Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is a cancer arising from the cervix, which is inside a woman's vagina.
Worldwide, cervical cancer is the fourth-most common cause of cancer in women. It is also the fourth-most common cause of deaths from cancer in women. In the world, there are approximately 570,000 new cases of cervical cancer each year. In 2018, there were over 300,000 deaths from cervical cancer. It is the second-most common cause of female-specific cancer after breast cancer, accounting for around 8% of both total cancer cases and total cancer deaths in women. About 80% of cervical cancers occur in developing countries.
Cause and Diagnosis
Human papillomavirus infection (HPV) causes cervical cancer. Older studies said it caused more than 90% of cases The World Health Organization's World Cancer Report says, "Thirteen sexually transmitted mucosal human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes are established human carcinogens. Together, they are responsible for all cervical cancer cases globally." Vaccination against HPV before a young person becomes sexually active can prevent cervical cancer. Both girls and boys should get the HPV vaccine. The vaccine usually requires two doses. Some parents who are social conservatives oppose giving young people the HPV vaccine. They think it will encourage young, people to have sex before they are married. They say their daughters won't get cervical cancer because their daughters will not have sex until they are married. The parents are not worried that their daughters could die of cervical cancer. Other parents think vaccines are more dangerous than the diseases they prevent. Vaccination is uncommon in developing countries due to the high cost or because there are few doctors and nurses to give the vaccines.
Regular pap smears can detect abnormal cell growth in the cervix. A pap smear is simple medical test which should be done every year after a woman becomes sexually active. If there is a problem found, a doctor can prescribe treatments to stop it from developing into cancer. In developed countries, abnormal cell growth is usually detected and treated in this way. Women in developing countries often do not have access to health services where pap smears could be performed. If medical services do exist, women in developing countries often cannot afford the cost. This is sometimes also a problem for low income and minority (especially Hispanic and African American) women in the United States since the costs of tests may not be covered by health insurance, if they even have health insurance.
Cervical cancer can be prevented by use of condoms, which reduce the spread of HPV when used correctly. Human papillomavirus often attaches to the cells inside the male foreskin, which is the skin covering the end of the penis. Male circumcision can reduce the spread of HPV, and therefore the incidence of cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is due to the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Early on, typically no symptoms are seen. Later symptoms may include abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain or pain during sexual intercourse. While bleeding after sex may not be serious, it may also indicate the presence of cervical cancer.
Most women who have had HPV infections, however, do not develop cervical cancer. HPV 16 and 18 strains are responsible for nearly 50% of high grade cervical pre-cancers. Other risk factors include smoking, a weak immune system, birth control pills, starting sex at a young age, and having many sexual partners, but these are less important. Genetic factors also contribute to cervical cancer risk. Cervical cancer typically develops from precancerous changes over 10 to 20 years. About 90% of cervical cancer cases are squamous cell carcinomas, 10% are adenocarcinoma, and a small number are other types. Diagnosis is typically by cervical screening followed by a biopsy. Medical imaging is then done to determine whether or not the cancer has spread.