Each year in the United States, over 12,000 women find out they have cervical cancer. While it used to be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in American women, the death rate from cervical cancer has fallen by more than 50% over the last 40 years. This is largely due to better screening and discovering cancerous changes earlier.
At Southcoast Health, we have an award-winning cancer team that is confident in treating patients with many types of cancer, including cervical cancer in Fall River and Fairhaven, MA. Find a specialist near you today to schedule a consultation.
Having cervical cancer means you have malignant cells in your cervix — the neck of tissue connecting the uterus and vagina. There are three different types of cervical cancer:
Cervical cancer almost always results from an earlier infection with HPV (human papillomavirus). Today, HPV vaccines make cervical cancer a highly preventable disease. However, not all women with HPV infection will develop cervical cancer.
Other risk factors for cervical cancer include:
Pap test screening catches most cervical cancers before symptoms develop. In fact, Pap tests find precancerous changes far more often than actual cervical cancers. This is lifesaving because symptoms often don’t develop until the cancer has grown and invaded surrounding tissues.
When symptoms of cervical cancer occur, the most common ones include:
Treatment depends on the stage of cervical cancer. Your treatment options for cervical cancer at Southcoast Health may include:
We will help you find a customized treatment plan that is effective for treating your symptoms.
Through the Southcoast Health Cancer Centers, we provide reliable treatment for cervical cancer in Fall River and Fairhaven, MA, as well as the surrounding areas.
Southcoast Health is a not-for-profit, charitable, community-based health system with multiple access points, offering an integrated continuum of health services throughout southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.