By Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P]
The American Cancer Society predicts that, by the end of this year, about 14,480 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed, while 4,290 women will die from it in the United States.
Despite the fact that the mortality rate of cervical cancer decreased significantly thanks to the Papanicolaou test, since in the past this condition was one of the most frequent causes of death.
In recent years, the test of the HPV ?human papillomavirus? has been approved as a screening tool for cervical cancer because almost all cases are due to this virus.
HPV testing looks for infection with the high-risk viruses most likely to develop into cervical precancer and cervical cancer. The HPV test can be done alone - the primary HPV test - or at the same time as the cervical cancer test. Pap smear ?joint test.
Cervical cancer is most commonly diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 44, but the average age at diagnosis is 50. It rarely develops in women younger than 20.
Many older women are unaware that the risk of cervical cancer still exists as they age, with more than 20 percent of cervical cancer cases detected among those over 65.
It should be noted that these cancers rarely occur in women who have been getting regular cervical cancer screening before age 65.
In the United States, Hispanic women are more likely to get cervical cancer, followed by African American women, Native American women, Alaskan women, and Caucasian women.
On the other hand, Asian and Pacific Islander women are at the lowest risk in this country.
Types of Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer can grow from the surface seen in the vagina, called the ectocervix, or from the canal leading from the vagina to the uterus, called the endocervix. There are two main types of cervical cancer that are named for the type of cell where the cancer started: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.
Squamous cell carcinoma makes up about 80 to 90 percent of all cervical cancers.
Dr. Antonio Nateras, associate medical director of Oncology at MSD Pharmaceuticals. Antonio Nateras, associate medical director of Oncology at MSD Pharmaceuticals, points out that generally cervical cancer does not produce signs or symptoms in early stages, these begin until the cancer enlarges and grows in nearby tissues. When this happens, the most common symptoms are:
- Spotting or light bleeding between or after periods
- Menstrual bleeding that is longer and heavier than usual.
- Bleeding after sex or douching.
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Pain during sexual intercourse.
- Bleeding after menopause.
- Pelvic pain
Most cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus, a common virus that can be passed from one person to another during sex. However, there are other factors that can increase the risk of developing cervical cancer:
- Sexual history: Early onset, multiple partners, partners who have HPV infection or who have multiple sexual partners.
- Smoking
- Weakened immune system
- Chlamydia infection
- Long-term use of oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
- Having many full-term pregnancies
- Early age at first pregnancy
- A diet low in fruits and vegetables
The most common types of treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, therapy, and immunotherapy.
In San Mateo County, nearly 5 out of every 100,000 women have experienced it, the vast majority of them in the Latino community.
Learn how much you know about cervical cancer through this test issued by the CDC by clicking here. here.
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