do not present themselves for early screening.
Cervical cancer arises from the cervix (the ‘mouth’ of the womb). It is due to the abnormal growth of that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. When a cell moves from its own organ to another organ in the body, it usually disrupts normal body processes (for example, movement of cervical cells to the brain could lead to convulsion, coma and death).
At early stages of the disease, typically no symptoms are seen. Later symptoms may include:
· Abnormal vaginal bleeding,
· pelvic pain, or
· Pain during sex.
While bleeding after sex may not be serious, it may also indicate the presence of cervical cancer.
Worldwide, cervical cancer is both the fourth-most common cause of cancer and deaths from cancer in women. In 2012, 528,000 cases of cervical cancer were estimated to have occurred, with 266,000 deaths. It is the second-most common cause of female-specific cancer after breast cancer, accounting for around 8% of both total cancer cases and total cancer deaths in women. About 80% of cervical cancers occur in developing countries.
A risk factor is anything that increases your chances of getting a disease. The known risk factors for cervical cancer include:
· Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection.
· Multiple sexual partners (The greater your number of sexual partners — and the greater your partner's number of sexual partners — the greater your chance of acquiring HPV.
· Early sexual activity.
· Presence of Other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
· A weak immune system.
· Smoking.
· Long term use of oral contraceptives.
· Being younger than 17 at your first full-term pregnancy (Women who were younger than 17 years when they had their first full-term pregnancy are almost 2 times more likely to get cervical cancer later in life than women who waited to get pregnant until they were 25 years or older).
· Diethylstilbestrol exposure (DES is a hormonal drug that was given to some women to prevent miscarriage between 1940 and 1971. Women, whose mothers took DES when pregnant with them, develop clear-cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina or cervix more often than would normally be expected).
The most important risk factor for cervical cancer is infection by the human papilloma virus (HPV). However, not all women with an HPV infection will develop cervical cancer. Routine Pap testing is the best way to detect abnormal changes to the cervix before they develop into cancer.
HPV is a group of more than 150 related viruses, some of which cause a type of growth called papillomas, which are more commonly known as warts.
HPV can infect cells on the surface of the skin, and those lining the genitals, anus, mouth and throat, but not the blood or internal organs such as the heart or lungs.
HPV can be spread from one person to another during skin-to-skin contact. One way HPV is spread is through sex, including vaginal, anal, and even oral sex.
Different types of HPVs cause warts on different parts of the body.
HPV types 16 and 18 are the cause of 75% of cervical cancer cases globally, while 31 and 45 are the causes of another 10%
Although there is currently no cure for HPV infection, there are ways to treat the warts and abnormal cell growth that HPV causes.
Screening for cervical cancer
The Pap smear is a popular method of screening for cervical cancer (especially in developing countries). Other advanced methods however, exist.
If you wish to get screened (I encourage all women who have had sexual intercourse to get screened), follow the steps below:
· Go to any hospital (preferably a government hospital) where the screening is done.
· You will be required to pay for the screening (in places without health insurance).
· You will be taken into a private room and the medical practitioner will explain the procedure to you.
· A speculum (a kind of instrument to open your vagina) will be inserted into your vagina.
· A small brush and a spatula will be used to collect the sample, which will be put into a bottle containing a solution, a sent to the lab.
· The procedure is generally painless and should take a few minutes.
· Your result should be available within 3 weeks.
Make sure you get a Pap test to check for cervical cancer once every 3 years if you are 21 or older. If you are age 30-65, you can get both a Pap test and HPV test every 5 years. Older than that, you may be able to stop testing if your doctor says you're low risk. If you are sexually active and have a higher risk for STDs, get tests for Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis yearly. Take an HIV test at least once, more frequently if you’re at risk.
Getting screened is the only way to prevent cervical cancer or to identify and possibly cure it (depending on the stage) early.
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