Woman at risk : Cervical Cancer

As a woman , we must be aware of this and must be well informed about this disease before its too late... I agree with " Prevention is better than cure"

What is Cervical cancer?

Cancer of the cervix or cervical cancer begins in the lining of the cervix. Cervix is the lower part of the womb ( uterus). It connects the body of the uterus to the vagina or the birth canal. This most common form of cancer of the female sex organ does not from suddenly, but if it's not detected and treated as early as possible it will attack the tissues of the organ. It will lead to loss of appetite, weight loss, of course being weak and worst is death.

Factors of high risk on Cervical cancer

1. Early history of sexual contact ( below 18)
2. Had a first normal delivery at age of 16 or earlier
3. Engage or having sex with different partners
4. History of having Human Palillomavirus (HVP) infection
5. Women from low socio-economic status
6. Woman who have no opportunities for screening (Pop smear)
7. Exposure before birth to the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES), smoking, and immunodeficiency.

The most common symptom of cancer of the cervix is abnormal bleeding. Cancer of the cervix can be diagnosed using a Pap test or other procedures that sample the cervix tissue. Cancer of the cervix requires different treatment than cancer that begins in other parts of the uterus.

Case incidence of the cervical cancer ranges between the ages 35-39 and 60-64 with an average age at 52.2 years. Cervical cancer is preventable because it has a long pre-invasive state. Treatment of the pre-invasive lesion is effective beacuse cytology screening by Pap smear is available.

What is Pap Smear?

A Pap smear or Papnicolaou smear, is a cytology examination used primarily fro prevention or early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix. Its is safe noninvasive, cost effective medical procedure. Its is composed of a cellular material obtained from uterine cervix and is place on a slide. The cells are then specially preserved and sent to a cytopathology laboratory for evaluation.

A gynecologist advises that once a woman or a girl becomes sexually active, Pap smear should be taken yearly. For a woman, without sexual activity, a baseline or initial Pap smear should be done beginning age 35, yearly, then three consecutive yearly smear and the results are normal it can be done every two years, same with the menopausal woman and those whose uterus have been removed (post hysterectomy).

Advises for best result and optimum result of Pap smear:

1. Do not douche 48 hours before the Pap smear
2. Do not use vaginal cream week before the Pap smear
3. Abstain from coitus 24 hours prior to Pap smear
4. There must be no vaginal bleeding, menses, or discharges from other sources.
5. There must be no copious vaginal discharge.

When visible lesions on the cervix are suspicious of malignancy or cancer, definitive diagnosis will be done by cervical biopsy.