Causes of cervical cancer that women should be aware of

According to statistics, women between 17 and 20 years old are at the highest risk of contracting HPV; women with a history of sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes or warts are also at higher risk than normal people.

Cervical cancer is a common cancer in women, accounting for a large proportion of cancers caused in the female reproductive system, only third after breast cancer and ovarian cancer. This is a disease in which malignant cancer cells appear in cervical tissue. Today, cervical cancer is becoming a concern for most women. Therefore, learning about this disease plays a very important role for women to have more knowledge and experience to protect their own health.

So what are the causes and early symptoms of cervical cancer and is there any way to prevent it?

Causes of cervical cancer

Experts at Parkway Cancer Centre, Singapore, explain that cervical cancer is a malignant cancer that originates from the tissues of the cervix (the organ that connects the uterus and vagina). The most common type of cervical cancer is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which is caused by HPV infection. Other less common types include adenocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma, adenosquamous, adenosarcoma, melanoma and lymphoma, which account for less than 20% of all cervical cancer cases.

There are about 150 types of HPV, the most common of which is transmitted through sexual contact. However, only about 20 types actually cause cervical cancer and other cancers such as vulvar, vaginal, penile, anal and post-pharyngeal. There are up to 150 types of HPV, but only 13 types cause cancer, of which the top two types, 16 and 18, are responsible for 70% of cervical cancer cases.

The path to cervical cancer usually begins with an HPV infection in the cervix. If the infection does not clear over time, abnormal cells may develop in the inner lining. These cells may develop pre-cancerous, pre-invasive changes called cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). If left untreated, CIN can develop into invasive cancer.

Research by scientists also shows that not all people infected with HPV will develop cervical cancer. In fact, most such infections clear up on their own (up to 90% of cases).

People susceptible to the disease

Experts advise that most cases of cervical cancer are associated with the presence of HPV and that women who have had sex are at higher risk. In particular, those who have multiple sexual partners or who have had multiple sexual partners are at higher risk. But women who begin having unprotected sex before the age of 16 are at the highest risk of cervical cancer.

According to statistics, women between 17 and 20 years old are at the highest risk of HPV infection, women with a history of sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes or warts are also at higher risk than normal people. Women who smoke regularly can also increase the risk of HPV infection, or those who use birth control pills for too long are also susceptible to this terrible disease. Women with weak immune systems also face a greater risk of infection.

How to prevent cervical cancer

According to Dr. Quek Swee Chong (Medical Director of the Singapore Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic), the simplest and most effective way to prevent cervical cancer today is still to get vaccinated with HPV vaccines Cervarix and Gar-dasil.

Both cervical cancer vaccines are certified safe by the World Health Organization. The vaccines use an empty shell of the virus to create a “false alarm” to trigger the immune system to create antibodies against the HPV virus. And both vaccines must be divided into 3 doses, injected within 6 months of girls starting to have sex for the first time to achieve the highest effectiveness.

Cervical cancer, if detected early, can still be completely cured. In the early stages, the disease may not show obvious symptoms. As it progresses, patients often experience signs such as: vaginal bleeding after intercourse or between menstrual cycles, after menopause, bloody or foul-smelling vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain or pain during intercourse.

Therefore, doctors recommend that sexually active people aged 25 and older should have a Pap smear test annually or every 3 years, until age 69.

However, even if you have been fully vaccinated and on schedule, it is still not 100% guaranteed that you will not be infected with HPV or will not get cervical cancer. These vaccines can only prevent some high-risk strains, so women are advised to pay attention to symptoms and have regular screening to detect cervical cancer early so that doctors can have better treatment.

According to Khoeplus