2. Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is one
of the most common
neoplastic diseases
affecting women, with
a combined
worldwide incidence
of almost half a
million new cases
annually, second only
to breast cancer.
3. What Is Cervical Cancer?
• Cancer starts when cells in the body
begin to grow out of control. Cells in
nearly any part of the body can become
cancer, and can spread to other areas of
the body.
• Cervical cancer starts in the cells lining
the cervix -- the lower part of the uterus
(womb). This is sometimes called the
uterine cervix. The fetus grows in the
body of the uterus (the upper part). The
cervix connects the body of the uterus to
the vagina (birth canal)
4. The cervix has two different parts and is covered with two different types of cells:
• The part of the cervix closest to the body of the uterus is called the endocervix and is
covered with glandular cells.
• The part next to the vagina is the exocervix (or ectocervix) and is covered in squamous
cells.
These two cell types meet at a place called the transformation zone.
5. What Are the Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer?
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
is the most important risk factor for cervical cancer.
HPV is a group of more than 150 related viruses.
Certain types of HPV may cause warts on or around
the female and male genital organs and in the anal
area. These are called low-risk types of HPV because
they are seldom linked to cancer.
Other types of HPV are called high-risk types because
they are strongly linked to cancers, including cancer of
the cervix, vulva, and vagina in women, penile cancer
in men, and cancers of the anus, mouth, and throat in
both men and women.
6. What Are the Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer?
• Smoking
Women who smoke are about twice as
likely as non-smokers to get cervical
cancer. Tobacco by-products have been
found in the cervical mucus of women
who smoke. Researchers believe that
these substances damage the DNA of
cervix cells and may contribute to the
development of cervical cancer.
7. Having a weakened immune
system
• The immune system is important
in destroying cancer cells and
slowing their growth and spread.
In women with HIV, a cervical
pre-cancer might develop into an
invasive cancer faster than it
normally would.
Chlamydia infection
• Chlamydia is a relatively common
kind of bacteria that can infect
the reproductive system. It is
spread by sexual contact.
• Some studies have seen a higher
risk of cervical cancer in women
8. Having multiple full-term
pregnancies
• Women who have had 3 or more
full-term pregnancies have an
increased risk of developing
cervical cancer
Being younger than 17 at your
first full-term pregnancy
• Women who were younger than
17 years when they had their first
full-term pregnancy are almost 2
times more likely to get cervical
cancer
9. Can Cervical Cancer Be Prevented?
• Finding cervical pre-cancers
A well-proven way to prevent cervical
cancer is to have testing (screening).
Screening can find conditions that may
lead to pre-cancers and can find pre-
cancers before they can turn into invasive
cancer. The Pap test (or Pap smear) and
the human papillomavirus (HPV) test are
specific tests used during screenings for
cervical cancer. If a pre-cancer is found it
can be treated, stopping cervical cancer
before it really starts.
10. • The Pap test or smear is a
procedure used to collect cells
from the cervix so that they can
be looked at under a microscope
to find cancer and pre-cancers.
It's important to know that most
invasive cervical cancers are
found in women who have not
had regular Pap tests.
11. Things to do to prevent pre-cancers
Based on your age, overall health, and personal risk for cervical cancer, here
are some things that may prevent pre-cancers and conditions that lead to
pre-cancers.
1. Get an HPV vaccine: help prevent infection by HPV-16 and HPV-18.
These 2 types cause about 70% of all cervical cancers and pre-cancers.
2. Get screening tests, including the Pap test and HPV test
3. Do not smoke
4. Limit sex partners
5. Use a condom
