Prevention of cervical cancer
Can cervical cancer be prevented
- In many cases, yes.
- The first way is to find and treat pre-cancers before they become true cancers, and the second is to prevent the pre-cancers
Finding cervical pre-cancers
- A well-proven way to prevent cervix cancer is to have testing (screening) to find pre-cancers before they can turn into invasive cancer.
- The Pap test (or Pap smear) and the human papilloma virus (HPV) test are used for this.
- If a pre-cancer is found it can be treated, stopping cervical cancer before it really starts
The American Cancer Society recommends the
following guidelines for early detection:
- All women should begin cervical cancer testing (screening) at age 21. Women aged 21 to 29, should have a Pap test every 3 years.
- Beginning at age 30, the preferred way to screen is with a Pap test combined with an HPV test every 5 years. This should continue until age 65.
- Another reasonable option for women 30 to 65 is to get tested every 3 years with just the Pap test.
Prevention of pre-cancers
Things to do to prevent pre-cancers
. Avoid being exposed to HPV
. Don't smoke
. Get vaccinated
Avoid being exposed to HPV
- Avoid sex at an early age
- Avoid multiple sexual partners
- Avoid a partner who has had many sex partners
- Avoid sex with uncircumcised males
- Men who use condoms are less likely to be infected with HPV and to pass it on to their female partners
- Not smoking is another important way to reduce the risk of cervical pre-cancer and cancer.
- Vaccines that prevent people from getting infected with HPV are now available.
-The American Cancer Society guidelines recommend that the HPV vaccine be routinely given to females aged 11 to 12 and as early as age 9 years at the discretion of doctors. The Society also recommends that catch-up vaccinations should be given to females up to age 18.
World Health Organization
WHO position paper suggests that girls within the age range of 9 through 13 years should be the primary target population for HPV immunization
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