Cervical Cancer: What You Need to Know About This Dreadful Disease

Cancer of the cervix (the lower part of the uterus), otherwise known as cervical cancer transpires when the growth of abnormal cells on the cervix become uncontrollable.

Aside from breast cancer, cervical cancer is another common type of cancer affecting women all throughout the world.

Fortunately, with early detection, the success rate of treatment is oftentimes very high.

Causes

The primary cause of cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Normally, the cells in our body have a set lifespan. When they die, new cells grow in order to replace them. However, in some cases, the cells continue to live and divide.

When this happens, an excessive accumulation takes place, which then eventually develops into a lump or a tumor.

Even until now, many scientists could not accurately pinpoint the main reason as to why cells become cancerous.

However, some factors are found to have contributed to the risk of developing the said disease. Some of the prevalent factors are the following:

1. Childbirth at an Early Age

Compared to women who are in their mid-20s, women who gave birth before the age of 17 have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer.

2. Smoking

Research has shown that smoking is a common risk among different types of cancers—cervical cancer included.

3. Contraceptive Pills

Women who have been using contraceptive pills for a long time are slightly more susceptible to developing the condition.

4. Genetic Factors

Some studies indicate the development of cervical cancer can be attributed to certain gene variations.

5. Poor Immunity

People who are regularly taking immunosuppressive drugs and who are suffering from immunodeficiency disorders, including AIDS and HIV are more vulnerable to cervical cancer.

6. Chronic Mental Stress

High levels of stress over a long period of time reduces the immune system’s ability to ward off certain diseases, including Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

7. Promiscuity and Being Sexually Active at a Young Age

Most women who have multiple sexual partners are found to be more susceptible to cervical cancer.

Likewise, engaging in sexual activities at an early age has also been associated with the disease.

However, it does not always follow the two aforementioned factors are the sure culprits when a woman develops this type of cancer. As mentioned, they are just two of the likely risk factors.

The truth is women who are not promiscuous or sexually active at an early age have also been afflicted with the said condition. Often times, these cases can be attributed to other factors.

8. Human Papilloma Virus or HPV

HPV is acquired through sexual contact. Over 100 types of HPVs have been discovered and 15 of this are found to have caused cervical cancer while the others caused genital warts.

HPV 16 and 18 are believed to have caused at least 70 per cent of cervical cancer cases, according to studies. HPV 6 and 11, on the other hand has been proven to have caused 90 per cent of genital wart cases.

Other types of HPV are also found to have caused cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia or CIN. These abnormal cells usually grow on the surface of the cervix.

Most doctors will recommend you to have a cervical cancer vaccine to help reduce the risk of acquiring the disease.

Symptoms

During the early stages of the disease, a person may never experience any symptoms at all.

However, when the cell’s mutation becomes too rapid and then later develops into cervical cancer, symptoms will begin to appear, including:

• Dyspareunia or painful sexual intercourse
• Foul-smelling vaginal discharges
• Lower belly or pelvic pain
• Abnormal bleeding i.e. spotting between menses, menopause, or after coitus

Treatment

The most common method used to treat cervical cancer includes hysterectomy or the surgical removal of the uterus. Other treatment options are chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

The best method to accurately determine the presence of abnormal cells or cervical cancer is through a screening procedure called the Pap smear or Pap test.

During the procedure, the doctor will scrape a tiny sample of cells from the cervix to check for any cell mutations.

It is recommended that women 26 years old or younger get cervical cancer vaccine as preventive measure.