I
remember a visit to the doctor’s office, I kept seeing these posters everywhere
speaking about not being too young to get cervical cancer and some other stuff
about “HPV.” Placing it at the back of my mind, I never thought to do research.
A more recent visit to a different doctor, this time with a friend, I saw the
same posters and furthermore saw an advisement on television, I decided that I
needed to get information on whatever this was, and so I did. I asked the
doctor a truck load of questions, in return he gave me answers, advice,
pamphlets and websites to visit. Trying
to tell you everything in this one blog will be tough but I hope I at least
open up your awareness to it so you can do research on your own and take the
steps necessary to prevent yourself or help prevent a friend from obtaining
this cancer.
What is
cervix cancer?
Cancer of the cervix is cancer that
begins in the cervix, the part of the womb (or uterus) that opens to the
vagina.
The cervix separates the womb (or
uterus) from the vagina.
How common is it?
Cervical cancer can be rare if women have regular Pap test
done.
What is a Pap test?
The Pap
test helps doctors find early changes in the cervix cells that might lead to
cancer. It is done during a pelvic exam. Abnormal results on a Pap test are
common.
With a
Pap test, the doctor or nurse takes a sample of cells from the cervix with a
swab or soft brush.
Do we know
what causes cervix cancer?
Cervix cancer is caused by a virus
called HPV.
What is HPV?
HPV is short for
human papilloma (pap-ah-LO-mah) virus. This virus can cause changes in the
cervix. HPV is not the same as HIV.
HPV is not a new virus, but we are
learning more about this virus. Most people who have ever had sex have had HPV
at some time in their lives.
How does HPV
lead to cervix cancer?
HPV is spread through sex, and it can
cause an infection in the cervix. The infection usually doesn’t last very long
because your body is able to fight the infection. If the HPV doesn’t go away,
the virus may cause cervix cells to change and become pre-cancer cells.
Pre-cancer cells are not cancer. Most cells with early pre-cancer changes
return to normal on their own. Sometimes, the pre-cancer cells may turn into
cancer if they are not found and treated.
Very few HPV
infections lead to cervix cancer.
Who can get
cervix cancer?
Because HPV is so common, any woman who has ever had sex can get cervix cancer. But,
most women who get HPV do not get cervix cancer. Women who have their Pap tests as often as they should are least likely
to get cervix cancer.
Some women have a greater chance of
getting cervix cancer if they:
·
Have HPV and it doesn’t go away
·
Have HIV or AIDS
·
Smoke
Women who do not
have Pap tests at all or who do not have them as often as they should have the
greatest chance of getting cervix cancer.
What I got
from my lecture at the doctor’s office is that once a young woman has had sex,
she is at risk of obtaining HPV and future more Cervical Cancer and that to me
is scary. Whether it means being sexually active now or in the future I am
still at risk, there is no escaping unless a Pap test is done regularly because
condoms don’t completely protect you. If you were sexual active by the age of
17 you are at a higher risk of getting Cervical Cancer as the body was not yet
developed for sexual activities. Starting at age 21, a
Pap test has to be done every 2 years. If you are 30 years and older and have had 3 normal Pap tests for 3
years in a row, talk to your doctor about spacing out Pap tests to every 3
years.
There are often no signs or symptoms for HPV and
there is no screening for men, so your partner can have it and he won’t be able
to find out if he’s exposing you to the virus. So you can have HPV and not
know. An estimate of 8 out of 10 women can become infected with HPV...8 out of
then is a lot, too much if you ask me.
Since HPV is a virus on its own, which can also
lead to genital warts, I recommend this site, VERY interesting reading material;
I spent an hour going through their facts: HPV Get the Facts
The sort of good news is that there is a vaccine
for the most frequent virus (HPV) that can cause Cervical Cancer, girls and
boys as young as age 11 can get the vaccination. Even if you are sexually
active you can get the vaccine. However the vaccine protects you from the MAIN
cause of cervical cancer, not all of the causes. And even if you have been
vaccinated, regular screening is still important.
So please ladies, being uncomfortable for 2 minutes
at a Pap test is worth being comfortable and safe for a longer period of time.
I later learnt that one of my dearest friend’s mom
is a fighter of cervical cancer. Look out for her story.
-Teneil
Nurse
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