Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus or HPV and is spread by sexual contact.
The body of some women may be able to fight the infection, however, in other cases the virus leads sometimes to the generation of a cancer.
How is it transmitted?
It is a sexually transmitted infection, which spreads in the contact between mucous membranes with the virus.
Which women are most at risk?
Women at higher risk of suffering are those who smoke frequently, have had many children, have used contraceptive pills for a long time or have an HIV infection. AIDS
How to detect it ?
Cervical cancer may not cause symptoms at first, but later pelvic pain or vaginal bleeding may occur, a process that usually takes several years until the normal cells of the cervix become cancer cells
Therefore it is recommended that the gynecologist perform regularly (every six months or once a year, depending on the case) the Pap.
What are his symptoms? [19659002] HPV infection does not produce symptoms, although there may be excessive bleeding at times other than menstruation, or viral warts / condylomas may appear in the case of cancer of the evolved neck. Hence the importance of primary prevention (vaccination) and in the transmission of the virus.
Early diagnosis
If abnormal changes in cervical cells are detected early, cancer can be prevented by extracting or destroying those altered cells before they can become cancer cells. Another way in which women can reduce their risk of cervical cancer is in the application of the HPV vaccine, from 9 to 26 years of age, before having sex.
A problem in increase
HPV affects women between 40 and 55 years old, especially those who maintain an active sexual life, where the reactivation of previous infections may occur.
In recent years, the number of affected has increased significantly, so it requires vital attention not only of the woman, but also of her sexual partner.
Treatment
This is involved in premalignant lesions in the cervix , vagina, vulva and anus. They are called dysplasias and are diagnosed by means of a biopsy and, although they are not a cancer, they require a follow-up and sometimes an extirpation treatment of the area where the lesion is located in order to avoid the progression to a cancer.
In the case of the neck of the uterus conization is performed, which consists of an enlarged and cone-shaped biopsy of the area of the cervix where the lesion is lodged. When these premalignant lesions are not diagnosed early and left to evolve without follow-up or treatment, cancer may appear.
In the case of cancer, some of the ways to give it due control, depending on its progress, may include surgery , radiation therapy and chemotherapy, however, treatment will depend on the size of the tumor, whether the cancer has spread or whether there is a possibility of being pregnant.
About the human papillomavirus [19659002] Currently there are more than 150 types of human papilloma virus or HPV. However, only 20 cause diseases in humans, especially in the genital area. Infections can cause benign damage, such as warts or condyloma acuminata, as well as precancerous lesions and cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, and penis. HPV is also linked to other cancers such as the anus, head and neck.
HPV Curiosities
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that more than 90% of HPV infections disappears from the body in two years, so without due care this can reappear in women or men. However, it is not known for sure if the body actually eliminates the virus or, as it seems to happen at least in some women, the virus simply reduces to undetectable levels.
Men can also Have?
Men contract HPV in the same way as women, and like men, men do not usually have immediate symptoms, but they do detect them over the years, unless HPV starts to cause abnormal changes in skin cells. However, although it has been linked to the infection of the anus and penis, these cancers occur very little in men. The use of a condom is necessary to avoid contagion.
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