Download Preventing Cervical Cancer

Preventing Cervical Cancer
Doctors can not always explain why one person gets cancer and another does not. However,
scientists have studied general patterns of cancer in the population to learn what things around
us and what things we do in our lives may increase our chance of developing cancer.
Anything that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease is called a risk factor;
anything that decreases a person’s chance of developing a disease is called a protective factor.
Some of the risk factors for cancer can be avoided, but many can not. For example, although
you can choose to quit smoking, you can not choose which genes you have inherited from your
parents. Both smoking and inheriting specific genes could be considered risk factors for certain
kinds of cancer, but only smoking can be avoided. Prevention means avoiding the risk factors
and increasing the protective factors that can be controlled so that the chance of developing
cancer decreases.
Although many risk factors can be avoided, it is important to keep in mind that avoiding risk
factors does not guarantee that you will not get cancer. Also, most people with a particular risk
factor for cancer do not actually get the disease. Some people are more sensitive than others to
factors that can cause cancer. Talk to your doctor about methods of preventing cancer that
might be effective for you.
The cervix is the lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb) that connects the uterus with the
vagina. It is part of the female reproductive system.
Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time. Before cancer appears in the cervix, the
cells of the cervix go through changes known as dysplasia, in which abnormal cells begin to
appear in the cervical tissue. Later, cancer cells start to grow and spread more deeply into the
cervix and to surrounding areas.
Significance of cervical cancer
Thanks to widespread screening with the Pap test (Pap smear), the number of deaths due to
cervical cancer has been decreasing.
Cervical cancer prevention
Many cases of cervical cancer are associated with known risk factors for the disease. Some of
the risk factors cannot be avoided, but many can.
HPV Infection: Cervical infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary risk factor for
cervical cancer. There are over 80 types of HPV. Approximately 30 types are transmitted
sexually (passed from one person to another by sexual contact) and can infect the cervix.
About half of these have been linked to cervical cancer. However, HPV infection is very
common and only a very small number of women infected with untreated HPV will develop
cervical cancer. A vaccine to prevent a common type of HPV infection is being studied in the
medical community.
Sexual History: HPV infections that cause cervical cancer are spread mainly through sexual
contact. Women who begin having sexual intercourse at an early age and women who have
had many sexual partners are at a greater risk of HPV infection and developing cervical cancer.
Some methods used to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) reduce the risk of cervical
cancer. The use of barrier methods of birth control and/or gels that kill sperm offer some
protection but do not completely protect against STDs.
Screening History: Receiving regular exams and Pap tests helps to prevent cervical cancer.
Abnormal changes in the cervix can be found by the Pap test and treated before cancer
develops. Women who do not regularly have Pap tests have an increased risk of cervical
cancer.
Smoking: Cigarette smoking is associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer.
Diet: Several studies have suggested that certain vitamins and minerals may reduce the risk of
cervical cancer, but this has not been proven.
Knowing the risk factors for cervical cancer can help you avoid them.
For more information on women’s health, visit MyHealth@Anthem powered by WebMD at
www.anthem.com. Also visit the following sites:
National Cancer Institute - www.cancer.gov
American Cancer Society – www.cancer.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – www.cdc.gov
National Institutes of Health – www.nih.gov
-----------------------------------------------------------Source: National Cancer Institute U.S. National Institutes of Health, www.cancer.gov