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News About Cervical Cancer

What is Cervical Cancer? Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells on the cervix grow out of control. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. Cervical cancer can often be cured when it’s found early. It is usually found at a very early stage through a Pap test.

What causes cervical cancer? Most cervical cancer is caused by a virus called human papillomavirus, or HPV. You can get HPV by having sexual contact with someone who has it. There are many types of the HPV virus. Not all types of HPV cause cervical cancer. Some of them cause genital warts, but other types may not cause any symptoms.You can have HPV for years and not know it. It stays in your body and can lead to cervical cancer years after you were infected. This is why it is important for you to have regular Pap tests. A Pap test can find changes in cervical cells before they turn into cancer. If you treat these cell changes, you may prevent cervical cancer.

What you need to know A new test and vaccines can help prevent cervical cancer, a virus causes which scientists now know.

What is human papillomavirus (HPV)? HPV is a sexually transmitted virus, not a disease. Almost all people who have been sexually active have carried the virus at some time. Most HPV is controlled by the immune system, and most people never know they have it. There are more than 100 types of HPV, but only 15 or so are associated with cancer.

What is HPV’s connection to cervical cancer? Virtually all cervical cancers are caused by HPV. Cervical-cancer patients have most probably carried the virus for many years. In the US, each year about 10,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,000 women die from it.There is a test and vaccine for HPV.
Who should get them? The vaccine is most effective for women who are not yet sexually active and is approved for females 9 to 12 years old. It only protects against some strains, which means women must still get screened regularly. The test is similar to a Pap test and is used in tandem with the Pap for women 30 and older. If both tests are negative, women do not need to be screened again for three years. The test and vaccine are powerful new tools against cervical cancer.

For more information, you may consult your Gynecologist or visit our Ob - Gyn Department - Women’s Health Center, 4th Floor CMC Bldg. V.