Cervical Cancer

Some possible complications of cervical cancer

•Increased chance for infection from suppression of the immune system.

•Severe decline in numbers of white blood cells (neutropenia). Certain agents, such as taxanes, pose a higher risk for this than other chemotherapeutic drugs. White blood cell count may be improved with the addition of a drug called granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (either filgrastim and lenograstim).

•Liver and kidney damage.

•Abnormal blood clotting (thrombocytopenia).
picture of thrombocytopenia

•Allergic reaction, particularly to platinum-based agents. (A simple skin test in under investigation that may identify people with a potential allergic response.)

•Menstrual abnormalities are common and premature menopause occurs in about 30% of women, particularly in those over 40.

•Rarely, secondary cancers such as leukemia occurs.

•Between a quarter and a third of women report problems in concentration, motor function, and memory, which may be long-term. This effect may be due to reductions in estrogen levels after treatments.

•Menorrhagia, an abnormally heavy and prolonged menstrual period at regular intervals, may occur.

•Ureteric obstruction, a sudden blockage in one of the ureters that drain urine from the kidneys, may occur.

•Vesicovaginal fistula, an abnormal fistulous tract extending between the bladder and the vagina that allows the continuous involuntary discharge of urine into the vaginal vault, may occur.
Picture of Vesicovaginal fistula

•Post-menopausal vaginal bleeding, that is the bleeding from vagina after menopause, may occur.
•Intermenstrual vanginal bleeding, which is bleeding from vagina (other than post-coital) at any time during the menstrual cycle other than during normal menstruation, may occur.



sources:
http://adam.about.com/reports/000046_9.htm
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/c/cervical_cancer/complic.htm
http://www.healthline.com/adamcontent/acute-unilateral-obstructive-uropathy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesicovaginal_fistula
http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40024658/
http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/content/vol24/suppl_1/images/large/g04oc14c01x.jpeg
http://naturalstandard.com/naturalstandard/images/monographs/main/thrombocytopenia.jpg