WHAT SHOULD EVERY WOMAN KNOW ABOUT CERVICAL CANCER?
Cervical cancer is continuing to affect women worldwide, it’s important to understand that the disease is known as a “silent killer”.
Cervical cancer is a disease that every woman should be aware of, as it is the fourth most common cancer among women in the world. Women between the ages of 35 and 45 are affected by it the most.
However, the good news is that cervical cancer is the only type of cancer that can actually be prevented! it can be done by regularly visiting a gynecologist and taking all necessary tests.
Cervical cancer risk factors include:
- Age: The risk of cervical cancer increases with age. It is found most often in women over the age of 40. However, younger women often have precancerous lesions that require treatment to prevent cancer.
- Smoking: Cigarette smoke contains chemicals that damage the body’s cells. It increases the risk of precancerous changes in the cervix, especially in women with HPV.
- Sexual behavior: Certain types of sexual activity may increase the risk of getting HPV infection. These include 1) Multiple sexual partners, 2) high-risk male partners, 3) first intercourse at an early age and 4) not using condoms during sex.
Other cervical cancer risk factors include:
- Lack of regular Pap tests
- Having a sexually transmitted disease (STD), including chlamydia
- Diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure before birth: This drug was used between 1940 and 1971 to help women not have miscarriages. Women whose mothers took DES during pregnancy have a high risk of vaginal and cervical cancers.
- HIV infection
- Weakened immune system: Having an organ transplant or taking steroids raise your risk
- Being overweight or not eating a healthy diet
The thing about this type of cancer is that it does not appear suddenly. The first signs are so-called precancerous lesions that appear on the surface of the cervix.
A doctor can remove those lesions almost painlessly. If done in time, the lesions will not be able to develop into cervical cancer.
Vaccination of adolescent girls against HPV (the virus that causes most cases of cervical cancer) and regular cervical screenings to identify signs of precancer can reduce the occurrence of cancer by 80-90{54d2fcdcd494adb6982253be6fe8d5492e5f586157f419110131714f9092ec60}.
Not everyone with risk factors gets cervical cancer. However, if you have risk factors it’s a good idea to discuss them with your healthcare provider.
