40 years ago, cervical cancer was the leading cause of cancer death in American women. Since then, the number of deaths has significantly decreased due to increased awareness of the symptoms and testing methods for this disease. Although the numbers have improved, approximately 12,000 women will be diagnosed and 4,120 will die from the disease this year.
These numbers show the dangers that cervical cancer can pose and the importance of early detection through regular screenings.
Since there is such a dramatic decrease in the survival rate as the cancer progresses, women must be proactive and take the necessary steps to catch the problem and seek treatment before the issue develops further.
There are two powerful tools that women should use in the fight against cervical cancer:
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most sexually transmitted disease in the United States. In fact, it is estimated that approximately 90% of men and 80% of women who are sexually active have at least one type of HPV. Of these types of HPV, two are responsible for approximately 70% of all cases of cervical cancer.
HPV vaccinations have been found to provide nearly 100% protection against the two HPV types that can cause cervical cancer (types 16 and 18. The vaccine can be given at any age, but if a person has been sexually active, there is a chance that they’re already infected. Ideally, the vaccine will be administered before a person becomes sexually active.
Typically performed on women aged 21 to 65, the pap test allows the doctor to look for changes in cervical tissue that can potentially turn cancerous. The doctor will examine the vagina and cervix and collect samples of any abnormal tissue. The tissue will then be sent to the laboratory for testing.
Although women rarely exhibit symptoms of cervical cancer in its early stages, it is important to understand the warning signs. The most common symptoms include:
The symptoms listed above are somewhat common and can be caused by issues other than cervical cancer. But there are some warning signs of advanced-stage cervical cancer:
For more information about the prevention of cervical cancer, contact your physician today. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, or severe pain, please visit Weirton Medical Center immediately.
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/statistics/ http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervicalcancer/moreinformation/cervicalcancerpreventionandearlydetection/cervical-cancer-prevention-and-early-detection-what-is-cervical-cancer http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/cervical-cancer/statistics https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/hpv-vaccine-fact-sheet