Introduction

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PART 1

THE BASICS

1

Questions 1-5

Give Basic Information About Cervical Cancer, with Topics Such As:

Where is the Cervix? What does it Do?

What is Cancer?

How do You Screen for Cervical Cancer?

PART 2

RISK FACTORS AND COFACTORS

11

Questions 6-14

Outline a Number of Factors That are Associated with Cervical Cancer, Including:

How is Sexual Activity Associated with a Risk for Cervical Cancer?

Can Use of Birth Control Pills Increase My Risk of Cervical Cancer?

How is HIV Related to Cervical Cancer?

PART 3

SCREENING AND EARLY CERVICAL CHANGES

19

Questions 15-19

Cover Screening and Detection:

What is a Pap Test?

If a Pap Test Comes Back Abnormal, Does it Mean I have Cancer?

What is ASCUS? What About AGUS? Are They the Same Thing?

PART 4

TREATMENT OF ABNORMAL PAP TESTS

25

Questions 20-26

Discuss What Treatment Options are Available, Such As:

What is a Cone Biopsy? When do You have to do This?

Are there any Risks if You have a Part of Your Cervix Removed?

Are there Alternatives to Excision?

PART 5

DIAGNOSIS AND STAGING: INVASIVE CERVICAL CANCER

37

Questions 27-33

Discuss General Information on the Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer, Including:

Are there Different Types of Invasive Cervical Cancer?

How does Cervical Cancer Spread?

What is a Sentinel Node Biopsy?

PART 6

TREATMENT OF INVASIVE CERVICAL CANCER: EARLY-STAGE DISEASE

51

Questions 34-41

Examine Cervical Cancer as an Early-Stage Disease and Corresponding Treatment Options:

What does it Mean to have Early Invasive Cervical Cancer?

How does a Surgeon Decide if I can Keep My Uterus?

What if I Don't Want Surgery? What Other Options do I Have?

PART 7

TREATMENT OF INVASIVE CERVICAL CANCER: LOCALLY ADVANCED DISEASE

61

Questions 42-46

Examine Cervical Cancer as a Locally Advanced Disease as Well as Appropriate Treatment Options:

What does it Mean if My Cancer is Locally Advanced?

Shouldn’t Surgery Still be Done if My Cancer has Spread Beyond My Cervix?

What is Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy?

PART 8

TREATMENT OF METASTATIC, ADVANCED, OR RECURRENT CERVICAL CANCER

67

Questions 47-51

Examine Cervical Cancer as a Metastatic, Advanced, or Recurrent Disease as Well as Appropriate Treatment Options:

What is the Prognosis for Women Whose Disease is Advanced?

How can Cervical Cancer Come Back if My Cervix Was Removed?

What Treatments are Available for Women Whose Disease is not Curable?

PART 9

TREATMENT AT THE END OF LIFE

75

Questions 52-58

Help to Sort through Information for Terminal Patients, Including:

How will I Know When I am Terminal?

What do I Tell My Family?

What does Hospice Mean?

PART 10

SURVIVORSHIP ISSUES AFTER CERVICAL CANCER

81

Questions 59-70

Discuss General Health Issues That Occur After Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Such As:

What should I Know About My General Health Maintenance?

I No Longer have Periods and My Menopausal Hot Flashes are Very Troublesome. What can I Do?

Should I Stop Smoking? What About Alcohol?

PART 11

SEXUALITY AFTER CERVICAL CANCER

107

Questions 71-83

Address Issues Related to Sexuality and Intimacy That Follow Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Including:

Do Many Cervical Cancer Survivors Experience Sexual Complaints?

What are the Psychological Changes After Cancer That may Impact Sexual Functioning?

What Pharrnacologic Interventions can Improve My Sexual Function?

PART 12

FERTILITY AND CERVICAL CANCER

127

Questions 84-87

Address Concerns About Fertility, Including:

Have there Been Successful Pregnancies After Women Underwent a Radical Trachelectomy?

What can be Done to Preserve My Ability to have Children in the Future?

Can I Adopt Children After a Diagnosis of Cancer?

PART 13

PREVENTION AND SCREENING

133

Questions 88-100

Are Concerned with Minimizing the Risk of Cervical Cancer and Cover Such Topics As:

Are there Guidelines on When and How Often Pap Tests should be Done?

What is the Cervical Cancer Vaccine?

Where can I Get More Information?

Glossary

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Index

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