About this topic
The cervix is a part of your uterus that opens at the top of the vagina and joins the body of the uterus to the birth canal. Cancer happens when cells in the body starts to grow out of control. Cancer that starts in the cervix is called cervical cancer. The most common cause of cervical cancer is human papillomavirus infection or HPV. ‚
Cervical cancer is most often found by a test called a Pap smear. Cervical cancer can be treated by surgery, chemo, radiation therapy, and drugs that work on how the body reacts to the cancer. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says you need to do.
- Take your drugs as ordered by your doctor.
- Drink lots of fluids including water and caffeine-free drinks. Avoid drinking beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol).
- If chemo or radiation was done, your doctor will give drugs that will control the side effects.
- With radiation, you will want to keep your skin moist. You may want to use creams to prevent dryness. You may be given an ointment to protect the skin during radiation.
- If surgery was done, your doctor will teach you how to care for the wound.
- You may have some vaginal bleeding after surgery. You may use sanitary napkins but not tampons.
- Joining a support group may help you cope with your illness.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor will ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- You may have stitches or staples. If so, your doctor will often want to remove the stitches or staples in 1 to 2 weeks.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Prevent upset stomach or throwing up
- Help prevent or treat loose stools
Will physical activity be limited?
- You should avoid tiring activities. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. Ask your doctor when you can return to your normal activities.
- Avoid heavy lifting.
- If you have radiation, you may want to wait to have sex. Your vagina may be tender during radiation and for a few weeks after radiation ends.
- Ask your doctor when you can resume sexual activity.
What changes to diet are needed?
Ask your doctor or dietitian for help if you are losing weight or not eating well. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Early menopause, hot flashes
- Narrowing of the vagina which may make sex difficult. There are ways to fix this problem.
- Hair loss with chemo or radiation
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Weight loss
- Leg swelling
- Trouble passing urine
- Cancer comes back
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Practice safe sex to prevent getting an HPV infection. Use condoms. Avoid having multiple sex partners.
- Get a shot to protect you against HPV infection and to reduce your risk of cervical cancer.
- Get a Pap test regularly.
- Quit smoking.
The chance of your cancer growing back depends on many things. Ask your doctor what you need to do to keep the cancer from coming back. ‚
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection such as a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher.
- Signs of wound infection such as swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Trouble passing urine
- Very bad pain not helped by your drugs for pain
- Losing weight
- A lot of bleeding from the vaginal area or cut site
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what kind of treatment I will be having.
- I can tell you how to care for my cut site, if I have one.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have a fever, chills, drainage from my wound, or a lot of bleeding from my vagina.
Where can I learn more?
American Cancer Society ‚
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CervicalCancer/DetailedGuide/cervical-cancer-what-is-cervical-cancer ‚
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/ ‚
National Cancer Institute ‚
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/cervix/page1 ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cancer-of-the-cervix/Pages/Prevention.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚