Symptoms of Cervical Adenocarcinoma

According to the College of American Pathologists, cases of adenocarcinoma make up between 15 percent and 20 percent of all cervical cancers. The remaining 80 percent of cervical malignancies are squamous cell carcinomas (cancer that invades the flat cells that line the bottom of the cervix). Cervical adenocarcinoma develops within the glands that are located in the endocervix (the canal of the cervix). If caught early, cervical cancer is highly treatable.

Risks & Causes

• While women over age 45 are more apt to develop adenocarcinoma, no woman is immune to the disease. In fact, it's been known to strike adolescent girls. The cause of cervical adenocarcinoma is not fully understood, but most cases are believed to be caused by the sexually transmitted disease human papillomavirus (HPV). However, it is unusual for women who have HPV to develop cancer.

Symptoms

• The majority of women with cervical adenocarcinoma report symptoms of abnormal vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain. Other warning signs include vaginal discharge that may have an unpleasant odor and discomfort during sexual intercourse. Some women do not have any symptoms of cervical adenocarcinoma but are found to have the disease due to abnormal Pap test results.

Pap Test

• According to the Mayo Clinic, more than 10,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with invasive (cancer that has grown beyond the layer of cells where it started) cervical cancer each year and nearly 4,000 will die of the disease. The majority of these deaths could be prevented if all women underwent recommended screening. A Pap test can detect suspicious cells in the cervix. During the test, a doctor brushes cells from the cervix that will be studied by a pathologist for possible abnormalities. Cancer or precancerous conditions that are detected before they become invasive are hardly ever life-threatening.

Colposcopy

• The abnormal mass or growth that is characteristic of most cervical adenocarcinomas can be seen during a colposcopy procedure that uses a magnifying device to examine the cervix. However, some adenocarcinomas may not be visible during a colposcopy because they are too small or are located too high in the endocervical canal which is out of reach for viewing.

Treatment

• Treatment for cervical adenocarcinoma may include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, or a combination of these conventional cancer therapies. A hysterectomy may be required in some cases to remove the uterus, cervix and part of the vagina. During the procedure a surgeon may remove both the fallopian tubes and ovaries. In addition, cervical adenocarcinoma patients may be prescribed medication to manage pain or to treat emotional problems.