Cervical cancer, also known as cervical cancer, is a malignant disease that affects uterine cells and is usually associated with infection with human papillomavirus, HPV, type 6, 11, 16, or 18, which is sexually transmitted and promotes changes in cell DNA, promoting the development of cancer.
This type of cancer is most common in women between the age of 40 and 60, and its onset may be influenced by factors such as multiple sexual partners, sexually transmitted infections, prolonged contraceptive use and nutritional deficiencies, for example.
- It is important that treatment for cervical cancer begins as soon as it is diagnosed.
- As this can prevent complications and be cured.
Cervical cancer is generally related to an HPV infection, but not all women who come into contact with this virus will develop cancer because in some cases the virus can be cleared after treatment recommended by the gynecologist.
However, certain types of HPV, particularly types 6, 11, 16 and 18, are able to resist the indicated treatment and cause changes in uterine tissue cells, promoting the development of cervical cancer. In addition to HPV infection, other factors may contribute to the development of HPV infection, such as:
In addition, it is important to remember that adenocarcinoma, endometriosis, family history, and smoking and excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages also increase the risk of developing cervical cancer.
HPV infection can have spontaneous remission and, in this case, it does not present symptoms, however, in some cases it can cause lesions with a high risk of becoming malignant. As the disease progresses, the main symptoms of cancer are vaginal bleeding, pelvic discharge, pain. Learn to identify the symptoms of cervical cancer.
The main way to prevent cervical cancer is to avoid HPV infection or to identify and treat the disease at an early stage, and the initial diagnosis is possible by performing a preventive exam, the Pap test. The progression of HPV is slow and it can take between 15 and 20 years for the virus to cause cancer, so follow-up with the gynecologist and the appropriate treatment of the disease are effective in preventing complications and preventing cancer. Learn how to treat HPV.
So you should go to the gynecologist for a Pap test at least once a year, as well as get the HPV vaccine. Quitting smoking, always using a condom in intimate relationships, and having good intimate hygiene are also measures that help prevent this type of cancer. Having healthy lifestyle habits and exercising regularly also helps protect against cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer can be classified as
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In addition to knowing the type of cervical cancer a person has, it’s also important to know if there are lymph nodes and metastasis affected or not, as this determines the type of treatment the person is treated with. . Find out how cervical cancer treatment works.