Cervical cancer

 A major concern in these cases is that the blood clot from the leg vein will travel up to the lungs and block the supply of blood. This is known as apulmonary embolism andcan be fatal. Blood clots in the legs are usually treated using a combination of blood-thinning medication	 such as heparin or warfarin 	 and compression garmentsdesigned to help encourage the flow of blood through the limbs. Read more about treating deep vein thrombosis Bleeding If the cancer spreads into your vagina	 bowel or bladder	 it can cause significant damage	 resulting in bleeding. Bleeding can occur in your vagina or rectum (back passage)	 or you may pass blood when you urinate. Minor bleeding can often be treated using a medication called tranexamic acid	 which encourages the blood to clot and stop the bleeding. Radiotherapy can also be highly effective in controlling bleeding caused by cancer. Major bleeding may be treated temporarily by vaginal packing (using gauze to stem the bleeding)and later by surgery	 radiotherapy or by cutting off blood supply to the cervix. Fistula A fistula is an uncommon but distressing complication that occurs in around 1 in 50 cases of advanced cervical cancer. A fistula is an abnormal channel that develops between 2 sections of the body. In most cases involving cervical cancer	 the fistula develops between the bladder and the vagina. This can lead to a persistent discharge of fluid from the vagina. A fistula can sometimes develop between the vagina and rectum. Surgery is usually required to repair a fistula	 although its often not possible inwomen with advanced cervical cancer	 because theyre usually too frail to withstand the effects of surgery. In such cases	 treatment often involves using medication	 creams and lotions to reduce the amount of discharge and protect the vagina and surrounding tissue from damage and irritation. Vaginal discharge Another uncommon	 but distressing	 complication of advanced cervical cancer is an unpleasant-smelling discharge from your vagina. The discharge can occur for a number of reasons	 such as the breakdown of tissue	 the leakage of bladder or bowel contents out of the vagina	 or a bacterial infection of the vagina. Treatment options for vaginal discharge include an antibacterial gel called metronidazole and wearing clothing that contains charcoal. Charcoal is a chemical compound thats very effective in absorbing unpleasant smells. Palliative care If your doctors cant do any more to treat your cancer	 your care will focus on controlling your symptoms and helping you to be as comfortable as possible. This is called palliative care . Palliative care also includes psychological	 social and spiritual support for you and your family or carers. There are different options for terminal care in the late stages of cancer. You may want to think about whether youd like to be cared for in hospital	 in a hospice or at home	 anddiscuss these issues with your doctor. Some organisations who provide care for people with cancer include: Macmillan Cancer Support  whichhas specially trained nurses who help to look after people with cancer at home. To be referred to a Macmillan nurse	 ask your hospital doctor or GP	 or call 0808 808 00 00. Marie Curie Cancer Care  have specially trained nurses who help to look after people with cancer at home. They also run hospices for people with cancer. Hospice UK  provides information about hospice care and how to find a hospice. Living with cervical cancer The impact of cervical cancer on your daily life will depend on the stage of cancer and the treatment youre having. Many women with cervical cancer have a radical hysterectomy . This is a major operationthat takes around 6 to 12 weeks to recover from. During this time	 you need to avoid strenuous tasks and lifting	 such aslifting childrenorheavy shopping bags. You wont be able to drive for 3 to 8 weeks after the operation. Most women will also need 8 to 12 weeks off work to recover after having a radical hysterectomy. Some of the treatments for cervical cancer can make you very tired	 particularly chemotherapy and radiotherapy . Because of this	 you may need to take a break from some of your normal activities for a while. Dont be afraid to ask for practical help from family and friends if you need it. Practical help may also be available from your local authority. Ask your doctor or nurse about who to contact. Work Having cervical cancer doesnt necessarily mean youll have to give up work	 althoughyou may need quite a lot of time off. During treatment	 you may not be able to carry on as you did before. If you have cancer	 youre covered by the Disability Discrimination Act . This means that your employer isnt allowed to discriminate against you because of your illness. They have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to help you cope. Examples of these include: allowing you time off for treatment and medical appointments allowing flexibility with working hours	 the tasks you have to perform	 or your working environment The definition of whats reasonable depends on the situation	 such as how much it would affect your employers business	 for example. You should give your employer as much information as possible about how much time youll need off and when. Speak toa member of your human resources department	 if you have one. Your union or staff association representative can also give you advice. If youre having difficulties with your employer	 your union or local Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to help. Macmillan Cancer Support also has more information and advice about work and cancer . Money and benefits If you have to reduce or stop work because of your cancer	 you may find it difficult to cope financially. If you have cancer or youre caring for someone with cancer	 you may be entitled to financial support. For example: if you have a job but cant work because of your illness	 youre entitled to Statutory Sick Pay from your employer if you dont have a job and cant work because of your illness	 you may be entitled to Employment and Support Allowance if youre caring for someone with cancer	 you may be entitled to Carers Allowance you may be eligible for other benefits if you have children living at home or you have a low household income Its a good idea to find out what help is available as soon as possible. You could ask to speak to the social worker at your hospital	 who can give you the information you need. Your sex life Many women feel nervous about having sex soon after treatment for cervical cancer	 but its perfectly safe.Sex wont make the cancer come back and your partner cant catch cancer from you. Ifyou want to	 you can resume your normal sex life within a few weeks of finishing radiotherapy or having surgery. This will give your body time to heal. If youre having chemotherapy	male partners should wear a condom when you have sex	 because its not clear if having sex after chemotherapy can have an effect on them. Some women find sex difficult after being treated for cervical cancer	 because theside effects of some treatments can include vaginal dryness and narrowing of the vagina. In these cases	 there are treatments that can help	 such as vaginal dilators. See complications of cervical cancer for more information Preventing cervical cancer Theres no single way to completely prevent cervical cancer	 but there are things that can reduce your risk. Safer sex Most cases of cervical cancer are linked to an infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) . HPV can be spread through unprotected sex	 so using a condom can reduce your risk of developing the infection. However	 the virus isnt just passed on through penetrative sex  it can be transmitted during other types of sexual contact	 such as skin-to-skin contact between genital areas and by using sex toys. Your risk of developing an HPV infection increases the earlier you start having regular sex and with the more sexual partners you have	 although women who have only had 1 sexual partner can also develop it. Read more about sexual health Cervical screening Regular cervical screening is the best way to identify abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix at an early stage. Cervical screening (also known as a smear test) is routinely offered to anyone with a cervix in Scotland between the ages of 25 and 64 every 5 years. You may be recalled more often depending on your test results. Make sure that your GP surgery has your up-to-date contact details	 so that you continue getting screening invitations. Its important that you attend yourcervical screeningtests	 even if youve been vaccinated for HPV	 because the vaccine doesnt guarantee protection against cervical cancer. If youve been treated for abnormal cervical cell changes	 youll be invited for screening more frequently for several years after treatment. How regularly you need to go will depend on how severe the cell change is. Although it can identify most abnormal cell changes in the cervix	 cervical screening isnt always 100% accurate. Therefore	you should report symptoms such as unusual vaginal bleeding to your GP	 even if youve recently been tested. Cervical cancervaccination The NHS cervical cancer vaccination programme uses a vaccine called Gardasil. Gardasil protects against four types of HPV	 including the 2 strains responsible for more than 70% of cervical cancers in the UK (HPV16 and HPV 18). It also prevents genital warts . Girls are offered the childhood immunisation programme . The vaccine isgiven to girls when theyre12to 13 years old	 with 3 doses givenover a 6-month period. Although the HPV vaccine can significantly reduce the risk of cervical cancer	 it doesnt guarantee that you wont develop the condition. You should still attend cervical screening tests	 evenif youve had the vaccine. Avoidsmoking You can reduce your chances of getting cervical cancer by not smoking. People who smoke are less able to get rid of the HPV infection from the body	 which can develop into cancer. If you decide to give up smoking	 youcouldcontactthe Quit Your Way Scotland on0800 84 84 84.Quit Your Way Scotlandis run by NHS 24 and is staffed by trained advisors wholl be able to give you expert advice. If you want to give up smoking	 but you dont want to be referred to a stop smoking service	 your GP should be able to prescribe medical treatment to help with any withdrawal symptoms that you may experience after giving up. For more information and advice on giving up smoking	 see stopping smoking and treatments for stopping smoking .