The month of January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. So in keeping with the activities scheduled for this month, here are some things you probably didn’t but should know about cervical cancer:
- Causes and risk factors for cervical cancer include human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, having many sexual partners, smoking, taking birth control pills, and engaging in early sexual contact.
- HPV infection may cause cervical dysplasia, or abnormal growth of cervical cells.
- Regular pelvic exams and Pap testing can detect precancerous changes in the cervix.
- Precancerous changes in the cervix may be treated with cryosurgery, cauterization, or laser surgery.
- The most common symptoms and signs of cervical cancer are
- abnormal vaginal bleeding,
- increased vaginal discharge,
- bleeding after going through menopause,
- pain during sex, and
- pelvic pain.
- Cervical cancer can be diagnosed using a Pap smear or other procedures that sample the cervix tissue.
- Chest X-rays, CT scan, MRI, and a PET scan may be used to determine the stage of cervical cancer.
- Cancer of the cervix requires different treatment than cancer that begins in other parts of the uterus.
- Treatment options for cervical cancer include
- radiation therapy,
- surgery, and
- chemotherapy.
- Two vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix are vaccines that are available to prevent HPV infection.
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