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What is Cervical Cancer? It is a malignant growth of cells in the cervix uteri or the cervical area. The symptoms are normally absent till the cancer is seen to grow to a promoted stage. The treatment for this kind of cancer deals with a local excision in the beginning stages and radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the advanced stages of the disease. Potential changes in the growth of cells could be found out by Pap smear screening. The treatment of the major changes helps in the prevention of cancer. It has been seen that in the countries that develop there are lot of screening programs that are used that has resulted in a reduction in the occurrence of this kind of cancer.
The human pappillomavirus or the HPV infection is an important factor in the development of cervical cancer cases. HPV vaccines are normally seen to be effective against the two types of HPV. These two strains now cause at least seventy percent of the cervical cancer. These vaccines have been licensed in the U.S.A, Australia, Canada, and the European Union. The vaccines cover only few types of cancer and two types of the HPV strain. These women should seek regular Pap smear tests even after taking the vaccinations.
Cervix is the narrow part of the uterus which is joined to the top of the vagina. These cervical cancers are seen to be squamous cell cancers. This means that these epithelial cells are flattened and the cancer arises here. These line the cervix. There is another type called the adenocarcinoma which arises out of glandular epithelial cells. This is the second most common type. It is seen that very rarely cancer can be caused in other types of cells in the cervical area.
Research shows that in the United States of America every year, there are more than six million new HPV infections that happen in both men and the women. According to the CDC, more than ten percent result in cervical cancer. This is also known as dysplasia. This is the reason why HPV is also known as the common cold disease in the category that involves the sexually transmitted infections. It is seen to be very common and has seen to affect more than eighty percent of all the sexually active people. This is irrespective of whether the symptoms are seen or not. There is a risk factor in the development of cervical cancer. This is the infection with a strain of human papillomavirus. This kind of cancer happens in the cervical cells by altering the cells in the cervix. This leads to the development of the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. This causes cancer.
It has been seen that women who have many sexual partners or who have sex with men who have had many partners are at a greater risk of getting this type of cancer.
What is cervical cancer and what are genital warts? These are generally questions raised in the minds of people who have cervical cancer. Genital warts are those that are caused by the variety of strains of HPV. These are not usually connected with cervical cancer. It has been seen that multiple strains could be had at the same time. It has also been seen that these multiple strains can be inclusive of those that are responsible for causing cervical cancer. It also includes those that cause warts. The American Cancer Society has endorsed the medically accepted paradigm which says that a patient has to have had an infection with HPV so as to have cervical cancer. Thus it is seen that cervical cancer is a sexually transmitted disease and most of the women who stand a high risk of this HPV may not develop this kind of cancer. It has also been seen that the usage of condom reduces the possibility of cervical cancer. But it is not always safe. HPV can also be transmitted by skin to skin contact in infected areas. It is seen that in males the cervical cancerous growth could take place in the epithelium of the glans penis.
The American Cancer Society has given the following listed which detail about the factors of risk for cervical cancer. These include:
- Human papillomavirus infection
- HIV infection
- Smoking
- Stress
- Chlamydia infection
- Hormonal contraception
- Stress related disorders
- Dietary factors
- Exposure to the drug diethylstilbestrol
- Multiple pregnancies
Epidemiological proofs show that men who have been circumcised are not so prone to be infected with the HPV. Thus cancer of the cervix is a grave problem.
