As we commence 2022 with fresh beginnings, our attention should be directed towards significant matters like women’s health. As January marks Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, it is important that you remain aware of it.
Cervical cancer is the cancer of the womb. Cervix is a narrow part of your lower uterus and is generally called the neck of the womb. The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the cause of cervical cancer and can cause significant damage to women’s health. To prevent HPV, women are recommended to get an HPV vaccine in the women’s health clinic in Memphis. The HPV vaccine is recommended for all biological women between the ages of 9 and 26 years. Here is a comprehensive guide on cervical cancer to help improve women’s health and keep an eye on the symptoms and signs in the early stages:
Early signs and symptoms of cervical cancer
One of the most common symptoms of cervical cancer is pelvic pain.
During the early stages, you may not experience any symptoms at all. Hence doctors and experts recommend getting regular pap tests or cervical smear tests to protect the women’s health clinic in Memphis.
The Pap test is quite preventive. The test focuses on not detecting cancer but it reveals any changes taking place in your cells. It can also suggest the potential development of cancer cells so this test can be taken regularly to keep an eye on the women’s health.
The most typical symptoms of the early stages of cervical cancer are:
- bleeding right after sexual intercourse
- bleeding between periods
- bleeding in post-menopausal women
- vaginal discharge accompanied by a strong odor
- discomfort during sexual intercourse
- pelvic pain
- vaginal discharge that is tinged with blood
Even though these symptoms could be due to other causes, and even infection, you need to visit a doctor if you experience these.
How does cancer develop?
Cancer is generally developed due to the abnormal growth and uncontrolled division of cells. Many of your body’s cells have a proper lifespan, and, once they die, your body starts to generate new cells in order to replace them.
If the cells are abnormal, you may face two issues:
- The cells do not die
- The cells continue to divide
This growth results in an extreme accumulation of cells that ultimately forms a tumor or a lump and can pose significant harm to the women’s health. There is still ongoing research on why and how these cells turn cancerous.
Risk factors of cervical cancer
There are many risk factors that can raise the risk of someone acquiring cervical cancer. These generally include:
- HPV: HPV is also a virus that can be transmitted sexually. There are more than a staggering 100 additional kinds of HPV that can occur, and at least up to 13 of these can result in cervical cancer.
- If you become sexually active at an early age or if you have multiple sexual partners: The HPV kinds that cause cancer generally always are an outcome of sexual intercourse with a person with HPV. Women that have been with many sexual partners typically are at a higher risk. This raises their risk of acquiring cervical cancer.
- If you are a smoker: Smoking can raise the risk of getting cervical cancer, among other kinds of cancer.
- A weak immune system: Due to a weak immune system, people are at a higher risk of getting cervical cancer, among AIDS and HIV. Also, the people who have had a transplant, right up to using immunosuppressive medications can increase the risk.
- Birth control pills: If you have been using some specific contraceptive pills for a long time, it may raise your risk.
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STD): Sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, can raise the risk of acquiring cervical cancer.
- Socio-economic position: Studies show that women at a lower socioeconomic position are at more risk of cervical cancer.
The treatment of early-stage cancer
Surgery is a standard treatment technique once cancer has not started to spread to other parts of the body from the cervix. Radiation therapy might benefit after surgery once a doctor thinks that you may have cancer cells in your body. Radiation therapy can even significantly diminish the risk of cancer coming back or recurrence.
Once the surgeon thinks that shrinking the tumor present in the body can make the operation much easier, the person can receive chemotherapy even though this may not be a very familiar approach.
Prevention of cervical cancer
There are many measures, from regular tests to lifestyle changes, that could help you in reducing the chances of getting cervical cancer:
Safe sex can prevent cervical cancer
Getting the HPV vaccine can only protect women’s health against just two HPV strains. Various strains could cause cervical cancer. When you use a condom while having sex, it can go a long way in protecting you against HPV infection.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine can protect you
The association between certain kinds of HPV and the evolution of cervical cancer is quite clear. If all women get the HPV vaccine, it could protect them against cervical cancer.
Get regular cervical screening
Routine cervical screening may help a person in identifying and dealing with signs and symptoms of cancer even before the condition even starts to develop or spread. Regular screenings do not detect the development of cancer but indicate modifications in the cervical cells.
Maintaining fewer sexual partners
Studies show that if a woman has more sexual partners, they are at a higher risk of getting the HPV virus. This could lead to a considerably higher risk of acquiring cervical cancer.
Becoming sexually active at a later age
Studies show that if a woman becomes sexually active at an early age, she may be at a higher risk of cervical cancer.
Conclusion
Cervical cancer is a life-threatening condition that can impose considerable danger to women’s health. One of the most common ways to prevent cervical cancer is by getting the HPV vaccine in a women’s health clinic in Memphis. However, it is quite important to get regular tests and checkups to ensure that even if you suffer from cervical cancer, it is diagnosed at an early stage.