Cervical Cancer: What you should know
Female reproductive health concept. Woman hand holding uterus shape made frome paper on pink background. Awareness of uterus illness such as endometriosis, PCOS, STDs or gynecologic cancer.
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WHAT CAUSES CERVICAL CANCER?
The main cause of cervical cancer is through an infection by a virus called human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are about 170 types of HPV, and out of these 10 types are high risk types that increase the risk of developing cancer. Sometimes infections don’t show any symptoms but with prolonged infections left untreated, it can lead to cancer. According to Gleanagles Hospitals, it is estimated that 10 per cent of the Malaysian female population have HPV infection at any one time.
TYPES OF CERVICAL CANCER
There are two types of cervical cancer called Squamous Cell Carcinomas, and Adenocarcinomas. The first begins in the thin, flat cells that line the bottom of the cervix, while the latter develops in the mucus-producing glandular cells that line the upper portion of the cervix.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
According to the World Health Organisation, most common symptoms of cervical cancer include irregular or postmenopausal bleeding and increasing vaginal discharge. Others include pain during sexual intercourse, pain at the lower abdomen, foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
WHO IS AT RISK FOR CERVICAL CANCER?
Women who are or have been sexually active are at risk for cervical cancer. People who have never had sexual intercourse including vaginal, anal or oral sex are unlikely to develop HPV however, it is possible to transmit HPV through nonpenetrative sexual contact as the virus can be transmitted through skin to skin contact in the genital area. Additionally, women with HPV who smoke are twice at risk of developing cancer than those who don’t smoke, according to cancer.org.my.
GETTING SCREENED FOR CERVICAL CANCER
A pap smear test is recommended for women between the age of 21 ang 65 years old regardless of sexual history. The quick non-invasive test allows the doctor to collect cells from the cervix before it gets sent to a lab for examination. An HPV test is usually done at the same time as a pap smear test. The same sample from the pap smear will be used to determine the HPV status. Cervical cancer can in fact be prevented with regular screenings and HPV vaccination.
