Cervical cancer , a disease formerly perceived as fatal and surrounded by secrecy, has over the past few decades become one of the most preventable. However, cervical cancer remains a major problem even now mainly in those regions of the world where routine screening and human papillomavirus vaccination are not accessible to many patients.
What is cervical cancer?
This cancer develops because of abnormal cells on the cervix growing uncontrollably. Most of these abnormal cell changes grow slowly and can be discovered easily many years before cancer develops through usual screening such as Pap tests. It has to be appreciated that the majority of adult women have some abnormal cervical cells at one stage in their lifetime although very few will progress into cancer. It is reported that the leading cause of cervical cancer are consistent HPV infections with select strains of the virus.
Cervical cancer has no visible symptoms in its initial stages and that is why regular screening of this disease is so vital for early detection. As the cancer progresses, it may cause pelvic pain, sexual intercourse discomfort increases or there is abnormal vaginal bleeding and discharge. This type of cervical cancer at early stages is usually cured by surgery, radio and chemotherapies done individually but which integral number mostly depends on several conditions.
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