PharmEasy Blog

Vaccination: A Key Weapon In The Fight Against Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally, with an estimated 6,04,000 new cases and 3,42,000 deaths in 2020. About 90% of the new cases and deaths worldwide in 2020 occurred in low- and middle-income countriesWorld Health Organisation. Fortunately, we do have measures like vaccines and early diagnosis of precancerous lesions available to prevent Cervical Cancers.  What is Cervical Cancer?Cervical cancer is cancer that affects the cervix in women. The cervix is the narrow, lower end of the uterus. The cervix connects the vagina to the upper part of the uterus. The womb or the uterus is where a baby grows when a woman is pregnant. These are the body parts that suffer the most because of Cervical cancer symptoms.  The CauseThe human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main root of causing this cancer in women. HPV is a common virus that is transferred from one person to another during sexual intercourse. According to medical studies, at least half of sexually active people will have HPV at some point in their lives, but among them, only a few women will get cervical cancer.All sexually active women are at risk of suffering from it. It usually occurs most often in women over the age of 30.   In addition to having HPV, these factors can also contribute to cervical cancer in women: The SymptomsSymptoms of cervical cancer don’t usually become apparent unless it has reached an advanced stage. Symptoms might also be confused as indications of other problems like yeast infection or a urinary tract infection.Here is the list of Cervical cancer symptoms: Measures for prevention of Cervical Cancer-
  1. HPV Vaccine- Talk to your doctor about HPV vaccination. WHO recommends vaccination for girls aged 9-14 years, i.e. before a girl becomes sexually active, to prevent HPV infections. A female can receive HPV vaccination even at a later age. 
  2. Screening- HPV infections are very common in sexually active females. It takes around 15-20 years for a chronic HPV infection to develop into cancer in an otherwise healthy female. Screening for HPV is a very easy process that one can follow to rule out any risk of HPV infection and cervical cancer. It can be done by PAP smear test or by other tests for HPV infection.
Screening is recommended from 30 years of age, irrespective of the vaccination status of the female.
  1. Diagnosis- Diagnostic tests can help identify a precancerous lesion or cancer at an early stage. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment increase the chances of a cure.
The first one is through a Pap test (or Pap smear), which looks for precancerous cell changes on the cervix that can be treated. The Pap test can find cervical cancer early, which is when the treatment is most effective. The Pap test is recommended for women who have sexual intercourse and are aged between 30 -65 years old.The HPV test looks for HPV, the virus that can cause cervical cancer and precancerous cell changes.Biopsy and other imaging tests like PET scan or MRI may be advised if deemed necessary by a doctor.As with all diseases, prevention is better than cure. But not all cancers are preventable, Share this information with more people to spread awareness about preventing cervical cancers. In a nutshell, some ways to avoid cervical cancer are to get the HPV vaccine, have protected sex, get regular PAP tests and quit smoking.Also Read: Does Urinating After Sexual Intercourse Prevent Pregnancy: Dispelling Sexual Health Myths Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
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Know The Symptoms & Treatment Of Breast Cancer

Cancer develops when the body cells behave in an unrestrained way. According to some well-proven facts, Breast cancer develops in the ducts or lobules of the breast. It may be present as a lump, but this is not mandatory, so there are other breast changes that should be kept in mind and investigated. Breast cancer develops in either the ducts or the lobules. Lobules are the site where the milk is produced and ducts are the passage through which milk travels to the nipple. Cancer cells develop when the cell lining of the ducts or lobules becomes abnormal in size and shape and start multiplying in an uncontrolled way.Doctors classify breast cancer primarily according to: Doctors also refer to  recurrent breast cancer, which means cancer that reappears after treatment.CausesFamily history of breast and other cancersMany facts suggest that a family history of breast cancer means that one or more close blood relatives have or had breast cancer. Some families have more cases of breast cancer than expected by chance. Sometimes it is not clear whether the family’s pattern of cancer is due to chance, shared lifestyle factors, genes passed from parents to children or a combination of all these factors.Peutz-Jeghers syndromePeople with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome may have a mutation of the STK11 (also known as LKB1) gene. This gene appears to normally function as a tumour suppressor gene. This disorder increases the risk of developing gastrointestinal, breast, ovarian and testicular cancers.Early menarcheThe start of menstruation is called menarche. Early menarche is when menstruation starts at an early age (11 or younger). Signs including irregular early periods mean that the cells are exposed to estrogen and other hormones for a greater amount of time. This increases the risk of breast cancer.Oral contraceptivesOral contraceptives that contain both estrogen and progesterone can slightly increase the risk of breast cancer, especially among women who have used oral contraceptives for 10 or more years. The increased risk disappears after the woman stops taking oral contraceptives. However, current and recent (less than 10 years since last use) users have a slightly increased risk compared to those who have never used oral contraceptives.AlcoholDrinking alcohol increases a woman’s risk for breast cancer. Even low levels of alcohol consumption (just 1 drink per day) can increase a woman’s risk. The risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed.One possible reason for this is that alcohol is thought to cause higher levels of estrogen. Alcohol may also lower levels of some essential nutrients that protect against cell damage, such as folate (a type of vitamin B ), vitamin A and vitamin C.Smoking and second-hand smokeResearch shows that there may be a link between smoking and second-hand smoke and breast cancer. Recent studies have shown that active smoking is related to breast cancer in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. There is also a link between second-hand smoke and breast cancer, particularly in younger, mainly premenopausal women who have never smoked. There is not enough evidence to show a link between second-hand smoke and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women.A lot of research is needed to determine the impact of active smoking and second-hand smoke on the rate of new cases of breast cancer, death rates and the relationship between genetics and the risk of smoking.Birth weightSome pieces of evidence and facts suggest that greater birth weight may increase the risk of premenopausal breast cancer. A greater birth weight means the foetus is exposed to more maternal estrogen, which may increase the risk of developing breast cancer later in life.Symptoms TreatmentAfter diagnosis and determination of the stage of cancer you’re at, the doctor might recommend one or more of these treatments; Surgery, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy or Bisphosphonates to help aid primary breast cancer. Other important facts are about the side effects after treatment that usually include hot flushes, fatigue, pain etc.Also Read: What is the Cause of Nipple Pain? Understanding and Managing DiscomfortDisclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
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