Cervical Health Awareness Month is a chance to raise awareness about how
women can protect themselves from HPV (human papillomavirus) and
cervical cancer. HPV infection is the most common sexually transmitted
disease. It is also a major cause of Cervical Cancer.
It's new year again, and it's also the month of January where the teal
& white ribbons roll all around in conformation to the awareness of
the cervical cancer.
Are you a woman? If yes, do you know about the cervical cancer? If yes,
how much do you know about it? Are you a man? If yes, you're not also
left out of this. The knowledge of the cervical cancer is very vital to
males as it is to females alike.
In the following paragraphs are some facts about the cervical cancer which you really need to know:
• Cervical cancer causes and risk factors have been identified and they
include Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and other forms of
lifestyle like having many sexual partners, smoking, taking birth
control pills, and engaging in early sexual contact. HPV infection may
cause cervical dysplasia, i.e, abnormal growth of cervical cells.
• Cervical cancer was once one of the most common causes of cancer death
for American women. But over the last 30 years, the cervical cancer
death rate has gone down by more than 50%. The main reason for this
change was the increased use of the Pap test.
• Rates of cervical cancer is high in developing nations, where more
than 80% of cervical cancer cases occur. In developing nations, it is
often the most common cause of cancer-related death among women and a
leading cause of death overall.
• Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, and the
second most frequent cause of cancer related death. 528,000 new cases
were diagnosed worldwide in 2012, and nearly 300,000 deaths are recorded
annually.
• In 2011:
- About 12,109 women in the United States were diagnosed with cervical
cancer. About 4,092 women in the United States died from cervical
cancer.
- About 3,064 women in the UK were diagnosed with cervical cancer, and about 972 deaths from cervical cancer was recorded.
• The highest incidence of cervical cancer is in Africa and, Latin
America and Caribbean; and the lowest incidence in Northern America and
Oceania. By 2012, Malawi had the highest rate of cervical cancer,
followed by Mozambique and Comoros.
• Cervical cancer tends to occur in midlife. Most cases are found in
women younger than 50. It rarely develops in women younger than 20. Many
older women do not realize that the risk of developing cervical cancer
is still present as they age. More than 15% of cases of cervical cancer
are found in women over 65.
• Chest X-rays, CT scan, MRI, and a PET scan may be used to determine the stage of cervical cancer.
• 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.
• Treatment options for cervical cancer include radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy.
• Cancer of the cervix requires different treatment than cancer that begins in other parts of the uterus.
• 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.
• There are two main types of cervical cancer, named after the type of
cell where the cancer started. Other types of cervical cancer are rare:
- Squamous cell carcinoma, which makes up about 80% to 90% of all cervical cancers
- Adenocarcinoma, which makes up 10% to 20% of all cervical cancers.
• Two vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix, are available to prevent HPV infection.
• The prognosis (end result) of cervical cancer depends upon the stage and type of cervical cancer and the tumor size.
NOTE: There's no need to be afraid. Cervical cancer is a very
preventable type of cancer. Going for regular medical check-up boosts
your chances of not contracting it. And for people who are already
affected, hiding yourself isn't the best for you, seek proper medical
attention today.
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