Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer information such as how many people get cervical cancer, what is cervical cancer, risk factors of cervical cancer and screening recommendations.
According to American Cancer Society 11,070 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive Cervical cancer in 2008 and 3,870 women will die from cervical cancer in 2008. Cervical cancer was once the most common cause of cancer death, but after 1955 and the advance of the Pap that number has gone down substantially. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus which connects the body of the uterus to the vagina. Cervical cancer begins in the lining of the cervix and generally does not form suddenly. Cells begin to change from normal to pre-cancer and then cancer. This can take a number of years, although sometimes it happens more quickly. These changes are referred to by several terms, including dysplasia. Sometimes these changes may go away without treatment, but more often they need to be treated to prevent them from changing into true cancers.
Cervical Cancer Risk Factors
Certain risk factors increase a person's chance of getting the disease. This does not mean the person will get the disease nor does it mean people without specific risk factors will not get the disease. It only means there is an increased chance.
Cervical Cancer Risk Factors:
- HPV (Human Papillomavirus) - a sexually transmitted disease
- Smoking
- HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) - a sexually transmitted disease
- Chlamydia - a sexually transmitted disease
- Diet low in fruit and vegetables
- Birth Control Pills
- Having Many Pregnancies
- Low Income
- DES (diethylstilbestrol) -a hormone miscarriage drug used between 1940 and 1971
- Family History
Cervical Cancer Screening Recommendations
Most cervical cancers can be prevented by avoiding the risk factors and having a routine Pap test (a painless sample of mucus and cells scraped from the cervix). Young women can delay having sex until they are older and protect themselves against sexually transmitted disease by engaging in fewer partners. (Condoms do not protect against HPV, but do help protect against other sexually transmitted diseases.) Women can also quit smoking or never smoke to begin with to decrease risk. American Cancer Society recommends all women should begin having the Pap test within three years after they begin having sex (vaginal intercourse), but no later than age 21 years of age. ACHLC recommends yearly Pap tests after age 18. Testing should be done every year with the regular Pap tests.
Increasing the Accuracy of your Pap Test:
- Do not schedule an appointment during your menstrual period.
- Do not douche 48 hours before the test.
- Do not have sexual intercourse 48 hours before the test.
- Do not use tampons, birth control foams, jellies, or other vaginal creams or vaginal medications 48 hours before the test.
Information gathered 10-21-04. Revised statistics and information on 09-9-08.