This year, doctors in the United States will diagnose 14,000 women with cervical cancer and more than 4,000 will die from the disease. It is the fourth most common cancer in women around the world.
However, thanks to early screening, tests and vaccination, the disease is avoidable and treatable.
January is the month of awareness of cervical cancer and cancer experts at Intermountain Health want to educate the problems related to cervical cancer, tests that can warn women of potential cancer and the importance of vaccination.
“The best treatment for cancer is prevention,” said Emily Prendergast, MD, an Intermountan Health Society specializing in gynecological cancers at LDS Intermountain Hospital in Salt Lake City. “By remaining informed of cancers that affect women and taking proactive measures such as regular screenings, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and understanding of personal risk factors, women can reduce their risk of developing cancer. From our control and if cancer is a possibility, we are committed to detecting it early when it is the most treatable.
Each gynecological cancer is also unique with different signs and symptoms, prevention strategies, as well as risk factors, said Prendergast.
PREDERGAST said each woman should know the following information about cervical cancer Hierarchizing their health.
What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer occurs when cells develop abnormally in the cervix. The collar is the lower part of the uterus which connects to the vagina. The cervix cells do not suddenly turn into cancer. Instead, these cells slowly develop in abnormal cells called dysplasia, which can progress in cancer over time if they are not treated. This process generally takes several years.
It is commonly diagnosed around the age of 30, although the average age of diagnosis is 50 years. Almost all of the cervical cancer is caused by a human papillomavirus infection (HPV).
HPV is a group of more than 150 very contagious and very common viruses. Almost 85% of all people will be infected with HPV during their lifetime.
Fortunately, most people will recover from the virus before causing significant problems. HPV causes cancer when a person’s body does not fight infection and continues to cause changes in cells that end up becoming cancer.
“If these changes that HPV causes in cells are not found and treated in their early stages, they can become cancer and spread to other tissues or organs,” said Prendergast. “This is why early prevention and screening are so important.”
Causes and risk factors
Several risk factors can increase your chances of obtaining cervical cancer. The most common risk factors for cervical cancer are:
HPV – There are more than 100 types of human papillomavirus. About 15 high -risk types are known to cause cancer. The HPV was found in body fluids such as saliva, sperm and vaginal liquid, but has most often passed from one person to another by direct physical contact. It is a common cause of genital warts and can infect cells in the mouth, throat, genitals and anus.
Smoking – Smoking increases the chances of obtaining almost all cancers. Women who smoke are almost twice as likely to obtain cervical cancer.
Become sexually active at a young age – Women who become sexually active before the age of 18 are more likely to contract the HPV virus and the virus is more likely to persist in their bodies. Women with several sexual partners are also more likely to contract the HPV virus and develop cervical cancer.
A weakened immune system – Other diseases which attack the system of combating body diseases (immune system), such as HIV (the virus which causes AIDS) or an organ transplant presents a greater risk of developing cancer of the neck of the ‘uterus.
Other sexually transmitted infections – Other sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhea lead to inflammation and a higher possibility of contracting the HPV virus. Left untreated, these infections can also cause infertility.
How is cervical cancer diagnosed?
A screening test, called PAP smear, can find abnormal cells before becoming cancerous. During a PAP smear, the cervix cells are collected and examined under a microscope to check the presence of cancer.
Intermountain Health follows the recommendations of several national organizations that all women start screening for cervical cancer with a PAP test at 21 years.
Women should have a PAP test every three years up to 29 years. From 30 to 65 years old, women should either continue to pass a PAP test every 3 years, or choose an HPV test every 5 years.
The HPV test is looking for high -risk HPV types that can cause cervical cancer. It can be positive or negative. A positive HPV test result means that you have a HPV infection with a high risk of HPV type and that you can be at risk of cervical cancer.
These two tests are sometimes carried out together. If you receive abnormal test results, your doctor may request additional tests to investigate further.
How is cervical cancer treated?
Treatment options depend on the cancer stage, overall health of patients and patient preferences. However, the most common treatments are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Prevention
Women can do several things to reduce their chances of obtaining cervical cancer, in particular: ordinary PAP tests, do not smoke, obtain the vaccine against HPV and limit their number of sexual partners.
What is the HPV vaccine?
The HPV vaccine helps prevent people from fighting HPV infection and helps prevent HPV infection from causing cancer. In addition to cervical cancer, HPV infection can also cause throat cancer, mouth cancer, anal cancer, vagina cancer, penis cancer and vulvar cancer. The HPV vaccine also helps prevent these cancers. The vaccine does not prevent any other type of sexually transmitted infection.
Who should get the HPV vaccine?
It is recommended that boys and girls get the vaccine between 9 and 14 years old and that adolescents and adults can get the vaccine until the age of 45. For those who are 15 and over, treatment consists of three vaccines over six months. Children under the age of 15 receive two vaccines six months apart.
It is best to start the vaccine before becoming sexually active, but vaccination at any age up to 45 years can be useful to prevent problematic infection with HPV and to prevent many cancers, including CACER ‘uterus.
Talk to your supplier to vaccination against HPV to see if it suits you.
Do women still need a PAP smear if they get HPV vaccination?
Even if a woman had the vaccine against HPV, it is always recommended to start receiving ordinary PAP smear at 21 to test cervical changes and HPV.
Are there signs and symptoms of HPV infection?
Most people infected with HPV has no sign or symptoms and generally develop no problem from the infection.
What are the common signs and symptoms of cervical cancer?
The current symptoms of cervical cancer include: vaginal bleeding after intimacy, vaginal bleeding between periods, vaginal bleeding after menopause, aqueous vaginal flow rates or vaginal losses with foul odor and pelvic pain.
For more information on cervical cancer, HPV, Falogs de PAP or to find a doctor, visit the Intermountain Health website at www.intermountainhealthcare.com/cancer or go here.
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