Endoscopy changes its name in the body area to be explored: laryngoscopy (larynx), gastroscopy (stomach), colonoscopy (colon), cystoscopy (bladder), etc.

*For some endoscopies needed to make a small incision, if it is in the abdomen, one speaks of laparoscopy in the chest, thoracoscopy, etc..

*There are cases where the cancer screening practice with general anesthesia requires a large incision to directly view the area. It speaks of scans to open surgery.

The latest in surgery: laser, cold…

Some of the most innovative techniques in cancer surgery are applied to laser surgery, cryosurgery, electrosurgery, Mohs surgery and laparoscopic surgery.

*Laser surgery. The laser is a beam of light energy. In surgery is used for work requiring high accuracy. For example, to vaporize cancer cells in tumors of the cervix, larynx, liver, rectum, or skin (photoablation). It is also often applied in palliative surgery, for example, when a large tumor pressing the trachea or esophagus and cause difficulty breathing or swallowing.

*Cryosurgery. Its purpose is to freeze and destroy cancer cells. It uses liquid nitrogen or a cold rod. This technique is used sometimes to treat precancerous stages as those that occur in the cervix. Under study is its application to other cancers such as prostate.

*Electrosurgery. Used high-frequency electrical currents to destroy cells. It applies to some skin cancers and mouth.

*Mohs Surgery. The surgeon cuts the skin layer appears to be affected by cancer. That skin is examined immediately under a microscope. Then go back to remove some of the surrounding tissue and is re-examined under the microscope. This process is repeated until it is established that there is any abnormal cell.

*Laparoscopic surgery. Small holes are made by introducing the various surgical instruments, including the endoscope. It is used for some forms of cancer, including gastric, colon, ovary or endometrium.

Oncological

Surgery is the oldest treatment for cancer. This applies especially in cases where the tumor is well defined and has not spread to other parts of the body. Thanks to advances in surgical techniques is becoming increasingly feasible to remove the tumor without damaging healthy tissue or vital functions.

Operations with different objectives

Interventions can be made for different purposes:
*Preventive, when tissue is removed is not evil but is likely to become so.
*Diagnostics, to take a tissue sample can then analyze whether or not cancerous.
*Staging, to determine the extent of the disease.
*Healing, to remove the tumor completely. The intervention is often accompanied by other treatments of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or both.
*Reducers, is used to remove only part of the tumor, when you note that their complete removal may cause damage to organs and surrounding areas. The party has not been withdrawn will be treated using tumor after chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

*Palliative to treat complications associated with tumor progression. For example, to relieve a bowel obstruction resulting from cancer in the abdomen.
*Reparative and reconstructive. For example, when performing an operation to put a breast prosthesis after a mastectomy procedure in which you can get to empty a breast affected by a tumor.

For diagnostic purposes

Interventions for diagnostic (or to assess the extent of the tumor) are available a variety of techniques and medical instruments.

*A just cause discomfort to the patient and do not require anesthesia, as puncture-needle aspiration. To extract a sample of the tumor for analysis later. “Disadvantages? The amount of tissue is so small it does not always make an accurate diagnosis.

There is a belief that can help extend the tumor. But it is an unfounded fear because the probability that clicking with the needle can extend the tumor is extremely low.

*The biopsy is one of the most used techniques. It can be done with needles, but are common practice that after performing a small incision. In this case require anesthesia.

There are four types of standard treatment:

Surgery

Surgery is a common treatment for all stages of stomach cancer. You can use the following types of surgery:

* Subtotal gastrectomy: Removal of part of the stomach that contains cancer, lymph nodes, and parts of other tissues and organs near the tumor. You can remove the spleen. The spleen is an organ of the upper abdomen that filters the blood and removes old blood cells.
* Total gastrectomy: Removal of the entire stomach, nearby lymph nodes and parts of the esophagus, small intestine and other tissues near the tumor. You can remove the spleen. The esophagus connects the small intestine so the patient can continue eating and swallowing.

If the tumor blocks the stomach, but the cancer can not be completely removed by standard surgery, you can use the following procedures:

* Endoluminal stent placement: A procedure to insert a cannula (thin tube expandable) to keep open a passage (such as arteries or the esophagus). In the case of tumors that block passageways or come from the stomach, surgery may be used to place a stent from the esophagus into the stomach or the stomach to the small intestine to allow the patient to eat normally.
* Endoluminal laser therapy: A procedure which is introduced into the body of an endoscope (thin, lighted tube) with a laser attachment. The laser is an intense light beam that can be used like a knife.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells by killing or stopping them from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can affect cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ or body cavity such as the abdomen, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas (regional chemotherapy). The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of cancer being treated.

Radiotherapy

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high energy X-rays or other radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. There are two types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. The way the radiation therapy is given depends on the type and stage of cancer being treated.

Chemoradiation

Chemoradiation combines chemotherapy with radiation to enhance the effects of both. Chemoradiation treatment given after surgery to increase the chance of cure is called adjuvant therapy. If given before surgery is called neoadjuvant therapy.

Surgery

The main strategy for curative treatment of cancer is excision of all malignant cells by surgical intervention. In the past, this involved the excision of all affected tissue and as many potentially affected tissue, including the surrounding tissues and lymph nodes. For some tumors, particularly breast cancer, is not accurate as ablative surgery (mastectomy) in most cases.

Improvements in surgical techniques, knowledge in physiology, anesthesia and the availability of powerful antibiotics and blood products, have resulted in more limited surgery, with fewer sequels and more speedy recovery.

However, many cancers are not widespread in the time of diagnosis to curative surgery possible. If the local extent of tumor that affects surrounding tissues can not be resected, or if there are distant metastases, surgery is not curative treatment.

However, it may be beneficial for symptom relief in certain situations such as obstruction, or may have in order to reduce the tumor mass to allow better response to chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatment thereafter.

Radiation

Ionizing radiation can be electromagnetic or particulate matter and produce tissue destruction. Electromagnetic radiation includes gamma rays, a form of radioactive emission, and X-rays, which occur when an electron beam strikes a heavy metal. The particle radiation include electron beams, protons, neutrons, alpha particles (helium nuclei) and pions.

The sensitivity of tumors to radiation is highly variable. Sensitive tumors are those whose sensitivity is higher than the adjacent normal tissue. When such tumors are well-accessible surface tumors or tumors in organs like the uterus which can introduce a source of radiation, can be cured by radiotherapy. The property of radiation to comply to some extent the normal tissue allows treatment of tumors in locations where surgery is not possible by the proximity of vital tissues or because the tumor has begun to infiltrate adjacent structures that can not be sacrificed. Radiation therapy is commonly used as palliative treatment, especially in metastases.

Radiation therapy may be useful as an adjunct to surgery. Preoperative radiation may sterilize the tumor cells rapidly and prevent its spread during surgery. It can also decrease the tumor mass to facilitate the surgery, or transforming an inoperable tumor operable in another. In other cases the radiotherapy is employed postoperatively.

Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs for the treatment of cancer. Since the drugs are distributed in the body through the circulatory system, chemotherapy is useful for those whose tumors spread makes them inaccessible to surgery or radiotherapy. There are many anticancer drugs, most of which act by interfering with DNA synthesis or function. Therefore dividing cells are more sensitive to chemotherapy.

The sensitivity of some tumors to chemotherapy is such that it is possible to cure a high percentage: this happens in uterine cancer, acute leukemias (especially in children), Hodgkin’s disease and diffuse large cell lymphomas; testicular carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, small cell carcinoma of the lung, and most of all childhood cancers. Often these processes have spread cancer at the time of diagnosis and no other treatment option. More advanced cancers are responsive to chemotherapy and may be held for long periods, so it is frequently used as palliative treatment.

The two main problems that limit the use of chemotherapy are toxicity and resistance. The techniques that prevent or control the toxicity and reduce the risk of resistance have been refined. It is important to the establishment of early treatment, use of optimal doses of the drug, the repetition of cycles with shorter intervals if possible, always allowing patient recovery from toxic effects.
Hormone Therapy: Many cancers from tissues that are sensitive to hormone action, such as breast, prostate, endometrium and thyroid, respond to hormonal treatment. Involves the administration of various hormones or anti-hormones or termination of the corresponding stimulating hormone.

Credit to: jvillalva on Monografias

Risk factor of Uterus Cancer

* Sex at an early age.
* Sex with different individuals.
* Having endured venereal diseases, herpes, etc. ..
* Have submitted altered cytology.

Symptoms: Investigate any irregular vaginal bleeding, prolonged or unusual, like small smudges or bleeding after intercourse.
Diagnosis: cervical cytology has been a great help for early diagnosis of cancer. It involves taking a sample of discharge from the cervix to examine the cells present. The specimen is spread on a plate, applied laboratory techniques of fixation and staining and then observed under the microscope.
Prevention: As a preventive measure is indicated to an annual medical examination and cervical cytology (also called Pap smear). Any woman who has engaged in sexual activity or that is over 18 years must carry out such checks.
Other prevention measures include delaying the onset of sexual activity and sexual intercourse with an individual.