The cervix is the lower part of your uterus that connects it to the vagina. Cervical cancer contributes to around 6–29% of all cancer cases in women in India. It is a type of cancer that affects the cells in your cervix. Human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, is known to play a significant role in causing cervical cancer.

The human papillomavirus has over 225 strains. Most are benign and cause skin or genital warts. However, a few strains of HPV are carcinogenic and can lead to cancer lesions. Most commonly, cervical cancer in women. 

HPV is transmitted via three routes. 

When exposed to HPV, a woman’s immune system gets activated. It prevents the virus from doing any harm. However, in some women, the virus survives for years. This virus contributes to the process of mutating cervix cells into cancer cells, leading to cervical cancer. The two types of cervical cancer include:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma (90% of cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas)
  • Adenocarcinoma

Surgery, along with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormonal therapy, can eliminate cancer from your body. Homeopathy cannot substitute for conventional medical treatments for cervical cancer, but it’s effective as a complementary treatment. Homeopathic remedies help manage symptoms of cervical cancer and side effects of cancer treatments, reduce stress, and enhance your quality of life. 

Role of homeopathy in cervical cancer

Homeopathic medicines provide you relief from cervical cancer symptoms like pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, and foul-smelling vaginal discharge. 

Cancer diagnosis brings anxiety, fear, and depression. Cervical cancer treatment can take a toll on your mental well-being. Homeopathic medicines assist in managing these mental issues.

Surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiotherapy can have side effects. Homeopathy plays a significant role in reducing these side effects.

Top five homeopathic medicines for cervical cancer 

Cinchona Officinalis – China (Chin.)

Common name: Peruvian bark

China is a natural homeopathic medicine that helps in treating cervical cancer. There is weakness due to heavy bleeding during periods. The weakness is so extreme that women faint after prolonged heavy bleeding. 

China helps manage vaginal bleeding with dark blood clots and substantial pain. It also helps stop prolonged heavy bleeding in cervical cancer and helps you recover from exhaustion due to heavy blood loss.

Sepia officinalis (Sep.)

Common name: Inky juice of cuttlefish 

Sepia is known to have anti-neoplastic properties. It is used for cervical cancer with milky white vaginal discharge. There is excessive itching, excoriation in the vulva and vagina. There is marked pain in the vagina during coition. 

Sepia is indicated for cervical cancer in menopausal women and for women who experience marked heat in the genitals.

Hydrastis canadensis (Hydr.)

Common name: Golden seal

Hydrastis canadensis is indicated for erosion and excoriation of the cervix. There is white discharge that worsens after menses. Cervical cancer with acrid, corroding, shreddy, tenacious, and profuse discharge responds well to Hydrastis.

Cimicifuga racemosa (Actaea racemosa) (Cimic.)

Common name: Black snakeroot

Cimicifuga is an effective homeopathic medicine for cervical cancer with painful bleeding. The vaginal bleeding is dark, profuse, coagulated, and offensive. The intensity of pain increases as the vaginal bleeding increases. 

There is severe, bearing down pain in the pelvis, lower back, and uterine region, along with bleeding. There is marked pain in ovarian regions, shooting upward. This remedy is suited for darting pains in the pelvis from hip to hip. Cimicifuga pains are sharp and neuralgic in nature.

Belladonna (Bell.)

Common name: Deadly Nightshade

Belladonna is recommended for treating cervical cancer with heavy bleeding and marked pains in the hips. This remedy works well for right-sided pains with heavy vaginal bleeding. The blood is bright red, and women often feel that the bleeding is too hot. 

Take Homeopathy Treatment for Your Health Conditions

Causes of cervical cancer

The primary cause of cervical cancer is genetic mutations that change your healthy cervical cells into abnormal cancerous cells. Normally, your healthy cells grow and multiply at a fixed pace. After a set time, these cells die. On the contrary, cancer cells grow and multiply at an abnormal pace, and they don’t die. These cancer cells accumulate to form a tumor. These cancerous cells invade nearby tissues. It can break off from the primary tumor and spread to your other body parts through metastasis.

HPV virus causes cervical cancer. Along with HPV, other factors like environmental factors, toxins, and lifestyle choices play a role in the development of cervical cancer. Other risk factors for cervical cancer include:

Multiple sexual partners

Engaging in intercourse with multiple partners increases your chances of acquiring HPV infection and cervical cancer. Higher the number of sexual partners, higher the chances of HPV infection.

Early sexual activity

Indulging in sexual activity at an early age increases your risk of developing cervical cancer. 

Sexually transmitted infections

Sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea increase the risk of cervical cancer.

Weak immune system

A weakened immune system caused by any other health condition increases the risk of HPV. This, in turn, makes you more prone to cervical cancer.

Smoking

Cigarette smoking is associated with squamous cell cervical cancer.

Symptoms of cervical cancer 

The early stage of cervical cancer is hard to detect as it doesn’t involve any symptoms. It takes several years for the first sign of cervical cancer to develop. The best way to detect cervical cancer in its early stage is by detecting abnormal cells during cervical screenings. As it grows, cervical cancer might cause signs and symptoms such as:

  • Bloody or watery vaginal discharge 
  • Heavy, watery, and foul-smelling vaginal discharge
  • Vaginal bleeding between periods, after menopause, or after intercourse
  • Heavier vaginal bleeding that lasts longer (for weeks to months) than regular periods

When the cervical cancer spreads to your nearby tissues or organs, symptoms may include:

  • Difficult or painful urination
  • Blood in your urine
  • Diarrhea
  • Pain in your rectum
  • Bleeding from your rectum while defecating
  • Fatigue
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Loss of appetite
  • A general feeling of being unwell
  • Dull backache 
  • Swelling in your legs
  • Pain in your pelvis
  • Pain in abdomen 

Treatment for cervical cancer

The cervical cancer treatment is based on factors like your age, stage of the cervical cancer, your general health, and whether you want children in the future. The treatments for cervical cancer include;

Radiation therapy 

Radiation energy beams are used to kill cancer cells in your cervix. The two types of radiation therapy include:

  • External beam radiation therapy (EBRT)
  • Brachytherapy

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs that are taken orally or injected through your veins to kill cervical cancer cells.

Surgery

Different types of surgery are used to treat cervical cancer. Some of the common kinds of surgery for cervical cancer include:

  • Laser surgery that uses a laser beam to burn off cervical cancer cells.
  • In cryosurgery, cervical cancer cells are frozen.
  • In a simple hysterectomy, your uterus is removed. 
  • In radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection, your uterus, surrounding tissue, cervix, the upper part of your vagina, and pelvic lymph nodes are all removed.
  • In trachelectomy, your cervix and the upper part of your vagina are removed.
  • In pelvic exenteration, your bladder, uterus, cervix, vagina, rectum, part of your colon, and parts where cancer has spread is removed.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy destroys cervical cancer cells without damaging your healthy cells. It targets proteins that control the growth of cancer cells. 

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy medications stimulate your immune system. It recognizes and destroys cancer cells.

Diet and lifestyle modifications for cervical cancer

Diet and lifestyle changes cannot replace treatments for cervical cancer. However, they play a supportive role in cervical cancer.

Healthy diet

Consume different types of fruits and vegetables regularly. These are rich in antioxidants, folate, carotenoids, and flavonoids. These help your body fight HPV and prevent this viral infection from transforming cervical cells into cancerous lesions.

Avoid smoking

Avoid or reduce cigarette smoking. Tobacco smoking is linked with an increased risk of developing cervical cancer.

Get regular screening

Adhere to recommended cervical cancer screenings (Pap tests and HPV tests) at regular intervals as advised by your doctor. It helps in early detection and decreases the risk of cervical cancer.

Stay active 

Regular exercise helps boost energy and your immune system. It reduces the stress of cervical cancer and its treatment. 

HPV vaccination

Consider taking HPV vaccination as it prevents cervical cancer.

Conclusion 

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women across the globe. If detected early, it can be treated and your life expectancy can be increased.

Homeopathic remedies can help you get relief from cervical cancer symptoms. Consult a professional homeopathic doctor before you take any homeopathic medicine for cervical cancer.

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