Ladies!! We finally made it to our last one lol For the past couple of months we talked about the MAJOR medical conditions such as PCOS, Uterine Cancer, Ovarian cancer, etc that goes WRONG in the uterus for the “Let’s Talk About Her” Series. Thank you again for “liking”, commenting, and sharing! It was worth the journey and constant researching. I definitely learned A LOT lol So our LAST one for our “Let’s Talk About Her” Series is Cervical Cancer.
SO, WHAT IS CERVICAL CANCER?
Basically, cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix-the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Cervical cancer begins when healthy cells in the cervix develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. It isn’t clear what causes cervical cancer, but it’s certain that HPV [Human Papillomavirus] plays a role. HPV is very common, and most people with the virus never develop cancer.
The main types of cervical cancer are:
Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Most cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.
Adenocarcinoma
GIRL, DID YOU KNOW?!
Various strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, play a role in causing most cervical cancer.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
Early-stage cervical cancer generally produces no signs or symptoms.
Signs and symptoms of more-advanced cervical cancer include:
Vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods or after menopause
Watery, bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odor
Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse
RISK FACTORS
Many sexual partners. The greater your number of sexual partners- and the greater your partner’s number of sexual partners- the greater your chance of acquiring HPV.
Early sexual activity. Having sex at an early age increase your risk of HPV.
Other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Having other STIs-such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV/AIDS-increases your risk of HPV.
A weakened immune system. You may be more likely to develop cervical cancer if your immune system is weakened by another health condition and you have HPV.
Smoking. Smoking is associated with squamous cell cervical cancer.
PREVENTION
Ask your doctor about the HPV vaccine. Receiving a vaccination to prevent HPV infection may reduce your risk of cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers. Ask your doctor whether an HPV vaccine is appropriate for you.
Have a routine Pap tests. Pap tests can detect precancerous conditions of the cervix, so they can be monitored or treated in order to prevent cervical cancer. Most medical organizations suggest beginning routine Pap tests at age 21 and repeating them every few years.
Practice safe sex. Reduce your risk of cervical cancer by taking measures to prevent sexually transmitted infections, such as using a condom every time you have sex and limiting the number of sexual partners you have.
Don’t smoke. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoker, talking to your doctor about strategies to help you quit.
TREATMENT
Treatment for cervical cancer depends on several factors, such as the stage of the cancer, other health problems you may have and your preferences. Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination of the 3 may be used.
**For MORE awesome information, please check out womenshealth.gov! They have great insights and explanation about Cervical Cancer.
Comments