Cervical cancer is one of the most common reproductive cancers affecting women. The good news is that the means of preventing the disease have also become common knowledge. Women who pay attention to the risk factors and take advantage of regular screening tests can avoid cervical cancer entirely or catch it before it has a chance to spread.
The cause behind almost all cases of cervical cancer is well known: human papillomavirus (HPV), which spreads through sexual activity. Not every woman who contracts HPV will develop cervical cancer; most women's immune systems are able to prevent the virus from doing harm. But some strains of HPV can lead to cervical dysplasia-or abnormal cervical cells-and if these are left untreated, they can develop into cancer.
The key to stopping the disease, then, is to stop HPV. Scientists have already developed vaccines to do the job, and UAB researchers were involved in the clinical testing for both (see "Can a Shot Shut Down Cervical Cancer?").
While the vaccines are promising, screening is still essential, says UAB gynecologic oncologist Warner K. Huh, M.D. And the standard for screening is the Pap smear. "Pap smear screening has been around since World War II, and since that time it has dropped the rate of invasive cervical cancer in this country by at least 75 to 80 percent," Dr. Huh explains. "Even if you took the vaccines out of the equation entirely, cervical cancer screening as it exists today is an excellent form of cancer screening-in effect, it is the gold standard against which all other forms of cancer screening are measured."
Knowing the risk factors and warning signs of cervical cancer and getting regular Pap tests can give women and their doctors the crucial time necessary for early diagnosis and successful treatment.
Risk factors
- Many sexual partners: The greater a woman's number of sexual partners, the greater the chance that she has been exposed to HPV.
- Early sexual activity: Immature cells seem to be more susceptible to precancerous changes that HPV causes; having sex before age 18 increases a woman's risk of HPV.
- Other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): If a woman has other STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, or HIV/AIDS, chances are good that she has also acquired HPV.
- A weak immune system: Most women with HPV never get cervical cancer, but a weakened immune system may be unable to prevent the virus from doing harm.
- Cigarette smoking: Researchers aren't sure exactly why, but smoking has been linked to HPV infection and precancerous changes to cervical cells.
Warning signs
- vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods, or after menopause
- watery, bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odor
- pelvic pain or pain during intercourse
Caperton Gillett