Cancer

How to prevent cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women. How can we anticipate the diagnosis? How can I prevent it?

The cause of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus of which there are more than one hundred types, although only considered of high risk are responsible for this type of cancer and for the tumors of vagina or vulva.

prevent cervical cancer

The prevention, as well as the early diagnosis, is two key tools for stand up to cervical cancer, the part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. In the case of cervical cancer, the most effective method of prevention is the regular conduct of Pap tests and human papillomavirus (HPV) to rule out or detect the presence of precancerous lesions.

Similarly, you should know what are the risk factors associated with this type of cancer in women, and among which includes, early onset of sexual intercourse, smoking, risk sex partners, unprotected sexual promiscuity or some cervicovaginal infections. According to medical data, cervix cancer is the second most common among women aged between 15 and 44 years. Each year diagnosed around 2,000 new cases.

Preventive measures

Among the preventive measures should be highlighted:

  • Vaccination against the human papillomavirus
  • Perform a PAP test regularly; and in the case of having a history of genital warts, every six months. Usually this type of cancer is detected when analyzing the anomalous results of the cytology or evaluating the symptoms that may be presented by the women
  • Avoid snuff
  • To use protection methods if relations with more than one sexual partner.

The treatment depends on the stage of the disease at the time it was diagnosed. In some cases it is sufficient to conduct reviews more frequently, while in others it may be necessary to perform a partial or total removal, accompanied in some cases chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments.