Cervical cancer
Friday 27 February 2009
Cervical cancer has come to the attention of many. Find out about more about the disease.
The cervix
A woman's reproductive system is made up of the vagina, the womb - including the cervix, and the ovaries.
The cervix is another name for the neck of the womb. It is really a strong muscle. During labour the cervix opens up to let the baby out.
The cervix is covered with a layer of skin-like cells on its outer surface some of which produce mucus. It is these cells that can become cancerous. This cancer is called cervical cancer.
How do you get cervical cancer?
About 2,800 women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year - it is the second most common cancer in women under 35 years old.
HPV
99 per cent of all cervical cancers are caused by HPV. HPV is a virus - the ‘human papilloma virus’. You get HPV by being sexually active with someone else who has it. Most HPV infections simply clear up. However it can also stay in the cervix for many years without you knowing. The virus can then damage the cells and over time cause them to change.
Condoms can reduce the risk of a woman becoming infected with HPV.
Smoking
Researchers have found cancer causing chemicals from cigarette smoke in the cervical mucus of women who smoke. They think that these chemicals damage the cervix, so smoking could increase the chances of getting the disease.
The pill
Recent research that looked at a number of studies together shows that taking the pill could increase a woman's risk of developing cervical cancer but no one is totally sure and no one knows why yet. However the evidence does suggests that the increased risk of cervical cancer begins to drop as soon as you stop taking the pill.
What are the symptoms?
There are usually no noticeable signs of early cervical cancer therefore regular checkups are really important.
Prevention
HPV vaccine
The Government have started an immunisation programme. Within two years all girls under 18 years of age will have been offered the HPV vaccine.
Find out more about the vaccine.
Screening
From the age of 25 in England, and 20 in the rest of the UK women, are automatically contacted every three to five years to go for a cervical smear test. Some people think the age should be lowered and this is currently being considered.
The test is known as a ‘cervical smear’. During the screening a nurse or doctor takes a small sample of cells from the surface of the cervix. The cells are then examined in a lab for any abnormalities.
Treatment
There are many different ways to treat the disease including surgery, radiation which high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing and chemotherapy which uses uses drugs to stop the growth of the cancer cells.
There are also new types treatments being tested all the time. Some people have been known to also choose alternative treatments to standard medicine, but there is no scientific proof that these work.
The chances of recovering from cervical cancer depend on the stage the cancer is at and the type of cancer.
Jade Goody
Reality TV star Jade Goody tragically passed away after being diagnosed with cervical cancer. Despite several operations the cancer had already spread to other parts of her body. Just before her death she spoke publicly about the need for all women to get checkups and screenings regularly.
A NHS report showed that the overall number of females who went for a screening rose from 78.6 per cent to 78.9 per cent by March 2009. This was the first time this percentage had increased since 2002.
Find out more about the HPV vaccine.
