1. What is cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is a malignant tumor growing in the cervical region of women. It is a malignant tumor with a high incidence rate in clinical women and has a serious impact on the physical and mental health of patients. The general symptoms of cervical cancer include the following aspects: firstly, early symptoms; Early cervical cancer patients are often detected during screening and have virtually no symptoms. As the disease progresses, patients experience abnormal vaginal bleeding and contact bleeding symptoms. Secondly, local symptoms; For example, vaginal bleeding, patients often present with contact bleeding, vaginal bleeding or bloody discharge after gynecological examination and sexual activity, and the amount of bleeding is related to the degree of invasion of blood vessels by the lesion; A small number of patients experience symptoms such as increased menstrual flow and prolonged periods, while elderly patients often present with postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. Vaginal discharge refers to the appearance of bloody, white, or thin watery fluid in the patient's vagina, especially when accompanied by infection. The fluid discharged from the vagina has a distinct foul odor or fishy smell; Late stage patients may experience purulent odor or large amounts of rice soup like secretions due to tumor tissue infection and necrosis. Thirdly, symptoms of invasion of other organs or tissues; When cervical cancer progresses to advanced stages, adjacent organs and tissues are invaded by the tumor, which often compresses the pelvic nerves and rectum, and invades the bladder. Patients may experience leg/lower abdominal pain, anal heaviness, frequent urination, and urgency in daily life. When the tumor progresses to a later stage, it can cause renal dysfunction, hydronephrosis, ureteral obstruction, etc. Some patients may experience late stage malignant tumor phenomena such as difficulty urinating, weight loss, fatigue, anemia, and vaginal bleeding in the late stage of the disease.
2. Causes of cervical cancer
The causes of cervical cancer include the following: ① viral infection; This factor is the primary cause of cervical cancer, among which persistent infection with high-risk HPV is an important factor in inducing cervical cancer. Clinical investigation results show that over 90% of cervical cancer patients have detected high-risk HPV virus; ② Sexual behavior; Having multiple sexual partners and starting sexual activity too early are closely associated with the onset of cervical cancer. It has been confirmed that women who have sexual relations with multiple men have a higher probability of developing cervical cancer, while women who have not had sexual intercourse have a lower probability of developing cervical cancer. Sexually transmitted diseases can cause cervical inflammation, and the cervix that is stimulated by inflammation for a long time can evolve into cervical cancer. ③ Menstrual and delivery factors; Prolonged menstrual period, poor menstrual hygiene, premature birth, early marriage, and early pregnancy, among which premature induction of childbirth is similar to premature sexual activity. Due to the immature development of sexual organs, they are more susceptible to various risk factors and can be induced to cervical cancer. Multiple induced abortions or frequent childbirth can have a similar effect as mentioned above, as the accumulation of numerous risk factors may lead to the development of cervical cancer. ④ Cervical decay; The important factor leading to cervical cancer lesions in the uterine and vaginal areas is cervical decay. Due to the location and physiological factors of the cervix, it is easily stimulated by various biological, chemical, physical, and other factors. Viruses, hormones, trauma, and other factors are also the main causes of cervical cancer. ⑤ Smoking; Tobacco contains more carcinogens, and smoking can affect cellular immune function and body fluids, increasing the probability of infection with human papillomavirus. Research shows that women who smoke more than 15 cigarettes per day have an 80% risk of developing cervical cancer. Nicotine intake can lead to a decrease in the body's immune system, affecting the clearance of HPV infection and increasing the risk of cancer. ⑥ Women with other sexually transmitted diseases; If suffering from diseases such as genital warts, chlamydia infection, or gonorrhea, it can invade cervical epithelial cells and cause cervical inflammation. If left untreated, it is more likely to lead to malignancy.
3. Prevention methods for cervical cancer
3.1 Regular check ups
Although cervical cancer is a disease that threatens women's life and health, it is also relatively easy to detect and treat early. It takes 6-8 years for cervicitis to develop into malignant tumors. If the time is reasonably grasped and modern medical technology is used to screen for cancer, timely treatment measures can be taken to effectively avoid the malignant development of the disease. Related research results show that the initial stage of cervical cancer has a cure rate of 80% to 90%, the second stage has a cure rate of 60% to 70%, the third stage has a cure rate of 40% to 50%, and when the disease progresses to the fourth stage, only 10% of the cure rate remains. So, regular check ups and timely treatment are very important for controlling diseases. In fact, in the early stages of cervical cancer, patients generally have no discomfort symptoms. When irregular vaginal bleeding occurs, it indicates that it has progressed to stage II cervical cancer, and the risk increases dramatically. Therefore, women need to undergo regular gynecological examinations once a year to achieve early detection and treatment. The current clinical early screening technology for cervical cancer is relatively mature. If lesions are found during examination, timely treatment should be taken to avoid the spread of tumor cells and reduce the impact of severe cancer on the patient's daily life. Early treatment has a better prognosis. Women who engage in sexual activity need to go to the hospital for smear examination every year, which involves extracting a small amount of cell tissue from the cervix to obtain results. This is relatively simple and beneficial for early detection of lesions.
3.2 Cervical Cancer Vaccines
Currently, two cervical cancer prevention vaccines, Gardasil and Cervairx, have been successfully registered and widely used in clinical practice worldwide. Cervical cancer vaccines are mainly divided into bivalent, quadrivalent, and nonavalent vaccines. The bivalent vaccine is injected after the first dose, followed by the second dose after a 30 day interval, and then the third dose after a 5-month interval, i.e. at 0, 1, and 6 months; The four valent and nine valent vaccines are injected in the same way, that is, at 0, 2, and 6 months. The above three vaccines can only be administered within six months to produce antibodies against cervical cancer.
3.3 Maintain good living habits
Maintaining good living habits is often reflected in the following aspects: firstly, pay attention to sexual hygiene; Sexual activity should be appropriately restrained, and attention should be paid to the cleanliness and hygiene of the reproductive organs before and after sexual activity, as well as the use of condoms during sexual activity, avoiding multiple sexual partners, and staying away from various gynecological diseases. Secondly, pay attention to menstrual hygiene; Women should avoid sexual activity during menstruation, change pads and sanitary napkins frequently, and maintain hygiene and cleanliness of the external genitalia; Thirdly, advocating for fewer births, better birth, and later marriage; To prevent cervical cancer, women should appropriately postpone the age of starting sexual life, reduce the number of births, and reduce the incidence rate of cervical cancer. Fourthly, timely treatment of diseases; If suffering from pelvic inflammatory disease and cervical erosion, timely treatment and regular gynecological examinations should be carried out until complete cure is achieved to avoid health hazards. Go to a regular medical institution for examination to avoid delayed diagnosis and treatment. Fifthly, it is strictly prohibited to abuse drugs; Do not take large or long-term doses of estrogen drugs or health supplements. If necessary, consult a doctor in advance to see if the medication will harm the body, especially for middle-aged and elderly women who need to take estrogen correctly under the guidance of a doctor.