Cervical Cancer – Complications

Transcript

There are many complications that can occur as a result of advanced cervical cancer. These include severe pain. This may occur when the cancer spreads into the nerve endings, bones and muscles, and that can cause severe pain, which is treated with pain relievers. Kidney failure is another complication that can occur in advanced cases. Because the cancer can actually block the outflow of the urine from the kidneys, back flowing the urine inside the kidneys and thus causing what’s called hydronephrosis or swollen kidneys. And that leads to kidney failure. Blood clots can occur in anyone with cancers. Cancer, by nature of the disease, is a higher coagulopathic state of disease, where there’s an increased risk of developing clots or stasis of blood. Anybody who’s gone through surgery or chemotherapy is that increased bedrest they all can be at increased risk of blood clots. Vaginal bleeding can occur in patients with cervical cancer, in patients who have locally advanced cervical cancer that’s protruding in the vagina, or if the cancer has spread to the bladder or rectum, these patients can present with bleeding from urine as well as the rectum. Another major complication that can occur in cervical cancer is fistula. A fistula is an abnormal connection that develops between two organs. In cervical cancer patients, most commonly this occurs between bladder and the vagina or the rectum and vagina. And this can unfortunately cause persistent fluid discharge or urine or bowel contents leakage from the vagina.