How is cervical cancer diagnosed and treated today and in the 90s?

Question

Recently, someone in my family said they had cervical cancer and was diagnosed 10 years ago. In the beginning, they said that the doctor performed a pap smear, and from this, diagnosed her with cervical cancer. He gave her 10 to 15 years to live and told her, "Live your life!". Apparently, in the 90's, their was no cure or even treatment for this form of cancer.

However, after researching cervical cancer, I discovered that cervical cancer was typiclly caused by HPV, that a bioapsy must be performed in order to even diagnose this form of cancer, there are treatments, it's curable, and doctors typically give people 5-years to live upon diagnosis.

I presented these facts to the person making this claim and was told that in the 90s there was no cure for this cancer...the terms she used to describe her diagnosis wasn't medical at all.

What are the symptoms of cervical cancer? Ways it is diagnosed and treated? Was it treatable in the 90s? How can someone survive for 10-years?

Answer 1

Hi I am an Oncologist.
The methods of treatment of cancer cervix were more or less same in 1990's as today, but that does not put anyone in bad picture,.. one has to see what it was then and what was actually advised, it is easy to point fingers.
For e.g. very early cancer (carcinoma in situ) can be treated by a simple meathod of LLETZ which is an office procedure and life is normal after few hours, patient is cured for life and may not remember anything(least of all- any medical terms) after 10 years.
You may speak to an oncologist in your area

And with early disease one can be completely cured of cancer and continue to live more than 10years and may die of natural causes(as most of us will)

Answer 2

Cervical cancer was treatable (I don't absolutely know how successfully) in the 50s! I am absolutely certain of this because my aunt was offered the choice of abortion and treatment or continuing an early pregnancy and then treatment for her advanced cervical cancer. She choose the latter, and treatment never took place because she died almost immediately after delivering my cousin.

An annual Pap smear is the best way to catch it soonest, BEFORE there are symptoms. Some women may be advised to have them more often. Once cancer has developed, the symptoms are usually abnormal vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain.

While we now know what causes many cases, and can therefor protect against it, I seriously doubt that treatment options have changed because of that knowledge.

Like most cancers, the treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Each treatment regimen is specifically designed for a particular patient and her cancer, based on general health, choices by the patient, stage and grade of the cancer and many other factors.

One person's treatment is likely to look quite different from another's, and yet both may be successful.
.

Answer 3

I believe that this person is badly mistaken If she went untreated she would be dead now. How do I know it happened to my Mother. She noticed weird things like pain and bleeding even though she had went through menopause. But just shrugged it of and went on with life. next thing we know she was in the hospital with massive bleeding and had to have blood transfusions. They done chemotherapy and done a hysterectomy (I think that's what it's called forgive if I am wrong) At first it looked like she would be fine but it came back and spread. They said if it had been found earlier she might have had a chance. I'm not shore how long she had Cancer but she had symptoms for about a year that she ignored. We found out she had it February 2003 and she passed away in August of 2003 she only lasted 6 month's so it can take a life fast (fast for me anyway I know that there Are faster cancers but My mom was fine and then 6 months later was gone) There was a bad smelling brown thick discharge and she had bleeding like a period but got worse toward the end so bad she had to have transfusions every few days just to live and pain and tenderness down there. I'm not a nurse or Doctor but I can tell you from what I know from my mom that she is mistaken. There was Chemotherapy in the 90's I know that because in 93 I lost a step mother to breast Cancer that she battled for about 3 years. She had chemo.

Answer 4

Cervical cancer can be diagnosed in a few diffrent ways.by pap test,by laposcopy surgery,and scope test(which is where they stick a camra with a light and scope down ure throaght.Yes it was curibal in the 90's my grandmother had it and they gave her a hist.If they think u have it they do a biop to make sure thats what it is.She also had breast cancer and they cured that as well.she is still alive and doing well today at 95yrs old.

Answer 5

Symptoms are pain and bleeding heavy. Diagnosed thru pap and HPV test.

Now they perform a complete hysterectomy and perform a PET/CT scan. The PET/CT scan is a noninvasive procedure that uses a radioactive sugar to identify cancer in the body. This test is far more accurate than cat scans.

Answer 6

kemotherapy and radition treatments, and yes it can be cured in some people. symptoms; bleeding. diagnose: smear test or scans i think.

Answer 7

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God Bless!

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