Cervical Cancer

Chapter 5: Cervical Cancer

Overview:

• Provides information on the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer
• Includes a tabulated summary of the various stages of cervical cancer and possible management plans
• Guides on how to live with cervical cancer
• Addresses common palliative care concerns

Description:

Cancer of the cervix is one of the most prevalent cancers; worldwide, almost half a million women are diagnosed with the disease each year (Ferlay et al. 2004). Cancer of the cervix is recognised as the leading virus-induced cancer in women. This chapter discusses cancer of the cervix and focuses on its patterns of spread, staging, management and more.


Topics:

• Risk factors
• Pre-invasive disease
  • Cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia
  • Treatment of CIN
• Presentation
• Diagnosis
• Patterns of spread
• Staging
• Management
  • Stages IA1, IA2 and IIA
  • Advanced disease
  • Adenocarcinoma
  • Recurrent cancer of the cervix
• Living with cervical cancer
• Palliative care issues

Speakers / Authors:

Catherine Spencer
Catherine is a registered nurse with post-registration qualifications in oncology and gynaecological oncology. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in science (nursing). Her dissertation researched the experiences of women undergoing radical trachelectomy for early-stage cancer of the cervix. Catherine has worked in the field of gynaecological cancer for 13 years at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and the Royal Marsden Hospital (both London, UK). She is the Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist in gynaecological oncology at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and leads a team of gynaecological oncology specialist nurses for the North-East London Cancer Network.

Catherine also teaches at City University (London) on postgraduate courses in oncology and gynaecological oncology. Catherine’s publications include articles on nursing management of malignant fistulae, fertility-sparing surgery for women with cervical cancer, and fertility options in ovarian cancer. She is an active member (and former council member) of the National Forum of Gynaecological Oncology Nurses. Catherine represents nursing on the trachelectomy subgroup of the British Gynaecological Cancer Society.

Huang Fang
Huang is a registered nurse and midwifery staff nurse. She holds a certificate in gynaecological oncology nursing, an advanced diploma in oncology nursing, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Huang worked as a midwifery staff nurse, senior staff nurse, and Clinical Nurse Educator in China until April 1994. In 1994, she joined the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (Singapore).

Huang has worked as an oncology nurse and senior oncology nurse in the Gynaecological Oncology Unit for more than ten years. She is a member of the Procedure Improvement Program of the Gynaeoncology Division and a member of the Oncology Support Working Party. In 2004, she was selected for the HMDP Fellowship by Sing Health of Singapore and was awarded a three month training fellowship at the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney (Australia).

Professional Reviews: