle, it is possible that you may develop cancer. But experts argue that at least one-third of cases of cancer in adults is associated with a way of life that we can control.

Every time we make healthy choices, and when to give up a bad habit, we reduce the risk of cancer. Here are the eight most useful habits that is purchased to help prevent cancer (plus nine that experts still ponder).

1. Do not smoke

Lung cancer kills more men and women than any other type of cancer. The reason for the overwhelming majority of these cases - smoking.

And it's only lung cancer. Smoking is also associated with more than a dozen other cancers. It is the cause of 30% of all deaths due to cancer. That's why many doctors will tell you that the biggest step in cancer prevention, which you can do - is to quit smoking or never start. But even if you find it hard to give up smoking completely, you can reduce your risk of cancer, reducing the number of cigarettes smoked.

One study found that smokers who reduced the number of cigarettes smoked to 20 pieces a day to less than 10 pieces a day reduced the risk of developing lung cancer by 27%. This is - a good first step, but do not stop there, for the sake of his health Give up smoking completely.

Even if you do not smoke, do not assume that smoking has no effect on your life. About 3,000 cases of lung cancer occur each year as a result of passive smoking, and there are strong arguments in favor of the other types of cancer may also be associated with passive smoking.

If you are in a closed bar or nightclub, and a hundred people there smoke, we can assume that you also smoke. If, when you came out of the club, your clothes smell of tobacco, you inhale a lot of cigarette smoke.

So think carefully before you regularly spend evenings in clubs filled with smokers, or let your child spends time with someone who smokes.

2. Do not gain weight

Many people probably know that to be overweight is bad for your health. But did you know that it is also a major factor in the development of cancer? Obesity - the cause of 14% of cancer deaths, and more than 3% of new cancers each year.

Recommendation number one expert in order to reduce the risk of cancer - have as a lower percentage of body fat within a healthy weight.

In 2007, we published the results of studies showing how food, nutrition and physical activity affect cancer and prevention of cancer. Overweight is associated with various types of cancer, including cancer of the esophagus, pancreas, gall bladder, breast, endometrial, and renal cancer.

3. Move

All kinds of physical activity can help prevent many types of cancer. Of course, you do not pump up "cubes" on his stomach, doing moderate exercise Myths about exercise: do not believe   30 minutes a day, but a number of studies finds evidence that even a physical activity can reduce the risk of many common cancers by 30-50%.

Not so important, how it views the exercise you are doing or where you do it. Just do it. Relate this to smoking. If you can reduce weight to normal, increase physical activity and eat more fruits and vegetables. This will be equivalent to the fact that you quit, if you were a smoker. People do not understand how important these factors and because they affect life expectancy.

4. Eat vegetarian food

There are a number of different products, which can prevent the development of certain cancers. For example, tomatoes, watermelon, and other foods that contain lycopene, have shown their ability to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

But if your goal - to reduce the risk of many cancers, eat vegetarian food, namely, non-starchy vegetables and fruits. Experts recommend eating mainly vegetarian food, not less than 400 grams per day. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables prevent cancer.

Doctors suggest a simple way to calculate the amount of food for proper nutrition Proper nutrition - the basic precepts of healthy food . Fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains have to fill your plate by two-thirds. The remaining third should consist of lean meat, fish and low-fat dairy products.

5. Keep alcohol consumption to a minimum

When it comes to health, alcohol is a double-edged sword. There is a lot of evidence that the use of light alcoholic drinks, especially red wine can be good for heart health.

On the other hand, the use of any alcohol may increase the risk of cancer.

With regard to cancer, there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. The more you drink, the greater the risk, especially certain types of cancer, such as cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus. And if you smoke, exposure to tobacco and alcohol further increases the risk of developing these cancers.

What to do? Experts recommend that women limit alcohol intake to one serving per day, and men - to two or less.

6. relieves stress

People always want to know if the stress increase risk of cancer. There is no convincing evidence that stress itself is an independent risk factor for cancer. But it can lead people to an unhealthy way to relieve stress. If you overeat or smoke to cope with stress How to beat stress? Create an oasis This behavior increases the risk of cancer.

Instead, doctors recommend to find healthy ways to deal with stress, such as exercise (to help lower the risk of cancer), meditation Meditation - treats the body and the spirit   and keeping a diary.