Healthcare

Cervical cancer is not an unfamiliar name, especially for women.
This is one of the most frightening disease for women.

Here are important facts about cervical cancer that we should know.

A. About Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is a cancer that occurs in cervical area. That is the area in female reproductive organ which is the entrance to the uterus.
Its location between the uterus and vagina.

This cancer, almost 100% caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) oncogenic which attacks the cervix.

Starting in the cervix, when it has advanced stages, this cancer can spread to other organs throughout the body.

B. How dangerous cervical cancer?

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that currently, cervical cancer is ranked top among various types of cancer that causes death in women in the world.

According to WHO, Indonesia is a country with the highest number of patients with cervical cancer in the world. More than 15,000 cases of cervical cancer every year, and 8,000 cases end in death.

Why be so dangerous?
This is because cervical cancer appears as enemies in a blanket. It is very difficult in the detection until the disease has reached an advanced stages.

C. What is the real cause of cervical cancer?

First, cervical cancer caused by HPV infection. This virus has more than 100 types, where most of them are harmless and will disappear by itself.

Types of HPV that cause cervical cancer and the most fatal consequence are HPV types 16 and 18.

Second, while it caused by HPV infection, an abnormal growth of cells in cervix can also caused by long term effect of radiation or chemical exposures.

D. How is cervical cancer transmitted?

HPV infection can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, especially with multiple partners.
In addition, the infection can also transmitted through oral to genital, or even manual to genital organs.
Therefore, the use of condom during intercourse is not significantly prevent the transmission due to it’s infection not only transmitted through liquid, but also can be transmitted trough skin contact.

E. Symptoms of cervical cancer

In the early stage, the symptoms of this disease doesn’t easily observed. That’s why, those who already have sex is recommended to perform a pap smear test every two years.
Physical symptoms of this disease are generally felt only by people with advanced stage.

Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer.

- Emergence of pain and bleeding during intercourse.
- Excessive and/or abnormal vaginal discharge.
- Bleeding not related to menstrual cycled.
- Drastic weight loss.
- When the cancer has spread to the pelvis, the patient will suffer from back pain complaints.
- Also barriers in urination, and kidney enlargement.

F. How long the period of growth of cervical cancer?

Pre-invasive period (the growth of abnormal cells before become malignant) of this disease is quite long, so people who succeed in early detection can perform various steps to overcome this disease.

Persistent infection will lead to abnormal cell growth that could eventually lead to cancer development.
This development takes between 5-20 years, starting from the stage of infection, pre-cancerous lesion until positive cervical cancer.

G. Is it true that smokers at risk of cervical cancer?

There are many studies suggested the relationship between cigarette smoking with increased risk of cervical cancer.
One of those research was conducted at the Karonlinska Institute in Sweden, and published in the British Journal of Cancer in 2001.

According to the lead of study authors, Joakam Dillner, MD., nicotine substance as well as other ‘poison’ that entry to the blood through cigarette smoke can increase the likelihood of the condition of cervical neoplasia or abnormal cells growth in uterus.
Cervical neoplasi is an initial condition of the development of cervival cancer in the body.

H. Beside of smokers, who else at risk?

Women who are prone to cervical cancer are those aged between 35-50 years, especially for those who have active in sexual intercourse before age 16 years.
Sexual intercourse at early age can increase the risk of cervical cancer by 2 times compared to women who had sexual intercourse after age 20.

Cervical cancer also associated with number of sexual partner. The more partner you have, more higher the risk.
In addition, the number of experienced pregnancies also at increase risk of cervical cancer.

Those infected with HIV virus and who otherwise have an abnormal pap smear test results, as well as malnutrition are also at risk for infection with HPV virus.
For you are on a strict diet, low consumption of vitamin A, C, and E each day can lead to reduced levels of immunity, so you can easily become infected.

I. How to detect it?

Pap smear is a standard examination for detecting cervical cancer. However, pap smear is not the only way you can do to detect this disease, there is also other type of inspection using acetic acid (vinegar).

Also there is latest examination techniques for early detection of cervical cancer called Hybrid Capture System II (HCII).

J. How to prevent cervical cancer?

Although ranked highest among various types of cancer that causes death, cervical cancer is the only cancer that have been known for the cause. Therefore, the efforts to prevent this disease is very possible, such as:

- Not having sex with multiple partner.
- Diligently perform pap smears every two years for those who already active in sex.
- Taking HPV vaccination for those who have never done a sexual contact.
- Maintain good health.

K. How important is the use of HPV vaccination?

In mid-2006 have been circulated vaccine to protect HPV infection type 16 and 18.
This vaccine works by increasing body immune system and catch the virus before it enter the cells of cervix.

While fortify from cervical cancer, the vaccine also working to protect women from the threat of HPV types 6 and 11 that cause genital warts.
What should be emphasized is that this vaccination was only effective when given to girls aged 9 to 26 years who have not been sexually active.
The vaccine is give as much as 3 times within certain timeframe.

L. Are there any side effects from this vaccination?

This vaccine has been tested on thousands of women worldwide. The results showed no harmful side effects. The most common side effects are fever, redness, pain, and swelling at the injection site.

Other side effect that frequently encountered are bleeding and itching at injection site. The vaccine itself is not recommended for pregnant women. However, for nursing mothers looks fine.

M. Can cervical cancer be cured?

Since there no complain regarding to the symptoms, cervical cancer patients usually come to the hospital when the disease has reached stage 3.
The stage of 2 to 4 of cervical cancer have damaged some organs in the body, such as bladder, kidney, and some others.

Therefore, surgical removal of uterus alone is not enough to make sufferers recovery as usual.

Besides of surgery, patients still have to obtain additional therapy, such as radiation and chemotherapy. However, those treatment can’t guarantee the patient’s recovery.