Dysplasia marks the beginning of cellular changes in the cervix.
Cervical dysplasia, also called "cervical intraepithelial neoplasia" (CIN), is the beginning stages of cellular changes in the cervix tissue that may develop into cancer. CIN most of the time is discovered when a woman has a Pap smear test. Since Pap test screening, developed in the 1950s, there has been a dramatic decline in the number of deaths from cervical cancer. The cancer is usually curable if detected and treated in the early stages.
Stage 0
Surgery is used in many stages of cancer.
Stage 0 dysplasia is also known as carcinoma in situ. It is a precancerous condition where abnormal cells are found only in the first layer of the lining of the cervix. Treatment at this stage may include biopsy, laser surgery, LEEP (loop electrosurgical excision procedure) or surgery.
Stage IA
Radiation is widely used in cancer treatments.
This is the first stage of cancer and involves only the cervix. A biopsy is taken and diagnosed. At this stage, there is only a small amount of cancer cells that lie deep within the layers of the cervix. Hysterectomy, internal radiation, and removal of ovaries, lymph nodes and cancerous tumors may be recommended treatments.
Stage IB
In stage IB, larger amounts of cancer cells are found in the tissue of the cervix. The cancer is contained within the cervix and hasn't spread to nearby areas. Treatment may include internal and external radiation, radical hysterectomy and lymph node dissection, radiation and/or chemotherapy.
Stage IIA
The cancer has spread to the upper two thirds of the uterus but remains within the pelvic region. Treatment may include internal and external radiation, radical hysterectomy and lymph node dissection, radiation and/or chemotherapy. A radical hysterectomy is the removal of the entire uterus. Lymph node dissection is the removal of lymph nodes to check for cancer.
Stage IIB
The cancer has spread and may involve the vagina but remains within the pelvic region. Treatment may be internal or external radiation and chemotherapy.
Stage III
The cancer has now spread throughout the pelvic region. Affected areas may include the lower part of the vagina and a blockage of the ureters, the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder. Treatment may be internal or external radiation and chemotherapy.
Stage IVA
The cancer has spread to organs close to the cervix and may now affect the bladder and rectum. It is uncommon for cervical cancer to reach this stage. Treatment may be internal or external radiation and chemotherapy.
Stage IVB
Distant organs like the lungs may be affected. Cervical cancer rarely reaches this stage. Radiation may be prescribed to relieve symptoms and chemotherapy.
Tags: external radiation, internal external, internal external radiation, radiation chemotherapy, cancer spread