What do you know about cervical cancer? Can it be prevented?

prefer answers from women

Many people will say cervical cancer can be prevented, (see the New York Times page on cervical cancer, ugh) but I absolutely despise that statement. It does not give a true picture of reality.

The vasy majority of what would become cervical cancer can be caught in the precancerous stage by pap smears. Then the doctors remove part of the cervix, and this virtually eliminates the chance of getting cancer.

Yes, removing all or part of your cervix will prevent cancer. I could 100% rid myself of the chance of getting cervical cancer by having a hysterectomy. (As it was recommended to me that I do.) In fact, every woman could do that! The fact that some of us might want to have babies someday, or just generally like or uteruses and cervixes notwithstanding.

I point this out because no one says, "breast cancer is preventable" or "prostate cancer is preventable" when in reality they all could be prevented if everyone would just have their breasts and prostates removed.

Obviously, that is ridiculous. But why is that not ridiculous when it comes to saying cervical cancer is preventable? It annoys me.

I can鈥檛 believe the answers you received.
The only person who was correct and had some very legitimate points was Lily L.
To make a statement like only in married women and prostitutes get cervical cancer makes me wonder what planet they fell from.
You cannot prevent cervical cancer or any cancer for that matter. Regular pap smears can catch it early and prevent death, but the treatment is not easy.
If we knew how to prevent it we would be very close to curing it. The HPV vaccine will bring the incidence of cervical cancer down, but it will not wipe it out like the vaccine for polio did, as it is not a cancer vaccine it is a viral vaccine and it will never be recommend for all women.

Cervical cancer is a disease caused by the abnormal growth and division of cells that make up the cervix (the portion of the uterus attached to the top of the vagina). Ninety percent of the cervical cancers arise from the flattened or squamous cells covering the cervix. Most of the remaining 10% arise from the glandular, mucous-secreting cells of the cervical canal leading into the uterus.

The development of cervical cancer is gradual and begins as a pre-cancerous condition called dysplasia. In this form it is 100% treatable, usually without the need for a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus). Dysplasia, depending on its severity, can resolve without treatment, particularly in young women. However, it often progresses to actual cancer called 鈥榗arcinoma in situ鈥?(CIS) if it has not spread, or 鈥榤icroinvasive鈥?if it has spread only a few millimeters into the surrounding tissue but not into the lymph channels or blood vessels.

The risk factors for cervical cancer are:
Infection with the virus that causes genital warts (human papilloma virus or HPV) may increase the risk of developing dysplasia and subsequent cancer. Fortunately, not all women who have had HPV infection or genital warts develop cervical cancer. Other factors, such as smoking, may increase the risk of developing cervical cancer in those who have had HPV

Early age at first sexual intercourse

Multiple sexual partners or partners who have multiple partners

There is a small increased risk of abnormal Pap smears among women who take birth control pills. It is because such women are more sexually active, are less likely to use condoms, and have more frequent Pap smears in order to be prescribed the birth control pill

Women whose immune systems are weakened - such as those with HIV infection or women who have received organ transplants and are taking drugs to suppress the immune system - may be at a higher risk

Infections with genital herpes or chronic chlamydia infections, both sexually transmitted diseases, may increase risk

There are two ways to prevent cervical cancer - the first is to prevent infections with HPV, the second is to get regular Pap smears that will detect pre-cancerous conditions and HPV. Both of these can be treated and the progression to cervical cancer be arrested.

Precancers are completely curable when followed up properly. To reduce the chances of cervical cancer, girls less than 18 years of age should avoid sexual activity or always use condoms. HPV infection causes genital warts. These may be barely visible or several inches across. If a woman sees warts on her partner's genitals, she should avoid intercourse. To further reduce the risk of cervical cancer, women should limit the number of their sexual partners, avoid sexually promiscuous partners, and discontinue any tobacco use. Condoms may help prevent the transmission of HPV.

Annual pelvic examinations, including a pap smear, should begin when a woman becomes sexually active, or by the age of 20 in a non-sexually active woman. All abnormal findings should be followed up with colposcopy and biopsy.

There are several causes for cervical cancer. One of the most common causes is HPV. There are a lot of strains of the HPV virus, and a number of them can cause cervical cancer. HPV is spread via unprotected sex, and there is some question as to the complete effectiveness of condoms, as genital warts may sometimes be outside of the area the the condom covers.
There are a number of warning signs and stages along the way, so even someone with HPV can prevent full-on cervical cancer by regular pap tests. The HPV vaccine is only available for young women at this time, but will likely be expanded to be allowed for all women in the near future.

Cervical cancer is caused by human papilloma virus and is the most common cancer seen in women in India and second after breast cancer in Western Countries. Now a days there is a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer and marketed in tha name Gardasil. How and when to take Gardasil is important and you can see in detail here http://dr-healthguide.blogspot.com/2008/...

Cervical cancer certainly occurs only in married women and prostitutes. It can also be also caused by HPV (human papilloma virus), which is one of the cause of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). It can be detected earlier by means of Pap smear (yearly) in married women, or can be prevented to get HPV infection by taking HPV vaccines in early reproductive ages.

I am a 30yr old female,who has venereal warts or H.P.V. AS THE PROFESSIONALS REFER TO IT AND basically cervical cancer can be prevented.
as a woman i suggest you do pap smears once a year and 2 gyn visits after the age of 30 such as I do.
Anyways if you get hpv yes it is an s.t.d. but can be prevented by using condems but it may also be genetically link to our ancenstors and dna structure and bio claims of our past Love's.
your chances of getting cervical cancer are 89% higher if you have H.P.V(HUMAN...PAPAMOLOUSE...VIRUS GENITAL WARTS,NOT HERPES BUT IN THE ZOYSTER FAMILY.
OK IF YOU NEED MORE INFO JUST EMAIL ME AT XX1CHRISTINAXX@YAHOO.COM

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at about the age of 13 an injection against HPV is for prevention ----bleeding inconsistency with period or unusual period after inter course ---may be the signal to see a gyno for opinion