Cervical Cancer Causes and Risk Factors

What is Cervical Cancer?

• Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.
• It is caused by the abnormal growth of cells in the cervix, which can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body.

Causes and Risk Factors

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection: HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer, with certain high-risk types (HPV 16 and 18) responsible for 70% of cases.
• Other risk factors:
  • Weakened immune system
  • Early sexual activity
  • Multiple sexual partners
  • Smoking
  • Family history of cervical cancer
  • Not getting regular Pap tests

Symptoms

• Early stages: often no symptoms
• Advanced stages:
  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding (e.g., bleeding after sex, between periods, or after menopause)
  • Pelvic pain or discomfort
  • Pain during sex
  • Unusual vaginal discharge
  • Heavy bleeding after a Pap test

Diagnosis

• Pap test: a screening test that collects cells from the cervix to check for abnormal cell changes
• HPV test: a test that checks for high-risk HPV types
• Colposcopy: a procedure that uses a microscope to examine the cervix
• Biopsy: a procedure that removes a sample of cervical tissue for further examination

Stages

• Stage 0: abnormal cell changes in the cervix (carcinoma in situ)
• Stage I: cancer is confined to the cervix
• Stage II: cancer has spread to the upper part of the vagina or the parametria (tissue around the cervix)
• Stage III: cancer has spread to the lower part of the vagina or the pelvic wall
• Stage IV: cancer has spread to distant organs (e.g., lungs, liver)

Treatment

• Early stages:
  • Surgery: removal of the cervix (trachelectomy) or the uterus (hysterectomy)
  • Radiation therapy
• Advanced stages:
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy
  • Combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy

Prevention

• HPV vaccination: protects against high-risk HPV types
• Regular Pap tests: screening for abnormal cell changes
• Safe sex practices: using condoms and limiting sexual partners
• Not smoking: reduces the risk of cervical cancer

What is Cervical Cancer?

• Cervical cancer occurs in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.
• It is caused by the abnormal growth of cells in the cervix, which can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body.

Causes and Risk Factors

• HPV infection is the main cause of cervical cancer, with high-risk types (HPV 16 and 18) responsible for 70% of cases.
• Weakened immune system, early sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, smoking, and family history of cervical cancer are other risk factors.
• Not getting regular Pap tests also increases the risk of cervical cancer.

Symptoms

• Early stages of cervical cancer often show no symptoms.
• In advanced stages, symptoms may include abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain or discomfort, pain during sex, unusual vaginal discharge, and heavy bleeding after a Pap test.

Diagnosis

• Pap test is a screening test that collects cells from the cervix to check for abnormal cell changes.
• HPV test checks for high-risk HPV types.
• Colposcopy examines the cervix using a microscope.
• Biopsy removes a sample of cervical tissue for further examination.

Stages

• Stage 0: abnormal cell changes in the cervix (carcinoma in situ).
• Stage I: cancer is confined to the cervix.
• Stage II: cancer has spread to the upper part of the vagina or the parametria.
• Stage III: cancer has spread to the lower part of the vagina or the pelvic wall.
• Stage IV: cancer has spread to distant organs such as lungs, liver.

Treatment

• Early stages: surgery (removal of the cervix or uterus) and radiation therapy.
• Advanced stages: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of both.

Prevention

• HPV vaccination protects against high-risk HPV types.
• Regular Pap tests screen for abnormal cell changes.
• Safe sex practices, such as using condoms and limiting sexual partners, reduce the risk of cervical cancer.
• Not smoking also reduces the risk of cervical cancer.