Cervical cancer is the most common among women. It can be caused by various factors like Human papillomavirus (HPV), smoking, weakened immunity, multiple sex partners, and family history. Thus, there is an increased need for a precision medical approach to treating it, which helps to treat people based on their genetic makeup, lifestyle, and specific health factors.
The cervix is the long, narrow end of the uterus that connects the uterus to the vagina. Cervical cancer refers to the abnormal growth of the cells in the cervix, which is a long, narrow end of the uterus that connects the uterus and the vagina.
Metastatic cervical cancer is the advanced last stage of cervical cancer, where the cancer cells have spread from the localized area of origin, the cervix, to various other tissues, organs, and lymph nodes. This is the stage that becomes difficult to treat.
Symptoms of Metastatic Cervical Cancer
- You may experience pain in the pelvis
- You may experience abnormal vaginal bleeding (bleeding during intercourse)
- You can have urinary problems
- Your legs may be swollen due to spread to lymph nodes
- You may develop watery or bloody vaginal discharge
Treatment approaches
Treatment of metastatic cervical cancer is difficult. However, the treatment approaches will involve targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy, and sometimes, a combinational approach is also initiated to ensure the eradication of tumor cells.
1. Targeted therapy:
Targeted therapy is another cancer treatment that particularly targets proteins that control the growth, division, and spread of the cancer cells. EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors) and VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Inhibitors) are involved in treating cervical cancer, which blocks the growth and progression of tumor cells into nearby blood vessels.
Anticancer medicines like Avastin contain the active compound Bevacizumab, which is a monoclonal antibody that is effective in treating cervical cancer.
2. Immunotherapy:
Immunotherapy is a part of cancer treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer. Immunotherapy medications are used as personalized medicine to treat cervical cancer cells.
Pembrolizumab is indicated for the treatment of metastatic cervical cancer and has received FDA approval. Many other medications are being investigated in trials for treating metastatic cervical cancer.
3. Chemotherapy:
Chemotherapy medicines are used to kill cancerous cells and reduce their growth. These medications interfere with the ability of cancer cell division and progression. In the treatment of metastatic cervical cancer, chemo medications can be paired up with targeted or immunotherapy to produce a better outcome.
4. Combinational approach:
Recently, it has been found that the combination of chemotherapy anticancer medicine and a targeted therapy medication like paclitaxel and cisplatin, along with Bevacizumab, is considered the preferred treatment for metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer. It yields better outcomes compared to single-medication monotherapy.
5. Palliative care:
Palliative care experts work together with oncologists and surgeons with the goal of eliminating stress and reducing the symptoms of patients. They help the patients on how to tackle the emotional, physical and psychosocial needs.
Cancer- dietary approaches to follow
- Apart from the traditional diet, people with cancer must focus on building their diet primarily around antioxidant-rich foods, including fruits, vegetables, seeds, whole grains, and healthy fats.
- Certain foods such as carrots, brussels, and sprouts contain carotenoids, an essential compound that induces apoptosis of cancer cells.
- Oranges, bell peppers, green vegetables, berries, and other sources of vitamin C foods actively help fight against cancer.
- Adequate consumption of omega-3 fatty acids from fish also helps against tumor cells. Foods like cabbage, mushrooms, garlic, and onions that are high in anthoxanthins can also be included.
- Including high-fiber foods to manage digestion and aid in weight control is recommended.
Conclusion
Metastatic cancers take a heavy toll on the body; it is important to stay strong physically and emotionally to tackle these stages of cancer. It is necessary to follow precision medicine approaches that can help reduce the side effects and improve the overall survival rate of cervical cancer patients.
