Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is cancer that starts in the cells of the cervix. The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus (womb). The cervix connects the uterus to the vagina (birth canal). Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time. Before cancer appears in the cervix, the cells of the cervix go through changes known as dysplasia, in which abnormal cells begin to appear in the cervical tissue. Over time, if not destroyed or removed, the abnormal cells may become cancer cells and start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and to surrounding areas.

General Information About Cervical Cancer

KEY POINTS

Cervical cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the cervix.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the major risk factor for cervical cancer.
There are usually no signs or symptoms of early cervical cancer but it can be detected early with regular check-ups.
Signs and symptoms of cervical cancer include vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain.
Tests that examine the cervix are used to detect (find) and diagnose cervical cancer.
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.

Read the full article on the National Cancer Institute website.

Complementary therapies for Cervical cancer

Hyperthermia / Ultrasound
Source: Canceractive.com
In Germany a revolution is taking place. Peter Wurst (Charite Universitatsmedizin, Berlin) has been pioneering the use of hyperthermia and ultrasound. Stage III clinical trials have still to take place but results so far are exceptional. (Int. J. Radiat.Onc.Biol Phys 2006; 66: 1159-67).

All the women in the trials to date had late stage cervical cancer but the tumours could not be removed. Hyperthermia and ultrasound (taking temperatures to 41 degrees in the tumour for 60 minutes, then allowed surgery on 14 patients. Subsequently 3 year survival was 93 per cent. Even the group who did not want surgery thereafter had a 79 per cent 3 year survival.

This Study says: Significant improvement in clinical outcome has been demonstrated for tumours of the head and neck, breast, brain, bladder, cervix, rectum, lung, oesophagus, vulva and vagina, and also for melanoma. Additional hyperthermia resulted in remarkably higher (complete) response rates, accompanied by improved local tumour control rates, better palliative effects and/or better overall survival rates.
More about Hyperthermia

Immunotherapy and cervical cancer
If a reason for cervical cancer appearing in some women but not in others is down to a poor immune system, it makes sense to be exploring immunotherapy. Sure enough, Keytruda (Pembrolizumab) has been through clinical trials with cervical cancer and is now being used where the cancer has returned after chemotherapy. You can find a review here.

Shark Liver Oil
This study says: In summary an inhibition of tumor growth and a decrease of the number of both radiation and complex injuries was observed when AKG [found in shark oil] had been administered prior to radiation treatment of patients affected by cancer of the uterine cervix.

Hesperidin
Hesperidin is a plant chemical that is found primarily in citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, and lemons.

This study says Hesperidin has been proven to be an effective medicine possessing many pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory…and inhibition of tumor promoters. Hesperidin has the potential to be developed as a chemotherapeutic or adjuvant agent for human cervical cancer.

AHCC and Cervical Cancer

This study concluded: These data suggest daily dosing of AHCC will eradicate HPV 16/18 infections and may have a role in the prevention of HPV-related cervical cancer. Furthermore, there is a potential for the addition of AHCC to primary treatment regimens for cervical cancer, which may potentially improve response rates and prevent recurrence.

See AHCC page

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Page updated September 2024