Battling Cervical Cancer Together

Cervical Cancer Treatment

Cervical cancer develops in the cells of the cervix, the organ that connects the vagina to the uterus.

The cervix has two main types of cells: squamous and glandular cells. Abnormal changes in either of these two types of cells can result in cervical cancer.

Almost all cervical cancers are caused by a persistent infection with a virus called Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

Kenya Laparoscopic Surgery Services (KLASS) offers specialty care for cervical cancer from a multidisciplinary team in modern, patient-centered facilities designed with you in mind.

Specialized Cervical Cancer Care at KLASS

Leading-edge treatments

For women who learn they have cervical cancer, we offer minimally invasive approaches to treat cancer with as few side effects as possible, and with an eye on preserving fertility whenever that is an option.

Battling cancer is a multistep journey, specialists at KLASS will walk with you every step of the way to discuss your case, evaluate and diagnose your condition and choose the treatment regimen with the greatest chance of curing your cancer.

Our gynecologic cancer specialist in Kenya, Prof. Rafique Parkar participates in assessing promising new treatments for gynecologic cancers.

What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?

Women do not typically display any symptoms until the cells have entered the deepest parts of the cervix or other pelvic organs.

Common symptoms include:

• Vaginal discharge, pink, watery discharge (often containing blood).
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding such as bleeding following sexual intercourse, after menopause, or between periods, or having longer and heavier periods.
• Vaginal odor.
• Vaginal pain – You may have pain during sex or pain in the pelvic area, not from sex or other activities.

Factors that increase your risk of cervical cancer

Several risk factors increase your chance of developing this condition.
They include:

1. History of sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, HIV, and HPV.
2. Some risk factors are related to lifestyle habits. Smoking is one habit that makes you twice as likely to have cervical cancer. This is because smoking reduces the ability of your immune system to fight infections like HPV.
3. Using birth control pills for a long time (five or more years).
4. Having given birth to three or more children.
5. Family history of cervical cancer.
6. Having multiple sexual partners.
7. Poor perineal hygiene.

How can you reduce the risk of cervical cancer?

It can be prevented by regular screenings( Pap smears) and preventive vaccination.

The following tests help prevent cervical cancer:-

• The Pap test (or Pap smear) looks for cell changes on the cervix that may become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately. You should start getting Pap tests at age 21.
• The human papillomavirus (HPV) test looks for the virus that can cause these cell changes. The HPV vaccine is recommended for preteens (both boys and girls). It protects against HPV that most often cause gynecologic cancers as earlier indicated.

More steps to the prevention include limiting the number of sexual partners, using protection during sexual intercourse, and quitting/avoiding smoking.

How is cervical cancer diagnosed?

Regular visits to your gynecologist should help identify early signs of cervical cancer. During your pelvic exam, your physician will look for masses and irregularities on the cervix, uterus, ovaries, vagina, and vulva. A Pap test will check for the presence of cancer cells on the cervix.

If cancer cells are detected, the gynecologist might collect a small tissue sample, for imaging, or conduct a physical exam with an endoscope (a narrow, lighted tube) to learn more about the tumor.

We can also screen for and diagnose an HPV infection by collecting and examining cervical cells. However, HPV testing is not a substitute for regular Pap testing.

Treatment for Cervical Cancer at KLASS

The gynecologic cancer care team at KLASS is at the forefront in the treatment of all gynecologic cancers using the most advanced combinations available.

Our top rated laparoscopic surgeon in Kenya explains in details, the treatment options available for your type and stage of cancer, the risks and benefits of each treatment and their side effects including minimally invasive surgical options as well as fertility-preserving surgery for women with early-stage cervical cancer.

It is treated in several ways depending on the kind of cervical cancer and how far it has spread. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Laparoscopic Surgery for Cervical Cancer

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Surgery is the standard treatment for early-stage cervical cancer. Our gynecologists choose the surgical approach best suited for your stage and location of cancer.

Hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, pelvic lymph node dissection, and trachelectomy are types of abdominal surgery that treat cervical and other gynecologic cancers.

Our surgeons perform a hysterectomy for cervical cancer, removing the uterus but leaving the ovaries in place, if appropriate.

Your surgeon may be able to use minimally invasive surgery to remove your cancer or your uterus. With this approach, you will have smaller incisions, less postoperative discomfort, and a quicker recovery than with traditional open abdominal surgery.

Your Laparoscopy Procedure With Prof. Rafique Pakar

Healthcare you can trust

Prof. Rafique Parkar pioneered Minimal Access Surgery in Africa 25 years ago and operates at the highest level of expertise in Africa. ( Level VI )

He is committed to improving the lifestyles of women in Kenya and the world by helping them gain access to top-level minimal access surgery in Africa.

He strongly believes that all women have the right to informed consent and should have access to the best treatment plans suited for them and that is the reason why he founded KLASS ( Kenya Laparoscopic Surgery Services ).

Together with his team at KLASS, they provide the highest level of holistic surgical care to women, ensuring that they meet their individual health needs.

Prof. Rafique Parkar specializes in helping women who ail from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Uterine Fibroids, Ovarian Cysts, Endometriosis, Pelvic Floor Problems, Ectopic Pregnancies, and Gynecologic Cancers.