2024-04-14 10:41:03
Cervical cancer staging classifies cancerous lesions based on their extent at the time of diagnosis.
Its objective is to better determine the characteristics of each cancer to implement a personalized treatment strategy and develop a prognosis on a case-by-case basis.
Cervical cancer also has the specificity of developing slowly, from so-called precancerous lesions.
Monitoring and treating these precancerous lesions are fundamental areas in the fight once morest cervical cancer, even before it reaches the first stage of its development.
Cervical cancer and precancerous lesions
Cervical cancer is a malignant tumor that appears when cells making up the tissues of the cervix mutate and begin to proliferate in an anarchic and uncontrollable manner.
This pathology is almost systematically caused by papillomavirus infection, a type of sexually transmitted virus that is extremely contagious.
When a papillomavirus infects the mucous membrane of the cervix, it can remain in the tissues for a long time, risking mutation of the cells that compose them.
These mutations are the cause of dysplasia (cell deformations) called precancerous, because they are likely to degenerate, following 10 to 15 years, into a malignant pathology. This article does not deal with precancerous lesions which have a specific classification.
It is essential to note that there is an effective vaccine once morest papillomaviruses, which can drastically reduce the risk of suffering from cervical cancer one day.
This type of cancer has an average prognosis, with a net survival rate of 74% at 5 years, its prevention is particularly important.
When precancerous dysplasia mutates into cervical cancer, early treatment becomes a central prognostic factor.
Staging the diagnosed tumor allows us to know more regarding its extent and its probable response to the different possible therapies.
Stage I cervical cancer
At stage I, cervical cancer is a tumor still localized strictly limited to the cervix. It is therefore limited to the tissues of its original site of appearance. There are stages IA and IB.
In stage IA, the tumor is microscopic. It is less than 3mm deep and 7mm wide (stage IA1) or more than 3mm deep and less than 7mm wide (stage IA2).
In stage IB, the tumor is macroscopic (visible to the naked eye). It can measure less than 4 cm (stage IB1) or more than 4 cm (stage IB2).
Stage II cervical cancer
At stage II of its development, the cervical tumor extends outside the tissues of its primary site. However, it is still limited to a local or regional area. There are stages IIA and IIB.
In stage IIA, the upper part of the vagina is affected. The tumor can then measure less than 4 cm (stage IIA1), or more than 4 cm (stage IIA2).
At stage IIB, the tissues of neighboring organs are invaded (uterus, vagina, parametrium, etc.). There is no damage to the pelvic walls or the lower part of the vagina.
Stage III cervical cancer
At stage III, cervical cancer is said to be locally advanced. Its cells have spread to the tissues of the abdominopelvic region. There are stages IIIA and IIIB.
In stage IIIA, the tumor has invaded the lower part of the vagina.
In stage IIIB, damage is observed in the pelvic wall, pelvic lymph nodes and/or tissues of the upper urinary tract (kidneys, ureter). Hydronephrosis (swelling of the kidney due to damage to the ureter) or kidney problems may occur.
Stage IV cervical cancer
In stage IV, the most advanced stage of the disease, the cancer typically forms metastases, new distant cancers that can reach any organs far from its original site of development. We distinguish between stage IVA and stage IVB.
At stage IVA, we observe cancerous damage to the mucous membranes of the urinary tract or the lower digestive system (bladder, colon, rectum, etc.).
At stage IVB, one or more metastases are observed, distant or localized. Metastases are new cancers formed by cancer cells that have broken away from the primary tumor and traveled throughout the body through the blood and/or lymph.
Also see our article on cervical cancer recurrence treatments
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