Cervical cancer is a malignant growth of the cervix uteri or surrounding cervical area. Symptoms are often not visible until the cancer is very advanced although some cases will present with vaginal bleeding or an odorous vaginal discharge. Due to the lack of clear symptoms women aged between 25 and 49 are invited for a smear test every 3 years.
Diagnosis
The smear test involves taking a sample of cervical cells which are then tested for abnormalities. If abnormalities are found this is not necessarily indicative of cancer. If an abnormal smear is taken, the person will then visit a gynecologist for a colostomy which involves an internal vaginal examination. This can sometimes involve a biopsy which is where a sample of tissue is removed to examine under a microscope.
HPV
Cancer involves a change in the DNA so that cell replication and growth becomes unregulated. Causes of this are widespread and include Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), smoking, numbers of children and more. HPV is the biggest cause of cervical cancer with over 99% of cases being associated with an infection. HPV can lie dormant in mucous membranes of the body and eventually leads to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia which is the stage before cancer. HPV does not always cause cancer but it is a significant risk factor. HPV is spread through sexual intercourse and so women with multiple partners are most at risk.
HPV Vaccine
Since September 2008 there has been a recent move to vaccinate girls aged 12-13 against two of the strains of HPV which are those thought to be involved in causing cancer. It involves three injections over a 6 month period given routinely in schools.
There has been some controversy over the new program. As with any vaccination there are also some possible side effects. Most of these are very mild and might include some mild flu like symptoms or swelling. However, there is also a very small chance that the vaccination could incur a more severe allergic reaction leading to anaphylactic shock. Particular to this vaccine there has been some worry that by giving a vaccine against a virus that is sexually transmitted it could encourage sexual promiscuity or apathy against sexually transmitted diseases. Some argue that the cost of the vaccination programme is not justifiable when infection could be prevented by safe sex practices.
A girl recently died suddenly after receiving the vaccination in a school in Coventry. As of yet there has been no confirmed link between the vaccine and her death but vaccination programs have been terminated until a result can be determined. Since the start of the programme 1.8 million girls have been given the vaccine and no other deaths have been reported. Other girls given the vaccine in the same school also reported side effects but none needed admitting to hospital. This has newly awakened the debate over the vaccine and whether it should really be given at all.
TJC Global
At TJC Global, our experienced linguists can offer translation services for documents, research, histories and records and interpreting for conferences, clinical meetings, consultations, symposiums and other settings to ensure that language is not a barrier.
In moves that medical insurance companies countrywide will appreciate, the UK government are at long last, seeing the benefit and cost effectiveness of preventative medicine as opposed to trying to treat a problem after it has been developed.
The Human Papilloma Virus is something that many people carry that can cause things as minor as genital warts. It is easily picked up and is responsible for seven out of ten cases of cervical cancer. Thanks to modern technology, cervical cancer screening has been developed and treatments are relatively straight forward and, in the main, successful.
However, there are still four hundred deaths a year from cervical cancer that has not been picked up early enough. Medical insurance companies pay for the treatment of some of these cases yet even with the advanced health care this can bring, women are still dying from the disease. Women are dying from a preventable disease which really is unacceptable.
The UK government have now decided to put the necessary funds into a vaccine that is ready for nationwide distribution. This will prevent women from contracting the HPV in the first place and will save so many lives every year. It is to be made available as a routine vaccination at the age of twelve, expecting to cost the government 100 pounds million with a further 200 pounds million while they phase in treatment to make sure that girls up to the age of 18 are also covered.
It will be some time before the effects of the programme, sue to begin in September 2008, are seen and in the meantime health care professionals are urging women of all ages to continue with their routine screening processes. Routine cervical smears prevent 84 out of every 100 possible cervical cancer cases by detecting and allowing for treatment while the cell changes are still in the early stages.
When it comes to cancer of any type, this is one of the biggest costs to medical insurance companies and it takes the biggest toll on human life in the UK along with heart disease. However, breakthroughs are constantly being made and nature is one of our biggest sources of medicines. The Magnolia tree is the latest discovery in the prevention of cancer.
The cone of the Magnolia has been found to contain properties that block key processes in cells that are turning cancerous. However, once again, the Chinese go there first. They have been using this substance for years in their herbal medicines because it blocks on of the communication pathways that allows tumours to survive and grow.
The body has a natural process of killing off rogue cells but some cancers can tune into the pathway of an enzyme called Phospholipase D which enables the cancer cells to survive the body's self destruct mechanism. Turning off this ability will prevent the cancer cells from growing and multiplying.
Cancers that use this particular pathway account for a third of human cancers and research has found that the effective ingredient, Honokiol, is extremely potent in breast cancers. This is a massive breakthrough on the route to finding a cancer cure. To start with, the treatment will be used in conjunction with traditional chemotherapy and should make it more effective and hopefully, at some point in the future, less invasive and more natural methods of treating cancer will be a first choice.
About the Author:
Health care expert Catherine Harvey looks at how government initiatives are going a long way to help reduce the costs to medical insurance premiums.
The HPV virus info is plain. An estimated 80% occurrence of anal cancer is associated with those who have HPV. Other links of HPV with cancer are those of tongue and tonsil cancer, and non-melanoma skin cancers in those persons who have compromised immune systems. 200,000 infants and children are diagnosed with papillomatosis which is a respiratory infection linked to HPV types 6 and 11.
But the most devastating statistic is that HPV causes 100% of all the cervical cancers. HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33 and 35 are associated with cervical cancer. These high-risk viruses and are also linked to bladder, anus, and vulva cancer. 200,000 infants and children are diagnosed with papillomatosis, a respiratory infection linked with HPV types 6 and 11.
Although it is harder to diagnose the HPV virus in men as it is in females, males can also have HPV associated cancers as commonly as those found in women. Men contract the virus during sexual contact with an infected woman's vagina or anal area. Certain HPV viruses are known to have caused anal or penile cancers in men, although penile cancer is rare. Anal cancer rates connected with the HPV virus, as previously stated, are not rare at all.
Cervical dysplasia, while not cervical cancer, can indicate it's predecessor condition. Dysplasia most frequently goes through a regression over time, but can progress to invasive cervical cancer. Precisely why it regresses or progresses is unknown at this time. What is known is that women between the ages of 25 and 34 often have the regression, while women age fifty and older will progress to the invasive cancer of the cervix.
Prognosis for invasive cervical cancer depends on the disease's extent at time of diagnosis. Death rates for cervical cancer are high due; roughly 1/3 of women do not go for regular yearly Pap smears. Ignorance is no excuse to this virus.
Regular yearly Pap smears give women a better chance of diagnosing cervical cancer early enough to have a healthy outcome. Statistics tell us that up to 90% of cervical cancer deaths could have been avoided if earlier detection during Pap smears had occurred.
Genital Warts are most common sexually transmitted infection. The infection is also called condyloma acuminata or venereal warts. The condition can be prevented only by using barrier contraception while having intercourse. If you doubt you are suffering from genital warts or have had a sexual relationship with someone who has been recently diagnosed with genital warts, the following information might help you.
Genital warts are caused by a virus called the Human Papilloma Virus. This is an extremely contagious virus and is transmitted by sexual contact of any nature. The condition usually manifests as warts or bumps. The virus favors the moist genital tissue. It infects the topmost layers of the genital region. The infection causes the cells there to proliferate abnormally causing warts to form.
As mentioned above, genital warts are usually seen in and around the genital area. In men it is common to find them on the tip and the shaft of the penis. The warts may also spread to the scrotum and the anus. In women, the warts are usually seen on the external genitalia also called the vulva, the vagina and in the area between the between the vulva and vagina. The warts may also appear in the mouth and throat of persons who have engaged in oral sexual contact with an infected person.
The warts are flesh or grey in color. They may be single. in some cases genital warts look like cauliflower shaped masses. The size of the warts is around one millimeter. Occasionally the warts may be very big in size. The warts are seen as flesh colored lumps. In some cases they may have a bump like appearance and may also be colored gray. The warts are also associated with irritation or itching in the genital area. You might also bleed while having intercourse. this is because of the erosion of the wart tissue. In some cases the warts may even be asymptomatic. if you are infected and have become pregnant, latent infection may flare up due to pregnancy. Pregnancy also tends to worsen an infection that is already existing.
Genital warts look like bumps in some cases. This does not mean you ignore them. the Human Papilloma Virus has shown to be a cause of cancer. This is especially true for women, where the virus has shown an association with cervical cancer. if you are pregnant and due for delivery, it is very important to seek treatment. The genital warts look harmless, but may transmit infection to your baby during her or his passage through the birth canal. This can have serious complications in the long run.
If you do not know what genital warts look like, you might still want to go to a qualified medical practitioner if your partner has been diagnosed with the infection. Always use protection when you are having intercourse with a person whose sexual history you don't know. You might not know the person's history of sexual disease, in this case it is very important to use precautions. You can also ask your health care provider for information on what genital warts look like. This will help you and your partner.
Genital human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted disease. Basically, it affects the skin, and mucous membrane. From credible medical sources it’s established that there are around forty types of this infection, which attacks, genital areas of both men and women, destroying skin of the penis, vulva as well as the lining of the vagina, anus, cervix and the rectum. Generally, most people with hpv do not know whether they are infected, one of the apparent reasons is that, they rarely get sick or develop symptoms. However, it is estimated that certain classes of hpv do cause genital warts, while other Hpvs are said to cause cervical cancer and other moderate cases of cancer such as cancers of the anus, penis, vulva, and vagina. More so, it should be noted that, the hpv species that cause genital warts is dissimilar to the one that causes cancer (Macharia, 2006).
Naturally, genital warts commonly appear as small bump or a congregation of bumps around the genital area. Structurally, they can adopt to be flat, single or multiple and in some instance they adapt a cauliflower shape. Various credited studies have established that, the infection can occur around anus or the vagina, on the cervix or the penis including scrotum, groin, as well as thighs. After infection, warts may appear after some weeks or months. All in all, if left untreated, genital warts may end naturally, increase in size or remain unchanged but will not change into cancer.
Clinically, cervical cancer do not have symptoms until it reaches a certain level, thus it’s advisable for women to undergo screening regularly and this also applies to such cancers as of vagina, vulva, penis and anus which are less common but ought to be checked in order to avert any further growth or development. Hpv causes genital warts and cancer by causing normal cells on infected skin or mucous membranes to become abnormal. Often, the body fights the virus, though in some cases low risk genes of Hpv do cause visible changes that come in the form of genital warts. Nevertheless, in case of high risk Hpv infection, the virus can overtime stay in the human system for a long time and this can result in cancer if the body’s immune system fails to clear it away.
There is no cure for HPV, but there are treatments for the health tribulations that some types of HPV can create, like genital warts and cervical cancer. According to the Global Health Organization, it is estimated that over tw0 hundred million people across the world are infected with Hpv, hence the reports establishes that another five percentage globally get new Hpv infection each year. Most young men are at risk of contacting Hpv infection, this is attributed to the fact many of them are sexually active and rarely pays attention to preventive measures such as the use of condom, also in the same line is people who have multiple sexual partners. Hence, Hpv is the most common sexually transmitted disease across the world today. With the acknowledgment of the etiologic role of high-risk types of genital HPV infection in cervical cancer, there has been an intense focus on the use of HPV investigative tests in cervical cancer prevention activities (Evans, 1988).
Attention can be set primarily in three areas: tri-age of women with inferior Pap smear dissimilarities, key screening, and follow-up of women with established cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Every one of the three uses is based upon the connection of high-risk HPV types with high-grade antecedent lesions .The most expansively evaluated locale is HPV testing for triage of low-grade Pap smear abnormalities even though the majority of women with these cytologic findings have normal histology or lesions which are likely to relapse, minority will have CIN2/3, representing the majority of high-grade lesions in some settings. Existing managerial recommendations for women with low-grade abnormalities present various options, including follow-up Pap smear assessment with colposcopy only for those with persistent abnormalities or pressing colposcopy for all women. Neither approach is ideal. Routine colposcopy is costly and generates a large number of unnecessary procedures, while the follow-up Pap smear approach may result in women being lost to follow-up and lower cost-effectiveness, and both approaches may produce anxiety pending completion of the evaluation.
Thus, the most effective way of preventing Hpv is to avoid any contacts with the peoples infects areas or any elements that could or might have Hpv bacterial on the surface. Additionally another are that can end being a problem is communal facilities such as dormitories, gyms and health clubs. It is advisable to wear protective gears such as slippers or shoes in public showers or pools for this will help in preventing picking of Hpv, though many health clubs facilities are more than often disinfected. However, avoiding genital and anal diffusion is more complex. The only definite way to avoid spread is to steer clear of sexual contact with an infected or latently contaminated partner. HPV can be passed on during foreplay and during actions not relating to vaginal contact. Condoms may aid a little, but it's likely for HPV from warts or condylomas on a man's scrotum to make it to his partner's vulva by straight contact, then to the outside of the condom, and from there into the vagina.
Parallel considerations apply to anal sex. Since it's possible for a person with HPV to be contagious prior to the lesions appearance, sheer examination of a new partner isn't a complete assurance. As with all STDs, the risk of being infected with HPV increases with the figure of cohorts you have and the number of allies your partner has. in theory, barricade contraceptives such as condoms are less likely to be efficient in preventing infections such as genital HPV, which can involve the exterior genital skin, than they are for infections which are restricted to exact mucosal areas and spread by semen for example Chlamydia or gonorrhea, although assessment of possible advantage of condoms for HPV is stalled by lack of procedures of contagion. Studies which have tried to assess male condom benefit for women have commonly established no proof of protection alongside infection. However, obtainable information has not adequately assessed stability and suitability of condom use, and, in cross-sectional studies, HPV infection may have preceded condom use. There are data signifying a advantage of condom use for men, although the studies are limited and no data available for female condoms for either women or men.
Some reports have suggested a benefit in prevention of HPV-related disease such as., genital warts, SIL, cervical cancer, possibly by minimizing viral inoculums, repetitive viral exposure, or exposure to additional co-factors which might be mixed up in expansion of disease. Therefore, improved awareness by healthcare providers can be of great significance in that the public can be in a better position to understand the impact of this infection which can lead to other greater health concern such as HIV/AIDS. Thus, better provider and public understanding can advance running of patients and stipulation of information to them and their families or associates in the case of STD, and awareness in the general public can enhance responsiveness to deterrence actions, such as screening or inoculation.
Though, it is established that data on provider understanding about genital HPV infection is limited. They suggest that providers are largely conscious of the sexually transmitted character of the infection and its correlation to cervical cancer, but are less obvious about the link of genital warts to cancer, the suggestion for use of diverse executive strategies, transmission-related issues, and the indications for cohort assessment. This lack of clarity, coupled with anxiety over discussion of issues related to STD and sexuality and limited time for counseling/education, is often alleged by patients as insufficient information and advice. Limited data from selected populations show considerable levels of moving distress among patients with a diagnosis of genital HPV infection genital warts or abnormal Pap smears, which can far exceed the level of physical distress. These include feelings of shock, shame, anger at partners and providers, depression, and fear about sequelae and ongoing contagiousness which can be positively used to prevent and control the spread of this virus.
Therefore, the best and surest method to prevent potential genital HPV infection is to refrain from any genital contact, as well as non-penetrative private contact of the genital area. For individuals who opt to be sexually vigorous, having a single uninfected partner is likely to be the subsequently most efficient way to thwart contamination. The human papillomavirus (HPV) bug itself and how it is passed from one person to another is intricate and not entirely understood by researchers. There are no credible tests that can estimate who will or is likely to transmit the virus. And more research and studies must be employed to determine the effectiveness of male or female condoms in aver transmission. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permitted an HPV vaccine—called Gardasil. The vaccine is approved for girls as little as nine, though routinely optional for girls of eleven years and above including older women who did not receive it when they were growing up.
Medical trials have revealed that the vaccine is secure and effective in preventing HPV strains such as 16 and 18, which contributes to almost seventy percent of cervical cancers. Gardasil, given in three injections over a period of six months, is also highly effective in stopping HPV strains 6 and 11, which cause over ninety percent of genital wart cases. However, although Gardasil prevents a significant ratio of HPV strains, it doesn't shield against all of them, hence it’s approved as a accompaniment to Pap tests. More so, the vaccine is not effective if a woman is already contaminated with one of these HPV strains. It has to be taken prior to infection. HPV screening is also a significant part of averting likely complications. Likewise, Pap test is the most credible way of screening Hpv, which is specifically premeditated to discover cervical cancer in its initial stage and can also uncover abnormal and HPV cells. In combination with the Pap test, the HPV test can be employed in older women to aid in detecting HPV infection.
When pooled with a Pap test in women of this age cluster, the HPV test is improved at identifying women at peril for developing cervical cancer than the Pap test only. In principal, it has been established there is no sure way that Hpv can be contained if any given individual is to be sexually active. Thus, if an individual opts to shun all sexual activities, there are possibilities that one could avoid Hpv, yet very few people are willing to take that channel, therefore, making sound choices as far as sex is concerned is important in that in one way or the other it could definitely have diverse impacts on an individual’s life. Clinically, it is recommended that, practicing safe sex, be it oral, vaginal or manual is crucial, this helps in that, the transmission of Hpv and other STDs is greatly minimized, however, it is wholly established that using condom alone cannot decrease the risk of infection.
Reducing the number of sexual partners helps in checking the spread of this infection among the peers and reduces the cost of funds to be used in case of treatment. This is not a strategy to say everyone should be monogamous. However, if you are with sexual cohorts who you have faith in, the stakes of being infected with Hpv are high, meaning you are significantly mounting your risks. Nevertheless, some of the preventive measures include encouraging girls and young women to get the HPV vaccine as a good gesture to prevent the potential swell of cervical cancer. As an alternative of paying for costly vaccines, funds should be exhausted making sure women and youth get regular pap smears – a test that is incredibly efficient in exposing cervical cancer.
Also abstinence programs instead of medical treatments are a superior way of preventing the swelling of the HPV virus. Information about the HPV vaccine should be incorporated in health education program in the schools.
Epidemiologic researches have revealed that HPV produces type-specific immunity. Every HPV type will generate a neutralizing agent that is efficient against only that type of HPV virus. There are a number of excellent candidates out there for a vaccine. The one that is most considered currently involves virus-like elements. Virus-like elements are purely the capsid proteins of the HPV virus devoid of any of the infective genetic mechanism being there. Hence, it emerges that, spermicidal foams, creams or jellies are not effective against any sexually transmitted disease (STD), including HPV. Therefore, most governments are advising youths that using vaginal contraceptives having nonoxynol-9 can raise vaginal irritation, which could result or mount the risk of infection. Additionally, having oral sex, they suggested, use of dental dam, plastic enclose or a split and compacted unlubricated condom. These resources present a moisture wall between the mouth and the vagina or anus for the duration of oral sex. Shun brushing or flossing your teeth before having oral sex, which may possibly rip the lining of the mouth. More so, be cautious about giving out sexual toys. It's potential that HPV could be passed through sexual toys that are inserted in the vagina but aren't comprehensively cleaned prior to being used by another person.
Human papillomavirus infections are a severe problem and like many other kind of viral diseases, its disease infections are persistent. The challenges posed by most viral diseases are that they are mostly incurable and therefore its prevention measures are much vital in the struggle to alleviations of their impacts. The treatment of HPV infections is sophisticated and in most cases they end up exasperating both the victims and the medical practitioners. As established, treatment prevents the occurrence severe conditions associated with the HPV infection.
It has been overt that treatment of HPV involves the treatment of its associated ailments which includes the genital warts and cervical cancers. The elimination of these problems takes various methods comprising of physical removal, freezing and painting. The methodology to be applied is determined by certain factors which on clinical considerations entail type and the magnitude of the warts.
In the painting methods, podophyllin and podophyllotoxin solutions are commonly used and applied on the infected part. Sometimes a colorless solution known as trichloracetic acid is also applied on external warts rendering the virus an unfavorable environment for growth and development. Though safe and less costly method, its prolong treatment duration is cumbersome to victims, and together with much discomfort that results from its use, such disadvantages makes it to be of less importance to victims. Painting and freezing or (cryosurgery) methods are only effective when treating premature warts. Instead of painting and cryosurgery techniques, electrocautery, which is a burning process, is occasionally used to clear small warts. However, the above methods are said to ineffective for larger wart and therefore the removal techniques are used. Generally, these are traditionally used methods, which even today are used by most healthcare providers.
With the advancement in technology, it has been possible in prevention of the HPV problem through the application of drug which boosts the immune systems.
Surprisingly that there are more than hundred types of HPV, around thirty of these types are said to cause STD infections to human beings, but of all these types, only four types can be prevented through immunization. Sources about this vaccine show that it’s effective for the prevention of infections from 16 and 18 HPV strains. However, these are said to be the most notorious strains causing about 70% of the cervical cancer infections in women. Of the most worrying things is the developed vaccine is only applicable to limited number of women. As revealed of the GARDASIL vaccine, it can only be received by ladies aged nine and twenty six years. With research showing that most girls are engaging in risky active sexually activities as early as six years and extending similar behavior to ages of thirty, then it means that a large number of female are still vulnerable to HPV infections.
Finally, the most important way in preventing HPV is by avoiding physical or direct skin contacts with people who are infected. Moreover, use of drugs and foods which contains elements necessary to augment the immune system is also highly recommended as a way of alleviating the chances of HPV infections. Foods rich in folic acid, iron and vitamins plays major role in the prevention of disease infection and these substances are useful in fight of HPV infections. Lentils, peas, oranges are some of foods that can lower HPV problem through immune system boosting.
The author Linda Miller has academic writing experience of over ten years. She holds a PHD in education from Harvard. She has been assisting students in writing professional academic papers including thesis, dissertations, research papers and term papers. braviaresearchpapers.com
The introduction of the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, has been accompanied by healthy doses of both good and bad news. The good news is that the vaccine's arrival has brought the virus into the spotlight by giving it the press it deserves. But the bad news is that myths and misconceptions about the virus and the vaccine abound, and these can and have caused considerable harm. For example, one prevalent myth is that promiscuity is the main reason why people get HPV infections. The fact is, it's possible to get an HPV infection even from a monogamous relationship. Here are some more common questions about HPV, the vaccine, and how they can affect teens' lives.
The Facts of HPV:
So what is HPV, really?
HPV is the human papilloma virus. It is the most common sexually transmitted virus. It isn't the same as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) or HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus), and it's not a new virus -- it's just often overlooked in discussions of common sexually transmitted diseases. There are more than a 100 types of HPV that can cause a variety of diseases, but we'll focus on its most significant manifestation -- genital HPV. Sexual contact is the most common way to transmit genital HPV, including not only sexual intercourse, but also sexual contact without intercourse and oral sex. HPV is a silent infection, meaning that many people are unaware that they are infected and can transmit the virus to their sexual partners without even knowing.
Who gets HPV?
Anyone can get HPV infections. It is estimated that at least 50 percent of sexually active men and women will acquire a genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. Most infections clear up on their own without any medical treatment in 12-24 months. People at the highest risk of getting HPV infections are those who engage in high-risk sexual behavior such as having multiple partners, having unprotected sex, and starting to have sex at an early age. Also, having a weak immune system due to poor nutrition, stress, and smoking can make existing HPV infections persist in the body for a longer period of time and cause HPV-related diseases.
Many of my patients have asked me if two people in a monogamous relationship can get HPV. The short answer is, unfortunately, yes. Even if you are currently in a monogamous relationship, you or your partner could have acquired HPV from a previous sexual relationship; the disease can lie dormant in the body for many years and can become active at any time. The only way to prevent HPV is for both partners in a monogamous relationship to have never had prior sexual partners or to abstain from sexual contact altogether.
What are the consequences of having HPV?
There are three possible results of HPV infection. First, it is possible to become a carrier of HPV and never show symptoms for the rest of your life. Second, you could develop genital warts, which are irritating, visually unpleasant, embarrassing, and often require repeated treatments to get rid of them. Third, you could develop a HPV related cancer, the most serious of which is cervical cancer. In addition, HPV can be a cause for tremendous emotional issues, such as feelings of guilt, blame and shame.
Should you get the vaccine?
There are now two vaccines available to prevent most HPV related diseases. Only one, Gardasil, is currently available in the United States. The vaccine is preventative in nature, meaning it can only prevent and not treat existing HPV infections. The vaccine protects against four different types of HPV, two of which cause 70% of cervical cancers, and the other two which cause most genital warts.
The CDC recommends the vaccine for girls at ages 11-12 years for maximum benefit. However, if you didn't receive the vaccine at this age, you can still get it up until the age of 26, even if you are sexually active. This is because even if you have already been exposed to some types of HPV, the vaccine will still prevent against any of the four types that you haven't. It is important to note that the vaccine does not prevent against pregnancy or other sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Chlamydia or Gonorrhea. Therefore, it's crucial to continue to be abstinent or practice safer sex even after receiving the vaccine.
Should you get the Pap test?
A Pap test (also called a Pap smear) detects abnormal cell changes in the cervix, some of which if not treated, can progress to cancer. Therefore, once the abnormal changes are detected, they sometimes require close follow-ups and uncomfortable procedures. Pap tests, no doubt, have dramatically reduced the rates of cervical cancer in this country. But the vaccine, on the other hand, prevents these abnormal changes from occurring in the first place. Obviously, prevention is preferable to detection and treatment. But as the vaccine only protects against 70 percent of cervical cancer, it's important to keep getting Pap tests to detect the other 30 percent. Consult your health care provider to find out when you should start getting Pap tests.
What are the ways to prevent and fight HPV infections?
There are some basic tips to follow to keep healthy and avoid HPV infections.
Follow the "ABCDE" rules of prevention: Abstinence, Being monogamous, Consistent condom use, Delayed sexual activity and Education.
Avoid drugs and excessive alcohol: These activities can lead to risky sexual behavior that make getting HPV more likely.
Get vaccinated: Getting the Gardasil vaccine before you become sexually active can protect you from HPV strains that cause 90% of genital warts and 70% of cervical cancers. If you are already sexually active and haven’t been vaccinated, you should still consider getting vaccinated, as this can protect you from the vaccine strains that you may not have been exposed to.
Boost your immune system:
• Quit smoking: Smoking weakens your immune system and makes HPV hang around longer in your body which can then cause disease.
• Reduce stress: Look into techniques such as exercise that help you relax and make you feel good about yourself.
• Eat healthy: Add foods rich in Vitamins C and E such as fruits and vegetables that have cancer-fighting properties to your diet. In addition, it's a good idea to take a multivitamin daily.
HPV can be a potentially serious and chronic disease that can have tremendous medical, psychological and sexual consequences. It can turn your life upside down overnight. One chance encounter is all it takes to be potentially infected by the HPV virus. By seeking accurate information and taking productive steps, you can prevent the spread of HPV. Knowledge and education about HPV infections will help contain the spread of infection -- ignorance will not.
Author Bio Shobha S. Krishnan, M.D., is a board certified gynecologist and family practice physician at Barnard College, Columbia University. Her new book, "The HPV Vaccine Controversy: Sex, Cancer, God and Politics: A Guide to parents, women, men and teenagers" was published on August 30, 2008, by Greenwood Publications. The book presents the most up to date information about the vaccine without the influence of pharmaceutical companies or other interest groups.
Over the past two years, the O-N-E L-E-S-S campaign for Gardasil, the new HPV vaccine to protect against cervical cancer, has brought discussion about the human papilloma virus to the forefront, shining new light not only on the vaccine itself, but also on the issues that surround it.
HPV is ubiquitous. Nearly 50% of sexually active people will have HPV at some point in their lives. There are around 20 million people with HPV infections in the U.S., with 6.2 million new cases occurring every year. The most serious consequence of HPV infections is cervical cancer, yet public knowledge about HPV is poor -- less than 50% of women have heard about HPV and its link to cervical cancer.
It's crucial that the public gains more knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer, particularly in the present climate where the merits of the vaccine have been clouded by a political rhetoric. Information on the link between HPV and cervical cancer, how common the disease is and who gets it, detection methods, other effects of the disease, and the role and effectiveness of the vaccine have to be addressed. Examining these topics will help guide decisions as medical professionals recommend this vaccination to a whole generation of 11-12 year old girls, and perhaps boys in the future.
The relationship between HPV and cervical cancer: There are over 100 types of HPV. About 15 of them are "high-risk" types that cause cervical cancer. HPV infections are more common in the younger population, with nearly 75% occurring in the 15-25 age group. Most HPV infections are "silent" -- people who carry the virus don't know they have it and transmit it freely to their sexual partners. The good news, however, is that most of these infections are self-limiting, meaning that nearly 90% of them resolve on their own within 24 months without causing any problems. In a minority of people, however, the infections persist, either as a result of high-risk sexual behavior (such as multiple partners and unprotected sex), or weakened immunity because of smoking, stress, and long term use of certain medications like steroids. These factors can propel HPV infections to cause precancerous and cancerous lesions of the cervix. Over 99% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV. HPV infections are necessary, but not sufficient on their own to cause cervical cancer.
Pap tests and cervical cancer: A Pap test detects early changes in the cells of the cervix due to HPV or other effects, which if left untreated, may progress to cervical cancer. Fortunately, due to a well organized Pap test program in the U.S., the incidence of cervical cancer has dropped by 75% over the past 50 years. Therefore, for women who get regular Pap smears, the incidence of cervical cancer is low. Currently in the U.S., about 11,000 new cases of cervical cancer develop each year, and around 4,000 deaths occur from it. Even though one would wish that there were no cases of cervical cancers to reckon with, when compared to the number of HPV infections that occur each year, the ratio between HPV infections to cervical cancer is low. According to the American Cancer Society, four out of five women who died of cervical cancer did not have a Pap test in the previous five years. These numbers show that the Pap smear has been very successful in curtailing the incidence of cervical cancer in this country.
Role of the HPV vaccines in preventing cervical cancer: There are now two HPV vaccines available worldwide to protect against two major types of cancer-causing HPV. Gardasil, manufactured by Merck, has been available in the U.S. since June 2006. Cervarix, manufactured by Glaxo Smith Kline, is planned to be introduced in the U.S in late 2008 or early 2009. Both vaccines target HPV types 16 and 18, which cause the majority of cervical cancers. HPV type 16 causes nearly 50% of cervical cancers and HPV type 18 causes about 20% of cervical cancers. Clinical trials have shown that both vaccines prevent 70% of cervical cancers with almost 100% effectiveness. However, this only true when the person has been vaccinated prior to exposure to the virus types 16 and 18. The efficacy of the vaccine drops once these virus types gain access to the body. This is why the CDC recommends administering the vaccine to young girls, ages 11-12, before their sexual debut to obtain maximum benefit.
Pap test versus HPV Vaccine: Both Pap tests and the HPV vaccine prevent cervical cancer, but they do so in different ways. The vaccines produce antibodies to fight against the HPV virus well before it can invade the cervix. Therefore the vaccine prevents the development of any HPV related pathology on the cervix. On the other hand, the Pap test, detects abnormal changes in the cervix as a result of HPV, many of which require follow up visits and procedures in order to prevent these abnormalities from progressing to cancer. Most people would agree that prevention is better than detection or treatment. Managing abnormal Pap smears alone costs $2-3 billion a year in this country. But as the vaccine only provides protection against 70% of cervical cancers, Pap tests should be continued to detect the remaining 30% of cervical cancers that are not covered by the vaccine. It is important to note that apart from cervical cancer prevention, the vaccine has also been found to be beneficial against many other HPV related diseases, and it could eventually help in reducing the medical and emotional toll that such diseases take on people.
Those most prone to cervical cancer in the United States are those groups of people who have no access to Pap smears or will not obtain them because of inadequate access either as a result of poor socio economic status, poor knowledge or cultural differences. These groups are overwhelmingly comprised of women from ethnic minorities and whites in the Appalachian regions. Therefore, education aimed at the public should not only include comprehensive cervical cancer prevention programs in layman's terms, but also should be culturally sensitive to meet the needs of people from various backgrounds. The HPV vaccine has the potential to save millions of young lives and families, but, unless it reaches the same group of women who are not obtaining their Pap smears today, it will miss out on keeping its "one less" promise both here at home and around the world.
Shobha S. Krishnan, M.D., is a board certified gynecologist and family practice physician, at BarnardCollege, ColumbiaUniversity. Her new book, The HPV Vaccine Controversy: Sex, Cancer, God and Politics: A Guide to parents, women, men and teenagers was published on August 30, 2008 by Greenwood Publications. The book presents the most up to date information about the vaccine without the influence of pharmaceutical companies or other interest groups.
The HPV vaccine known as Gardasil is the first vaccine created for the prevention of a sexually transmitted disease. HPV – also known as the human papillomavirus – is often associated with genital warts. However, certain strains of this sexually transmitted disease are the most common cause of cervical cancer, which is often only detected in its later stages. In fact, cervical cancer is often considered the second most common form of cancer affecting women. Some insist that the HPV vaccine should be mandatory among women in order to prevent cervical cancer as well as genital warts.
About the HPV Vaccine
The Gardasil vaccine targets the four most dangerous strains of HPV. Approximately 70% of all cervical cancer cases are caused by HPV-16 or HPV-18. About 90% of cases of genital warts are due to an HPV-6 or HPV-11 sexually transmitted infection. It is these four strains that Gardasil protects against.
While at present cervical cancer prevention predominantly relies on pap smear screenings and safe sex practice, the HPV vaccine adds a significant level of prevention since it may protect women from contracting HPV in the first place. The HPV vaccine represents a relatively new option, and as such is still undergoing observation and research. Nonetheless, it is available to the public and is typically recommended for young women between the ages of 11 and 12.
About HPV
HPV is one of the most commonly contracted STDs and may affect both men and women. The symptoms associated with HPV depend on the type of strain that is the source of infection. In many cases, no symptoms of an HPV infection appear, which is what makes regular pap smear tests so important to female reproductive health. The following are some of the common signs and symptoms of HPV.
HPV: Genital Warts
If an HPV infection occurs, the symptoms of genital warts may not begin to develop for several weeks. In fact, in many cases, genital warts symptoms will not appear for several months.
The physical symptoms of genital warts are characterized by white or flesh-coloured areas that are either flat or raised, and are said to resemble cauliflower florets. These typically appear in the vaginal region, anus or vulva in women. Genital warts may interfere with bodily functions such as urinating and bowel movements.
HPV: Cervical Cancer
The HPV strain that is commonly associated with genital warts is rarely linked with cervical cancer. Unfortunately, this also means that physical symptoms of an HPV infection that may lead to cervical cancer are often not apparent. In many cases, the immune system will be able to fight off this type of HPV infection; however, in cases where this does not occur, the longer HPV remains in the system, the greater the risk of developing cervical cancer becomes. A Pap smear can detect abnormal cells in the cervix, which may indicate an HPV infection, and help prevent the development of cervical cancer.
In cases where physical symptoms of cervical cancer do appear, the signs may include painful intercourse, lower back pain, pain during urination and unusual vaginal bleeding – particularly after intercourse. However, these symptoms may indicate a variety of other reproductive health conditions affecting women, and should be investigated by a health care professional.
Womens-Health.co.uk is dedicated to providing women with up-to-date and relevant information on a range of issues pertaining to their health, including pregnancy, infertility and reproductive health issues.
In recent weeks, attitudes about the HPV vaccine have often shifted from fanfare to fear as newspapers, blogs and medical journals have inundated the media with conflicting opinions. While the public wants information about the vaccine in simple and clear terms, the potential benefits and limitations of this vaccine have been somewhat difficult to see in black and white. Some of the questions that have dominated the media about the vaccine are:
Is the vaccine safe? -- The recent concerns over Gardasil's safety have many parents worried. No doubt, adverse effects have to be carefully monitored to assure that the vaccine has a good safety profile. Being a parent myself, I can fully understand these concerns, but as a physician, I have had the opportunity to take a closer look at Gardasil's safety profile. So far, nearly 8 million doses of Gardasil have been administered and all adverse effects have been carefully analyzed by medical experts at VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Effects Reporting System), a branch of the CDC. So far, no common pattern of reports has emerged to show that the vaccine is directly responsible for any of the adverse effects reported. Therefore, both the FDA and CDC continue to find that Gardasil is a safe and effective vaccine with benefits far outweighing the risks.
Will the vaccine cause "Replacement disease?" -- The August 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine voiced several concerns over the HPV vaccine. One of the concerns was that the protection Gardasil provides against the two major HPV strains would give the currently less dangerous HPV types an opportunity to grow stronger and cause disease more often. This phenomenon is called replacement disease. Replacement disease was seen, for example, when the vaccine Prevnar was introduced in 2000 to fight against respiratory disease caused by the pneumococcal bacteria in children. And, even though there were a few cases of the disease caused by types of pneumococci that were not covered by the vaccine, they were insignificant when compared to the millions of lives that were saved by the vaccine. With the HPV vaccine, there are currently a few reports alluding to the emergence of non-vaccine covered HPV types, but these have not been of any clinical significance.
When is the best time to vaccinate? -- revisited -- Public health treats populations, not individuals. Therefore, when making recommendations for a whole generation of American women, public policy makers have to take several factors into account in order to calculate the most cost effective way to obtain maximum benefits from a drug or vaccine. The HPV vaccine is preventive in nature, meaning that it can't cure existing HPV infections. Therefore, from a public health standpoint, it is best to administer the vaccine to 11-12 year old girls before their sexual debut, rather than later (catch-up vaccination is currently recommended between the ages of 13-26 years) when they may have already been exposed to the virus. This is also the time when middle school children go to their doctors or clinics to receive other recommended shots, making it an easier time to offer the HPV vaccine. Vaccinating girls at this age will give the best protection because it will reduce HPV related disease consequences later in life, including the unexpected potential for exposure due to events such as infidelity within a long term relationship or having new sexual partners after widowhood or divorce.
Will the vaccine affect natural immunity? -- Natural immunity to a particular disease is acquired when a person is exposed to the specific organism that causes the disease. Obviously, this involves considerable risk -- for example, in order to gain natural immunity from polio, one would become paralyzed in the process. Immunity acquired from the vaccine causes a person to produce antibodies without developing the actual disease in most cases. In the case of HPV, it is not clear if natural infections offer adequate protection for life, but studies have shown that the vaccine produces antibody levels which are nearly tenfold higher than antibody titers produced by natural infections. Whether this heightened immunity leads to stronger and longer effectiveness is not yet known.
Is it true that there's no proof that the vaccine will reduce the rate of cervical cancer? -- Very few HPV infections lead to cervical cancer, as over 90% of infections clear up on their own. Of those that persist, the lag time between acquiring an HPV infection and the development of cervical cancer is nearly 20 years. Therefore, the young women who are being vaccinated today have to approach the ages of 35-50, when cervical cancer peaks, before we will have conclusive results. However, there is enough scientific evidence to support the theory that the vaccine can prevent cervical cancer. Clinical trials look at cancer surrogates -- conditions which when left alone will invariably progress to invasive cervical cancer -- as end points of the study. In the case of the HPV vaccine, they look for significantly abnormal cells or precancerous lesions in women who have been vaccinated. The vaccine has been found to prevent the development of these abnormal cells by the HPV types that are covered by it. Thus, it has been predicted that the vaccines will prevent cervical cancer. Obviously, no one can predict with complete accuracy how the vaccine will work in the "real world" over the next several decades. It is a leap of faith to some extent, but a leap that most of us are willing to take because of our trust in the "miracles" of medicine that have served us so well over the years.
Author Bio
Dr. Shobha S. Krishnan, M.D., is a Staff Physician at Columbia University's Barnard College Health Services. A board certified gynecologist and family practice physician, she has also worked as a surveillance physician for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prior to joining Barnard, she was in private practice for 10 years. In addition, Dr. Krishnan has worked as a physician at the Institute on Aging and as Chief Resident in the Family Practice Department at St.Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis. Her new book: The HPV Vaccine Controversy: Sex, Cancer, God and Politics -- A Guide to parents, women, men and teenagers is scheduled to be published on August 30, 2008 by Greenwood Publications. The book presents the most up to date information about the vaccine without the influence of pharmaceutical companies or other interest groups.
HPV is the abbreviation used for human papilloma virus. HPV causes the disease known as genital warts but it also causes cervical cancer. It is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world today.
There are many different types of HPV and not all types cause the wart like lesions to appear in the genital area. In fact most people who have this sexually transmitted disease do not know they have it.
Statistics suggest that up to 50% of sexually active adults will aquire HPV in their lifetime. A robust immune system will most likely be able to take care of the initial HPV infection so you may never even know that you had it. If you were infected with the type of HPV that causes genital warts you may see the wart like lesions around the genital area, including on the shaft of the penis and the anal area. Women with genital warts may not see any lesions at all if they are confined to the vagina.
The strains of HPV that cause genital warts are classed as low risk viruses whereas the strains that cause cervical cancer are classed as a "high risk".
The link between cervical cancer and sexual activity was first suspected when the observation was made (1841) that nuns were never diagnosed wtih cervical cancer. At the same time it was noted that cervical cancer was more common in women who were prostitutes. A link between pappilloma viruses and cancer was found in research on rabbits but it was not until the human papilloma virus was identified that the link to HPV and cervical cancer was made. This occurred in the late 1970's.
Both the Canadian and American Cancer Society lists other risk factor for cervical cancer as long term exposure to female hormones such as those found in birth control pills, smoking, HIV infection, exposure to certain hormones such as diethylstilbestrol (DES), and genetic factors.
Cervical Cancer
The cervix is the opening of the uterus. When infected with the high risk human papilloma virus strains these cells can become cancerous. Women over 30 are at more risk to develop cervical cancer suggesting that it takes some time for the cancerous changes to occur after the HPV infection. Not all women who are infected with the human papilloma virus will go on to develop cervical cancer.
In the United States cervical cancer is more prevalent among the Hispanic and Black populations who also have a higher mortality from the disease. In Canada higher rates of cervical cancer are seen among the older (ages 40-59), immigrant, aboriginal, and lower socio-economic populations. In both countries it is thought that rates are higher among these populations because of lack of screening, which results in detection at a much later stage of the disease.
The number of deaths from cervical cancer in the last 50 years has decreased dramatically because of the ability to diagnose the disease early with the Pap test. This test bears the name of its originator George Papanikolaou. It is a simple test that requires a sample of cells from the cervix. The tissue is sent to a laboratory for examination under a microspope. Cancerous changes can be detected very early this way and early diagnosis improves success rates for treatment.
Treatment
When diagnosed early enough cervical cancer can be treated by removing the cancerous cells. This may range from removal of cells confined to the cervix to a complete hysterectomy depending on how advanced the cancer is and whether or not it has spread to lymphatic tissue.
Prevention
You can lower your risk of developing cervical cancer by limiting the number of sexual contacts and knowing your partner's HPV status. If you are sexually active and not in a monogamous relationship you should use a barrier method of protection with every sexual encounter and undergo regular screening as part of your routine health examination. It is recommended that sexually active women should have a gynecological exam with a Pap smear every three years to age 69.
HPV vaccine
Vaccines have recently come on the market that provide protection from two strains of high risk HPV. Health officials are recommending all young women be vaccinated before they beome sexually active. The vaccine is provided free of charge to girls in most provinces in Canada. Many states in the US are attempting to pass legislation requiring the vaccine but to date only 3 have been successful in getting legislation passed.
Beverly Hansen OMalley is a nurse who is passionate about health promotion. Visit www.registered-nurse-canada.com where Bev explores the uniqueness of the nursing profession in Canada including comparison of nurse salary across the country, preparation for the Canadian nursing entrance test and how to become a nurse in Canada if you graduated in another country.
Today, we are going to discuss some of the risk factors of cervical cancer. They are many that it will not be possible for us to exhaust all of them, but let us see how far we can go today.
1) HUMAN PAPILLUM VIRUS INFECTION (HPV): This is the most important of all the risk factors associated to the cancer of the cervix. Doctors believe that before a woman can develop cervical cancer, she must have been infected by HPV. Some types of this HPV are classified as “high risk” because they are the main causes of cervical cancer. These types include HPV 6, HPV 18, HPV 31, HPV 35, and HPV 45 and many other. About two-thirds of all cervical cancers are caused by HPV 16-18.
2) SMOKING: Women who smoke are more likely to get cervical cancer than women who don’t smoke. Smoking exposes the body to many cancer-causing chemicals that affects not only the lungs, but other parts of the body. The lungs will first of all, absorb these harmful substances, and later transfer it into the blood stream throughout the body. The by-products of tobacco have been found in the cervical mucus of women who smoke. These substances damage the DNA of the cervix cells and may equally lead to the development of cervical cancer.
3) IMMUNOSUPPRESSION: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes AIDS. This virus damages the immune system of the body completely and makes women to be more at risk for HPV infection. This is one of the causes of increased risk of cervical cancer in women with AIDS. The immune system is very important in destroying cancer cells, and slowing down their growth and spread. A cervical pre-cancer is likely to develop into an invasive cancer faster in women with HIV.
4) CHLAMYDIA INFECTION: This is a very common bacterium that can infect the reproductive system. The spread is mainly through sexual contact. Women whose blood tests show past or present Chlamydia infection are at a higher risk of cervical cancer, as against women with normal test results. This type of infection often shows no symptoms in women. Unless a woman goes for the examination of her pelvic region, she may not know that she is infected of Chlamydia. When this stays long in the body, it leads to pelvic inflammation, which also leads to infertility.
5) DIETS: Diets low in fruits and vegetables can increase the risk of cervical cancer. Also, overweight can equally lead to cervical cancer.
6) BIRTH CONTROL PILLS: The usage of birth control pills for a long time increases the risk of cervical cancer in women. The longer these pills are used, the risk goes up, and goes down after it is stopped.
7) MULTIPLE PREGNANCIES: Women with many full time pregnancies have an increased risk of the cancer of the cervix. This may be because some of these women may have been exposed to unprotected sexual acts which have therefore exposed them to HPV infection. This is because the immune system of the pregnant woman is weak, which allows for HPV infection/ cancer growth.
LOW SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS: Many women with low income don’t have access to adequate health care services, including pap tests, and the implication of this is that they will not be screened or treated for pre-cancerous cervical diseases.
9) FAMILY HISTORY: Cervical cancer runs in some families. If your mother or sister has cervical cancer, your risk of developing this disease is higher. Women from the same family as a patient already diagnosed of cervical cancer may be more likely to have one or more of the other non-genetic risk factors previously described in this section.
ThankGod Eze is a pastor, motivator and a health and fitness instructor. He holds a bachelors’ degree in food sciences, and has many successful websites to his credit. This site http://www.yourhealthandfitnessguide.com serves as a guide to a fit and healthy life.
