Cancer that forms in the tissues of the cervix. (the organ connecting the uterus and vagina). It is usually a slow-growing cancer that may not have symptoms but can be found with regular Pap tests (a procedure in which cells are scraped from the cervix and looked at under a microscope). Cervical cancer is almost always caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The cervix is another name for the neck of the womb. It's covered with a layer of skin-like cells.
It is those cells that can become abnormal and then turn cancerous.
This is when abnormal cells on the cervix grow out of control. Cervical cancer is a malignant cancer of the cervix uteri or cervical area. It may be present with vaginal bleeding but symptoms may be absent until the cancer is in its advanced stages. This is a fast growing disease attacking females that are sexually active or have had come in contact with the skin of a male that has HPV. This virus is associated with this disease but is not the only causative factor. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a necessary factor in the development of nearly all cases of cervical cancer. There are different strains of this virus but not all of it is associated with the disease.
- Medical History (Sexual Habits)
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Tobacco Use: Women who smoke have twice the chance of developing cervical cancer.
- Eating Habits: A diet that doesn’t have enough fruits and vegetable can increase the risk of developing cervical cancer.
- Healthy living lifestyles: Women who do not have healthy living lifestyles are at risk
- Weakened immune system: A woman whose immune system is weakened has a higher-than-average risk of developing cervical lesions that can become cancerous. This includes women who are HIV-positive (infected with the virus that causes AIDS). It also includes women who have received organ transplants and must take drugs to suppress the immune system so that the body would not reject the new organ.
SYMPTOMS OF CERVICAL CANCER
Most times there are usually no Known symptoms at the early stage but when the abnormal cells invade nearby tissues, symptoms begin to show. These symptoms can include:
Abnormal bleeding
Heavier, long-lasting periods
Unusual vaginal discharge
Pelvic pain
Abnormal bleeding may occur:
between menstrual periods
After menopause
After intercourse
After a pelvic examination
These symptoms are not always a sign of cervical cancer. They can be caused by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or other conditions. Your doctor can determine the cause of these symptoms.
WHO DEVELOPS CERVICAL CANCER?
Cervical cancer is mostly diagnosed in women who are between the ages of 50 and 55. Girls under age 15 rarely develop the disease, but the risk of cervical cancer does rise between the late teen years( especially with teens that start having sex early) and the early 30's.In both white and black women, cervical carcinoma in situ (a benign tumor) is most common between the ages of 25 and 30.
Some individuals are more likely to develop cervical cancer:
City-dwellers and women who are members of racial or cultural minorities develop cervical cancer more often than other women do, Vietnamese women have the highest cervical cancer rate in the United States, Hispanics, Native Americans, and African Americans develop cervical cancer more often than white women do, Women who have unprotected sex with people that already have the HPV.
IS CERVICAL CANCER DANGEROUS?
Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, and 80% of cases occur in the developing world. It is the leading cause of death from cancer among women in developing countries, where it causes about 190,000 deaths each year. This condition can be found in teenage girls who started having sex early, and don’t have proper nutrition, if this is detected early with the Pap smear, it can be managed and also prevented.
DIAGNOSIS
Routine screening for cervical abnormalities can detect early-stage cancer and precancerous conditions that could progress to invasive disease. The process begins with a Pap test, also known as a Pap smear.
This painless office procedure detects about 95% of all cervical cancers and precancerous cervical conditions. If Cancer is detected then further tests will be conducted by the physicians
A Pap smear, also called a Pap test, is a procedure to test for cervical cancer in women. A Pap smear involves collecting cells from your cervix — the lower, narrow end of the uterus.
Detecting cervical cancer early with a Pap smear gives a greater chance at a cure, should cervical cancer be detected. A Pap smear can also detect changes in the cervical cells that suggest cancer may develop in the future. Detecting these cells early with a Pap smear is the first step in halting the possible development of cervical cancer.
WHY IT IS DONE
A Pap smear is typically done in conjunction with a pelvic examination — a procedure that allows the doctor to examine the external genitals, vagina, uterus, ovaries and rectum. Although pelvic examinations can screen for reproductive problems or abnormalities, only a Pap smear will detect early cervical cancer or pre-cancers.
WHO SHOULD HAVE A PAP SMEAR?
A number of organizations have recommendations regarding when a woman should have a Pap smear. Groups generally agree that first Pap smear should be done about three years after first having sexual relations or at age 21, whichever comes first.
After age 21, the groups' guidelines differ slightly because each takes different factors into consideration. Here's a look at Pap smear guidelines from the American Cancer Society (ACS), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF):
Age |
ACS |
ACOG |
USPSTF |
21 to 29 |
Every two years with a liquid-based test or annually with a conventional test |
Annual Pap tests |
Pap tests at least every three years |
Over 30 |
Every two or three years if you've had three negative tests in a row |
Every two or three years if you've had three negative tests in a row |
Pap tests at least every three years |
If you have certain risk factors you should undergo a Pap smear annually, regardless of your age. These risk factors include:
A diagnosis of cervical cancer or a Pap smear that showed precancerous cells
Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth
HIV infection
Weakened immune system due to organ transplant, chemotherapy or chronic corticosteroid use
Commonly asked questions
I am a virgin, do I need Pap smears? Will Pap smear cause me to lose my virginity?
If you're a virgin — meaning you haven't had sexual (vaginal) intercourse — you probably don't need a Pap smear. And even if you do have a Pap smear, it will not cause you to lose your virginity. Although the instruments used to collect the cervical cells may stretch or even tear your hymen — the thin tissue covering the vaginal opening, which is present in some women who have never had sex — you will only lose your virginity when you've had sexual intercourse.
The purpose of a Pap smear is to collect cells from your cervix, which is the lower end of your uterus. The cells collected in a Pap smear can detect if you have cervical cancer or suspicious cells that indicate you may develop cervical cancer.
In most cases, cervical cancer is caused by a sexually transmitted disease called human papillomavirus (HPV). If you have never had any type of sexual intercourse, you are unlikely to have HPV. However, there are other risk factors for developing cervical cancer, such as family history and smoking, so talk to your doctor if you have concerns.
For effective cervical cancer screening, the American Cancer Society recommends that all women have an initial Pap smear by the age of 21 or after they have been sexually active for three years, whichever comes first.
