Cervical Health Awareness Month: Cancer Prevention

In this Article (Index)

• Cervical Cancer
• Screening
• HPV Vaccination

Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer affects the cells in the cervix, and its main cause is Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. It can be prevented with the HPV vaccine, and regular screening, such as Pap tests and HPV tests, can help detect any malignant cells at an early stage. Initially, the disease is symptom-free, but at later stages it may cause abnormal vaginal bleeding, unusual discharge, and pelvic pain. (2)

Treatment ranges from surgery in early stages to radiation therapy or chemotherapy for advanced cancer.

• Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable forms of cancer.
• However, it still is one of the most common causes of death for women.
• Cervical cancer is the 4^th most common cancer among women.
• Each year, there are an estimated 604,000 new cases and 342,000 deaths.
• Cervical cancer can be cured if diagnosed at an early stage and treated promptly.

Screening

Timely screening can help detect cancer early. Early detection can help reduce the severity of the disease.

Women should receive regular screenings to check the health of their cervixes (The cervix is the narrow, lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina).

The American Cancer Society has issued the following screening guidelines. (3)

Screening Guidelines

Screening should begin at age 25 and continue to at least age 65.

Testing options.

• A primary HPV test (HPV test alone) on a cervical sample collected by a health care provider every 5 years. (The preferred option).
• A primary HPV test done on a self-collected vaginal sample, every 3 years.
• A co-test (HPV test combined with a Pap test) every 5 years.
• A Pap test alone (if HPV testing isn't available) every 3 years.

Getting screened regularly is the most important thing, no matter which test you get.

You should get screened even if you have received the HPV vaccine, are in a long-term monogamous relationship, are not sexually active, or are in menopause.

Your healthcare provider may indicate more frequent screening if you are at higher risk for cervical cancer.

At age 65 or older, you can stop screening if you have done it regularly and your last two HPV tests or your last three Pap tests were normal.

In addition to receiving screenings, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommends that women (and men) receive HPV vaccinations to stop the spread of the cancer-causing HPV virus.

HPV Vaccine

Screening, early detection, and the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine are the three tools that help prevent cervical cancer.

HPV vaccination prevents infection from high-risk cancer-producing variants of HPV, and also the low-risk types that produce genital warts.

HPV not only causes cervical cancer, but it can also lead to anal, vaginal, head and neck, and vulvar cancers. The HPV vaccine can help prevent all of these HPV-related cancers.

The vaccine is effective. Since it was introduced in 2006, HPV types that cause cancer and genital warts have dropped by 88% among teenage girls. For young adult women, the drop is 81%. Australia is aiming at fulfilling the World Health Organization (WHO) goal of erradicating cervical cancer by 2024, 83.4% of girls and 80.6% of boys had received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. (4)

Starting early provides better protection and fewer doses. The vaccine is approved for all young people (regardless of sex or gender) and can start as early as age 9. It is approved up to age 45.

Early vaccination is best. We can eliminate cervical cancer with widespread early vaccination.

Side Effects

As with any medicine or vaccine, there is always the chance of negative side effects. These can range from moderate reactions to serious ones, such as an allergic reaction (though the latter are rare).

Closing Comments

Cervical cancer can be eliminated: get your HPV shots, vaccinate your children against HPV, and screen regularly.