Cervical Cancer 101

Cervical cancer is luckily one of the easiest cancers to catch early and treat. The Pap smear is a simple effort to analyze for changes in the cervix. Cervical cancer is a disease in which cancer cells are found in the tissues of the cervix. The cervix, the lower part of the uterus, connects the body of the womb to the vagina Cervical cancer is a serious concern for women. Worldwide, cervical cancer alone strikes half a million women and claims 270,000 lives each year.

Cervical cancer is a disease when body cells in the cervix change until they develop a tumor. When normal cells transform themselves to cancer cells, cervical cancer sets in. Cervical cancer is caused by continual infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) which is a common virus that you can give to another during sex. Women who are sexually active reduce their risk for HPV infection by using latex condoms during intercourse and by reducing the number of sexual encounters with different people

Cervical cancer is a disease that untreated; can be very serious. However, it is a disease that you can work to stop the spread of. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the major risk factor for getting cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is in essence a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Thus any sexually active woman can estimate and reduce her personal risk.

Cervical cancer is classified in stages that are determined by the size of the cancer and how far it has spread to nearby tissues and organs, such as the lungs, the liver, or bones. The doctor will determine the level of the patient's cervical cancer by gathering information from a variety of tests, including X-rays.

Doctors use assorted systems to classify cancers. The system commonly used for cervical cancer simply numbers the assorted stages from 0 to 4. Doctors use several terms to describe these pre-cancerous changes, including cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL), and dysplasia. These changes noted be detected by the Pap smear and treated to preclude the development of cancer. Doctors analyze for HPV even if there are no warts or obvious symptoms.

Doctors often recommend that women have their first Pap smear when they become sexually active or reach the age of 18. A Pap smear is performed be once a year for most women. If the smear results are normal for 3 years in a row, women then schedule Pap tests every 2 or 3 years as they do not change their sexual contact lifestyle. Doctors cannot ever know why patient develops cervical cancer and another does not. However, we do know that groups of sexually active women are being more likely than others to develop cervical cancer.

Gardasil is the first preventative immunization targeted specifically to preventing any kind of reproductive cancer. GARDASIL is presented as 3 injections over 6 months. Gardasil, made by Merck, is already FDA-approved for girls aged 10-25 years. While the bureau authorized Gardasil for use in boys, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) did not urge for routine use of the shot in boys as it has for girls.

Condoms and dental dams don't fully protect from HPV, but reduce risk of exposure lower Condoms also help prevent the spread of HIV, herpes, and other sexually transmitted infections. Condoms are up to 70 percent effective in preventing HPV infection. They do not protect completely against the infection with the virus because infection does not depend on sex involving an exchange of fluids; it occurs from skin-to-skin contact of the genital area.

http://cancer.about.com/od/cervicalcancer/a/cervcancrsympt.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cervical-cancer/ds00167/dsection=symptoms

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cervical_cancer/page3_em.htm