What is Cervical cancer ?

Was talking to someone about this topic , and i was surprised to know some facts about Cervical cancer.

What Is Cervical Cancer?
Cervical cancer is a disease caused by the abnormal growth and division of cells that make up the cervix, which is the narrow, lower end of the uterus (womb).

"Cancer" is the name for a group of diseases in which certain cells in the body have changed in appearance and function. Instead of dividing and growing in a controlled and orderly way, these abnormal cells can grow out of control and form a mass or "tumor."

A tumor is considered benign (not cancerous) if it is limited to a few cell layers and does not invade surrounding tissues or organs. But if the tumor spreads - or has the potential to spread - to surrounding tissues or organs, it is considered malignant, or cancerous.

There are several types of cervical cancer:

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common type of cervical cancer, accounting for 85% to 90% of all cases. It develops from the cells that line the inner part of the cervix, called the squamous cells. It usually begins where the part of the cervix that connects with the vagina (called the ectocervix) meets the part of the cervix that opens into the uterus (called the endocervix).

Adenocarcinoma develops from the column-shaped cells that line the mucous-producing glands of the cervix. In rare instances, adenocarcinoma originates in the supportive tissue around the cervix. Adenocarcinoma accounts for about 10% of all cervical cancers.

Mixed carcinomas (for example, adenosquamous carcinomas) combine features of both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

What Causes Cervical Cancer?

We don't know exactly what causes cervical cancer, but certain risk factors are believed to have an effect. Medical history and lifestyle - especially sexual habits - play a role in a woman's chances of developing cervical cancer.

The most significant risk factors are:

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Sexual history

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that can infect:

The genital tract

The external genitals

The area around the anus

HPV has nothing to do with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. There are 46 genetic types of HPV, but not all are dangerous. Only certain types of HPV, which can be transmitted from one person to another during sexual contact, increase the risk of cell dysplasia (abnormal cell growth) and/or progression to cervical cancer.

The HPV types that produce genital warts (lesions that are raised and bumpy, or flat and almost impossible to see) are different from those that cause cervical cancer. However, women who have a history of genital warts have almost twice the risk of an abnormal Pap smear as other women.

Sexual History

A woman has a higher-than-average risk of developing cervical if she:

Has had multiple sexual partners

Began having sexual relations before the age of 18

Has a partner who has had sexual contact with a woman with cervical cancer

Other Risk Factors

It is probable that other factors contribute to cervical cancer, such as:

Poverty. Women who are poor may not have access to medical services that detect and treat precancerous cervical conditions. When such women develop cervical cancer, the disease usually remains undiagnosed and untreated until it has spread to other parts of the body. Women who are poor are often undernourished, and poor nutrition can also increase cervical cancer risk.

Pap test history. Not having regular Pap tests increases the chance of unrecognized cervical cancer. Between 60% and 80% of women with newly diagnosed cervical cancer have not had a Pap test in at least five years.

Tobacco use. Women who smoke are about twice as likely to develop cervical cancer as women who do not. The more a woman smokes - and the longer she has been smoking - the greater the risk.

Eating habits. A diet that doesn't include ample amounts of fruits and vegetables can increase a woman's risk of developing cervical cancer.

Weakened immune system. A woman whose immune system is weakened has a higher-than-average risk of developing cervical lesions that can become cancerous. This includes women who are HIV-positive (infected with the virus that causes AIDS). It also includes women who have received organ transplants and must take drugs to suppress the immune system so that the body won't reject the new organ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions related to cervical cancer.

Q: What causes cervical cancer?
A: We don't always know what causes cervical cancer, just like we don't know what causes most cancers. Not uncommonly however, this disease occurs when a virus or other factor causes cells within the cervix to become abnormal, then cancerous. Cervical cancer becomes invasive when malignant cells spread to nearby tissues, organs, or other parts of the body.

Q: Why do some women develop cervical cancer?
A: The primary risk factors associated with cervical cancer are age, a woman's sexual habits, and infection with a high-risk strain of human papillomavirus (HPV). Lifestyle, race, and other factors probably affect a woman's chances of developing cervical cancer.

Q: Can cervical cancer be prevented?
A: Routine Pap tests can detect almost all instances of early cervical cancer and precancerous (tending to become cancerous) changes in cervical cells. Prompt treatment of these abnormalities can prevent cervical cancer.

Q: How is cervical cancer diagnosed?
A: Routine screening for cervical abnormalities can detect early-stage cancer and precancerous conditions (that are not yet malignant).

Q: Why are regular Pap tests so important?
A: Cervical cancer grows slowly, and regular Pap tests can detect the disease in its earliest, most curable stages.

Q: Who should be screened for cervical cancer?
A: Every woman who has reached the age of 18 or who is or has been sexually active should have regular Pap tests.

Q: Is cervical cancer curable?
A: If caught in the early stages, cervical cancer is almost 100% curable. The chances of detecting cervical cancer at an early stage are greatly increased by having regular Pap smears. Pap smears are probably the most successful of all screening procedures ever devised to detect early cancer.

Q: How is cervical cancer treated?
A: The standard treatments for cervical cancer are surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Q: What is the emotional impact of cervical cancer?
A: Because cervical cancer treatment often leaves a woman infertile, this disease can be especially devastating for women of childbearing age. Friends, family members, and professional caregivers can provide valuable emotional support.
Source - http://www.ehealthmd.com/index.html

Ray