What Are The Risk Factors Of Cervical Cancer?

A Deadly Disease

There are several types of cervical cancer, the most common being squamous carcinoma, which accounts for up to 90% of this type of cancer. Cervical cancer can be a deadly disease if allowed to go untreated. An estimated 12,000 women will have been diagnosed with cervical cancer for 2007 (completed statistics are pending), with roughly a third of those cases resulting in death.

Who's at Risk?

Cervical cancer most often strikes women between the ages of 35-55, but it is possible for the disease to be contracted earlier or later in life. Since 1955 and the introduction of the Pap Test or Pap Smear, the cancer has dramatically declined, as much as 74%. The screening is therefore recommended even after menopause to ensure an early diagnosis; prognosis for later stages of the disease is not as hopeful.

What are the risk factors for Cervical Cancer?

• HPV (Human Papillomavirus infection). The general consensus of the medical community is that this infection (sexually contracted) must be present in order to develop cervical cancer. It is not always true, however, that simply because you have HPV you will get cervical cancer. Contrarily, most women do not; there must be other risk factors that contribute to developing cervical cancer (see below). Furthermore, there are many types of HPV, but only high risk strains are associated with cervical cancer.

• Smoking. Smoking causes a plethora of cancers, and cervical cancer is one of them. Smoking raises the odds of developing this cancer two or three times. Lungs absorb the tobacco and nicotine toxins, and distribute them throughout the body. More organs and tissues are affected than just the lungs.

• HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). This is what causes AIDS; it weakens the immune system, and makes it more likely to contract HPV, and ultimately, develop cervical cancer. The cancer can also spread or grow more quickly, because the body's defenses are now working overtime to combat illness.

• More than one pregnancy. The cause is unknown, but it has been shown that having more than one full-term pregnancy can elevate the chances of getting cervical cancer. The answer may be more exposure to HPV, or more hormonal fluctuations leading to vulnerability to HPV or cancer.

• Birth control pills. A link has been made between use of oral contraceptives for more than five years and cervical cancer. Once the time duration reached ten years, the risk multiplied by four. Ironically, birth control pills have been linked to a decrease in some kinds of ovarian cancers.

• Chlamydia. This is a sexually transmitted bacteria that affects the reproductive system, and is sometimes associated with cervical cancer. Symptoms may not be present, and the infection not diagnosed unless through a Pap test. If not treated, Chlamydia can have other repercussions like infertility.

Cervical cancer can be treated, with better outcomes resulting from an early diagnosis. Ask your doctor for more information about this serious disease.

Sources:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_is_cervical_cancer_8.asp

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/cervical/HealthProfessional/page2

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