Cervical Health Awareness

What is cancer of the cervix?

Cervical cancer is cancer that starts in the cervix. Since the Pap Smear became a routine test for women, cervical cancer is no longer a major health problem in the United States. In fact, it now makes up less than 2 percent of all cancers in women in the United States. It is not totally clear what causes cervical cancer, but there are some known risk factors.

Who is at risk for cervical cancer?

Certain factors can make one woman more likely to get cervical cancer than another woman. These are called risk factors. However, just because a woman has one or more risk factors does not mean she will get cervical cancer. In fact, a woman can have all of the risk factors and still not get the disease. On the other hand, a woman can have no known risk factors and still get cervical cancer.

There are some risk factors that are out of a woman’s control – such as being a woman. However, some risk factors, like sexual behavior and smoking cigarettes, are lifestyle choices that can be controlled. Risk factors for cervical cancer are listed (in no particular order) below.

• Women who started having regular sexual intercourse when they were younger than 18 have a greater risk of getting cervical cancer.

• The risk is higher for women who have had sexual intercourse with multiple partners. The risk is also higher for women whose partners have had many different partners.

• Viruses that can be transmitted by sexual contact, like the human papillomaviruses (HPV), are well-known risk factors for cervical cancer. A person is more likely to get these viruses if they have unprotected sex and/or sex with many partners. Some types of HPV are more likely to lead to cervical cancer (HPV 6, HPV 11) than others (HPV 16, HPV 18, HPV 31, HPV 33). The genital herpes virus might also cause cervical cancer.

• Smoking raises a woman's chances of getting cervical cancer.

• It is also possible that women who have taken oral contraceptives for a long time have a higher risk.

• Having a weak immune system can raise a woman's risk. The immune system helps the body fight sickness. Women who have the HIV virus, the cause of AIDS, have a greater risk of getting cervical cancer. This is because HIV makes the immune system weaker. If a woman has had an organ transplant, this also makes the immune system weaker.

• Deficiency of vitamins A and C have also been linked with a higher risk of getting cervical cancer.

What can a woman do to decrease her risk of getting cervical cancer?

Regular Pap tests are very important in detecting cervical changes early so that it can be more easily treated. Women should talk to their practitioner about when to go for checkups, although it is generally recommended for women who are sexually active and/or 18 and older to have a Pap smear and gynecologic exam once a year. Women can help prevent cervical cancer by not smoking, not having intercourse at a young age or with multiple partners, and using condoms during intercourse. Limiting the number of sexual partners decreases the chance of developing cervical cancer, as well as decreases the chance of getting sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS. Doctors think that taking vitamin A might slightly decrease a woman’s risk of cervical cancer.

Cervical Cancer and Pap Test Information

Cervical cancer is largely preventable. The incidence of invasive cervical cancer has decreased significantly over the last 40 years, in large part because of screening for and treatment of precancerous cervical lesions.

Yet according to the American Cancer Society:

• In 2004, an estimated 12,200 new cases will be diagnosed

• In 2004, an estimated 4,100 women will die of this disease.

• Cervical cancer strikes 1 out of every 50 American women during an average women's lifetime.

• Routine screening for cervical cancer can prevent the disease.

• During this decade, it is estimated that more than 150,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in the United States.

• According to the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, when cervical cancer is detected at an early stage, the five-year survival rate is 91 per cent.

The good news is that cervical cancer is preventable and curable if it is detected early; in fact, the occurrence of deaths from cervical cancer has declined significantly over the last 20 to 30 years 
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The American Cancer Society’s Guidelines for Cervical Cancer Screening

• Cervical cancer screening should begin approximately three years after a woman begins having sexual intercourse, but no later than at 21 years old.

• Women should have a Pap test at least once every three years.

• Women 65 to 70 years of age who have had at least three normal Pap tests and no abnormal Pap tests in the last 10 years may decide, upon consultation with their healthcare provider, to stop cervical cancer screening.

• Women who have had a total hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and cervix) do not need to undergo cervical cancer screening, unless the surgery was done as a treatment for cervical pre-cancer or cancer.

• Women should seek expert medical advice about when they should begin screening, how often they should be screened, and when they can discontinue cervical screenings, especially if they are at higher than average risk of cervical cancer due to factors such as HIV.

• If you are due for your pap test, make an appointment today.

• If you have any questions, please talk with your practitioner.

THINK OF YOUR YEARLY EXAM AS AN IMPORTANT WAY OF TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF. YOU ARE WORTH IT!

Additional Resources on Cervical Cancer:

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/about.htm#facts

http://www.nccc-online.org/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/printinvoker.cfm?objectid=F1F8872C-7558-46CC-A5CA75040FFBC974