There is no better way to begin a new year than with women paying attention to an issue that is easy to ignore – cervical health – something the average individual doesn’t think too much about. Every year approximately 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer that is highly treatable if detected early and preventable because of improved screening and the human papillomavirus vaccine, also known as HPV. The American Social Health Association and the National Cervical Cancer Coalition are direction attention to the three dose vaccine that can protect women against four HPV types. The two high risk strains are HPV 16 and 18 and the most common low-risk types are HPV 6 and 11. The vaccine should be administered before infection occurs and ideally, prior to a girl becoming sexually active.
HPV is the primary cause of cervical cancer, with more than 75% of women within the reproductive age population being infected with at least one and perhaps more types of genital HPV. The virus doesn’t cause health problems and commonly dissipates on its own as a healthy immune system functions as it should and clears the infection prior to it developing into cancer. However, in about 5% of those women, persistent infections can occur with the high risk strains, resulting in nearly all cases of cervical cancer. The condition begins when healthy cells acquire a genetic mutation that develops from normal to abnormal. While healthy cells grow at a specific rate and eventually die off at a specific time, cancer cells multiply out of control and don’t die, but invade nearby tissue instead.
Some risk factors other than HPV for developing cervical cancer include a female’s genetic makeup and lifestyle choices made. For example, those women with a compromised immune system because of a particular health condition such as HIV/AIDS; women having a substantial number of sexual partners; early sexual activity; and those individuals with a history of chlamydia, syphilis or gonorrhea are all believed to be at an increased risk for developing cervical cancer.
The main types of cervical cancer are adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. The first is less common and occurs in the glandular cells that line the cervix. The latter begin in the squamous cells that are located on the outer portion of the cervix and accounts for the majority of all cervical cancers; however, there are instances in which both types of cells are identified in cervical cancer.
According to the National Institutes of Health, cervical cancer is slow to develop, beginning with dysplasia which is a precancerous condition. If left undetected or untreated, dysplasia can advance into cervical cancer that has the potential to spread to the liver, bladder, intestines and lungs. Symptoms may include an abnormal vaginal bleed, menstruation that lasts longer than a woman’s normal pattern, bleeding following menopause, pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, and an unusual discharge. And, the interesting thing is that a Pap test in women over the age of 30 and an HPV test can detect women who are at risk for developing cervical cancer.
As with countless medical conditions, early detection makes for a more successful outcome. Guidelines recommend screening for precancerous changes beginning at the age of 21. Should cervical cancer be diagnosed, treatment will depend on the stage of the cancer, as well as other medical issues a woman may be facing. If you have symptoms be sure to make an appointment with your gynecologist or primary health care provider and undergo testing. The visit could be life saving.
