I mentioned earlier this month that we would have a guest blogger who is a survivor of cervical cancer joining us. Unfortunately, I must inform you that she is back in the hospital due to complications from her surgery. At the time that I connected with this young woman via social media she informed me that she was from Chicago, she was in her late thirties, an African American and was healing in the hospital from her surgery. She was sent home, but had to go back in, so she will send in her story at a later date. I want to wish her the very best and ask that you all keep her in your prayers and thoughts as well.
I want to discuss some of the risk factors and screening and follow-up treatment for cervical cancer. The most important risk factor for cervical cancer is infection by the human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV is a group of more than 150 related viruses, some of which cause a type of growth called papillomas, which are more commonly known as warts. HPV can be spread from one person to another during skin-to-skin contact. One way HPV is spread is through sex, including vaginal, anal, and even oral sex.
Other types of HPV are called high-risk types because they are strongly linked to other cancers including cancer of the cervix, vulva, and vagina in women, penile cancer in men, and cancers of the anus, mouth, and throat in both men and women.
Infection with HPV is common, and in most people the body can clear the infection by itself. Sometimes, however, the infection does not go away and becomes chronic. Chronic infection, especially when it is caused by certain high-risk HPV types, can eventually cause other cancers.
Smoking, diets low in fruit and vegetables, being overweight, long term use of oral contraceptives, intrauterine device use, multiple full term pregnancies and a family history of cervical cancer are all risk factors. If your mother or sister had cervical cancer, your chances of developing the disease are 2 to 3 times higher than if no one in the family had it.
As mentioned in a previous post, the best way to detect cervical cancer is to have regular screenings with a Pap test. Early detection greatly improves the chances of successful treatment and prevents any early cervical cell changes from becoming cancerous. The options for treating cervical cancer heavily depend on the stage of the disease. Surgery (trachelectomy or hysterectomy), radiation, and chemotherapy are the common types of treatment. Usually, early stages are treated with either surgery or radiation combined with chemo. In later stages radiation combined with chemo is usually the main treatment. Chemo by itself is often used to treat advanced cervical cancer.
Like any other cancers, follow-up treatment is essential. From my personal experience, this is the time you will meet with your doctors and ask questions that you didn’t have a chance to ask prior to treatment, or to ask new questions that you may now have. During these visits you will receive regular pelvic exams and you will continue to get Pap tests. For those women who have undergone surgery, their pap exam will test cells from the upper part of the vagina. This is very important because unfortunately, after cervical cancer you are at high risk for vaginal cancer.
I urge you if you do not already go to the doctor regularly you should. I hope the details I have outlined show you the importance of maintaining your health and visiting your OB/GYN yearly for your Pap test. The best detection is early detection. It saved my life and my fertility.
I want to discuss some of the risk factors and screening and follow-up treatment for cervical cancer. The most important risk factor for cervical cancer is infection by the human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV is a group of more than 150 related viruses, some of which cause a type of growth called papillomas, which are more commonly known as warts. HPV can be spread from one person to another during skin-to-skin contact. One way HPV is spread is through sex, including vaginal, anal, and even oral sex.
Other types of HPV are called high-risk types because they are strongly linked to other cancers including cancer of the cervix, vulva, and vagina in women, penile cancer in men, and cancers of the anus, mouth, and throat in both men and women.
Infection with HPV is common, and in most people the body can clear the infection by itself. Sometimes, however, the infection does not go away and becomes chronic. Chronic infection, especially when it is caused by certain high-risk HPV types, can eventually cause other cancers.
Smoking, diets low in fruit and vegetables, being overweight, long term use of oral contraceptives, intrauterine device use, multiple full term pregnancies and a family history of cervical cancer are all risk factors. If your mother or sister had cervical cancer, your chances of developing the disease are 2 to 3 times higher than if no one in the family had it.
As mentioned in a previous post, the best way to detect cervical cancer is to have regular screenings with a Pap test. Early detection greatly improves the chances of successful treatment and prevents any early cervical cell changes from becoming cancerous. The options for treating cervical cancer heavily depend on the stage of the disease. Surgery (trachelectomy or hysterectomy), radiation, and chemotherapy are the common types of treatment. Usually, early stages are treated with either surgery or radiation combined with chemo. In later stages radiation combined with chemo is usually the main treatment. Chemo by itself is often used to treat advanced cervical cancer.
Like any other cancers, follow-up treatment is essential. From my personal experience, this is the time you will meet with your doctors and ask questions that you didn’t have a chance to ask prior to treatment, or to ask new questions that you may now have. During these visits you will receive regular pelvic exams and you will continue to get Pap tests. For those women who have undergone surgery, their pap exam will test cells from the upper part of the vagina. This is very important because unfortunately, after cervical cancer you are at high risk for vaginal cancer.
I urge you if you do not already go to the doctor regularly you should. I hope the details I have outlined show you the importance of maintaining your health and visiting your OB/GYN yearly for your Pap test. The best detection is early detection. It saved my life and my fertility.
