Factors that increase the risk of cervical cancer

95% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV. Women who smoke are twice as likely to become ill. Taking birth control pills for a long time increases your risk.

Factors that increase your risk of cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the most common gynecological cancer and the fourth most common cancer in women. The cervix is ​​the entrance of the uterus, which connects the uterus and vagina. Cervical cancer, although common, is easily detected early by screening tests and can be actively prevented.

Cervical cancer if detected early in the early stages, when localized cancer is not invasive, the cure rate is almost complete. However, if the cancer progresses through the late stage, the cure rate is much lower. The prevention, screening, early detection of cervical cancer is very important and extremely necessary.

95% of cervical cancers detect HPV.(Artwork: Doctor.)

Causes and risk factors for cervical cancer

1. HPV infection (Human Papilloma Virus)

HPV can be spread from person to person through skin-to-skin contact. HPV is transmitted through sexual contact , including vaginal, anal and even oral sex.

There are two types of HPV:

- Low-risk HPV: Highlights are 2 types of HPV 6 and HPV 1, causing most cases of genital warts, not related to cervical cancer.

- High-risk HPV : Highlights are HPV 16, HPV 18, HPV 31, HPV 33 and HPV 45. Of which HPV 16 and HPV 18 are responsible for 70% of cervical cancer, the remaining 30% is due to other types. In addition, high-risk HPV is also the cause of vaginal cancer, vulvar cancer, anal cancer, penile cancer, and oral and throat cancer.

A few years after the onset of sexual activity, women are more likely to get HPV and the risk of infection increases with the number of partners in their life. Mostly, the human body has immunity that creates antibodies to kill the virus . However, in some cases, the woman does not kill the virus and gets worse. After a few years, the virus's DNA enters the DNA of human cells, causing the cervical cells to proliferate to cause cervical cancer.

Therefore, people with high risk factors for cervical cancer mean those at high risk for HPV infection. Those are early sexual partners, many sexual partners, people with sexually transmitted diseases. Not everyone with HPV will get cervical cancer. In contrast, up to 95% of cervical cancers detect HPV.

Condoms can protect against most sexually transmitted diseases including HIV / AIDS, but not completely against HPV. Because HPV can be transmitted directly through contact at the skin that is not covered by a condom.

2. Smoking

Women who smoke have twice the risk of cervical cancer than non-smokers . Harmful substances are absorbed through the lungs and follow blood flow throughout the body. These substances contribute to damage of cervical cell DNA and may contribute to the development of cervical cancer. Smoking also makes the immune system less effective in fighting HPV infection.

3. Immunosuppression

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), virus that causes AIDS, immune system damage and puts women at high risk of HPV infection. This may partly explain an increase in the risk of cervical cancer in women with AIDS. In addition, the immune system is important in killing cancer cells. Another group of women is at risk of cervical cancer as people who take drugs to suppress their immunity like those who are treating an autoimmune disease or those who have organ transplants.

4. Overweight

Overweight women are more likely to develop cervical adenocarcinoma.

5. Long-term use of birth control pills

Abuse of birth control pills for a long time also increases the risk of cervical cancer

Research has shown that taking birth control pills for a long time increases the risk of cervical cancer.

6. Family history of cervical cancer.

Signs and symptoms of cervical cancer

Women with early cervical cancer and pre-cancer often have no symptoms. Symptoms will appear in the late stages, when the cancer has invaded. When this happens, the most common symptoms are:

1. Abnormal vaginal bleeding , such as bleeding after sex, bleeding at menopause, bleeding between menstrual periods, bleeding after douching or after gynecological examination.
2. Pain during sex.
3. Backache.
4. Urination with pain or difficulty urinating and cloudy urine.
5. Leakage of urine or residue from the vagina.

Screening for early detection of cervical cancer

If detected early, cervical cancer is one of the most successful treatable cancers. If cervical cancer is at an early stage, localized treatment rates are 93% successful. However, when cancer is detected at a late stage, the cure rate is only 15%. Screening for early detection of cervical cancer by PAP test.

The PAP test (cervical smear) is a cytological test to find abnormal cells in the cervical epithelium. If the PAP test has abnormal results, the doctor will examine more closely: Colposcopy (help determine the location, extent of the lesion, and guide the cervical biopsy) and biopsy cervix (cutting of the cervical tissue sample to observe under a microscope, giving very accurate results). If screened periodically, cancer can be detected at an early stage and the ability to cure is very high.

Women who have had sex should get cervical smear and gynecological examination once a year . After 3 consecutive times with normal results, the remaking period can be spaced out every 2-3 years until 60 years old.

Vaccination against cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is caused by many types of HPV, of which 70% are HPV 16 and 18. The vaccine for cervical cancer is only effective for HPV 16 and 18, ie 70% of prevention well suited. The remaining 30% of cervical cancers due to other HPV types have not been prevented. Therefore, even though vaccination is required, gynecological examination and routine PAP testing are required

The injection is given in 3 trimesters for 6 months, the second period for the first 2 months, the second for the second 4 months. Vaccines only work to prevent HPV infection and not to treat HPV infection. That's why, to be most effective, HPV vaccines will be injected before a woman becomes infected with HPV, before sexual activity occurs.