What are the hazards of cervical precancerous lesions? Do precancerous lesions need to be checked for TCT+HPV?

From precancerous lesions to malignant invasive cervical cancer, cervical cancer has a long history of canceration, with a latent period of at least 5-10 years. Therefore, as long as the correct physical examination is chosen, more than 90% of cervical cancer can be prevented and killed in the "precancerous lesions" stage.

Cervical cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy. When it develops to the late stage, it will soon take people's lives. However, cervical cancer has characteristics that other malignant cancers do not have: it is the only cancer whose cause is currently understood. In addition, the development of cervical cancer has a long history. There is a latent time of at least 5-10 years from precancerous lesions to malignant invasive cervical cancer. Therefore, as long as the correct physical examination is chosen, more than 90% of cervical cancer can be prevented and killed in the "precancerous lesions" stage. However, some women believe that uterine B cervical cancer can be screened by cervical smears, but obstetricians and gynecologists say that both physical examinations will lead to missed diagnosis.

It usually takes 5-10 years for cervical precancerous lesions to develop into cervical cancer

The natural evolution from cervical precancerous lesions to cervical cancer usually takes 5-10 years. At this stage, the vast majority of patients have no obvious symptoms, and most patients have reached the advanced stage. Once the cancer develops rapidly, especially in the late stage, it will metastasize to other parts of the body through lymph and blood vessels. In the precancerous lesion stage, active treatment can basically achieve a 100% cure rate, but once cervical cancer reaches the late stage, the mortality rate is almost 100%.

The treatment of cervical cancer has been standardized. If the examination shows mild cervical precancerous lesions, they can be observed; moderate and severe precancerous lesions can be treated with LEEP surgery to remove cells with a tendency to cancer, thereby preventing cervical cancer; severe precancerous lesions are carcinoma in situ, which is only one step away from cervical cancer. If cervical cancer develops and the early cancer cells do not metastasize to the pelvis, extensive hysterectomy can be selected to achieve good treatment results. If the advanced cancer cells metastasize, radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be used to prolong survival.

It is worth reminding that there are no obvious symptoms in the early stage of cervical cancer. Some patients will experience vaginal contact bleeding (bleeding after sexual intercourse or gynecological examination), or increased vaginal discharge, which is white or bloody, thin like water or rice soup, and has a fishy smell. "Vaginal contact bleeding is a typical manifestation of cervical lesions. It may be cervical cancer, but it may also be cervical polyps and other diseases. If you have such symptoms, you should seek medical attention in time, and the doctor should determine the cause." Wan Lan reminded, "The most important way to detect lesions is regular gynecological examinations."

TCT+HpV is the most reliable method to check for precancerous lesions

Cervical cancer screening advocates liquid-based cytology (TCT) and HPV virus testing, both of which are performed by extracting secretions from the cervical canal. There are different opinions on when to start the screening. "Because any woman who has sex is likely to develop cervical cancer. Judging from the age distribution of patients, we recommend starting cervical cancer screening from the age of 25 to 70, or after 3 years."

If economic conditions permit, gynecological examinations can be performed at the same time as HPV and TCT after the age of 25. The former can find out whether there is a cause of disease, and the latter can explain whether there are changes in cells, that is, precancerous lesions. If the family conditions are average, HPV should be tested at least once every three years, and TCT should be tested after a positive result; if TCT and HPV are done, and both indicators are normal, it can be checked every five years until the age of 70.

Cervical cancer is the only cancer with a known cause. Most patients are infected with HPV through sexual intercourse. But don't worry, being infected with high-risk HPV does not necessarily mean that all viruses will cause cervical cancer. It can only be said that repeated infection can lead to cervical cancer.

But many people are infected with HPV but have never had cervical cancer. This is because there are many types of HPV, including high-risk carcinogenic types and common types. In addition, the human body has a certain immunity to the virus. Therefore, even if the high-risk HPV test is positive, don't be too nervous. You can check TCT again. If TCT does not find precancerous lesions, you can wait half a year and check high-risk HPV again. If you are healthy and have a strong immune system, most people can clear the HPV virus in about a year.

Tips: Early symptoms of cervical cancer

1. Increased vaginal discharge. Most cervical cancer patients have varying degrees of increased vaginal discharge. In the early stages, due to the presence of cancer, the cervical glands are stimulated to secrete hyperfunction, producing mucus-like leucorrhea. As cancer develops, cancerous tissue necrosis and secondary infection occur, the leucorrhea becomes turbid, like rice water or pus-like blood, with a special odor.

2. Irregular vaginal bleeding. Early manifestations include a small amount of bloody leucorrhea and contact vaginal bleeding. Patients often experience a small amount of vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse or defecation. Postmenopausal women with vaginal bleeding should pay attention to finding the cause. Vaginal bleeding from cervical cancer is often very irregular, usually less at first and more later, sometimes more and sometimes less. Cauliflower bleeding occurs early and in large amounts. After advanced cancer erodes large blood vessels, it can cause a large amount of fatal vaginal bleeding. Due to long-term and repeated bleeding, patients often develop anemia.

3. Pain is a symptom of advanced cervical cancer. The main cause of pain is the infiltration or compression of pelvic nerves by cancer. Other causes of pain are: lower abdominal pain when the cervical canal is blocked by cancer, the drainage of intrauterine secretions is poor, or intrauterine pus is formed; cancer invades the paracervical tissue. When the ureter is compressed or infiltrated, it can cause hydroureteral or renal pelvis ureter, causing swelling or spasmodic lower abdominal pain on one or both sides; when cancer compresses the iliac lymph and iliac blood vessels to block reflux, the lower limbs may swell and ache.