Human Papilloma Virus - HPV
How dangerous is HPV? The medical facts may surprise you!
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Cervical Cancer & HPV

Cervical Cancer & HPV - The Facts

  • Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women. In the US, it is responsible for approximately 12,900 new cases and 4,400 deaths each year.
  • Cervical cancer is a fully preventable disease if pre-cancerous cell changes are detected and treated early.
  • Cervical cancer is the first major solid tumor cancer to be identified as being caused by a virus.
  • HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is the virus that studies have shown is the primary cause of cervical cancer.
  • High-risk, cancer-causing types of HPV can be detected using DNA technology.
  • HPV infections are transient and most young women shake them off with no ill effects. If HPV infection is persistent past the age of 30, there is a greater risk of developing cervical cancer.
  • Women who are negative for HPV have little or no risk for developing cervical cancer.
Info Source: The HPV Test

Cervical Cancer & HPV - Human Papillomaviruses

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are a group of more than 100 types of viruses. They are called papillomaviruses because certain types may cause warts, or papillomas, which are benign (noncancerous) tumors. The HPVs that cause the common warts which grow on hands and feet are different from those that cause growths in the mouth and genital area. Some types of HPVs are associated with certain types of cancer.

Of the more than 100 types of HPVs, over 30 types can be passed from one person to another through sexual contact. HPV infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Some types of HPVs may cause warts to appear on or around the genitals or anus. Genital warts (technically known as condylomata acuminatum) are most commonly associated with two HPV types, numbers 6 and 11. Warts may appear within several weeks after sexual contact with a person who has HPV, or they may take months or years to appear; or they may never appear. HPVs may also cause flat, abnormal growths in the genital area and on the cervix (the lower part of the uterus that extends into the vagina). HPV infections often do not cause any symptoms.

Cervical Cancer & HPV - Risk

HPVs are now recognized as the major cause of cervical cancer. Studies also suggest that HPVs may play a role in cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina, and penis, and some cancers of the oropharynx (the middle part of the throat that includes the soft palate, the base of the tongue, and the tonsils).

Some types of HPVs are referred to as "low-risk" viruses because they rarely develop into cancer; these include HPV-6 and HPV-11. HPV viruses that can lead to the development of cancer are referred to as "high-risk." Both high-risk and low-risk types of HPVs can cause the growth of abnormal cells, but generally only the high-risk types of HPVs may lead to cancer. Sexually transmitted, high-risk HPVs have been linked with cancer in both men and women; they include HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 68, and 69. These high-risk types of HPVs cause growths that are usually flat and nearly invisible, as compared with the warts caused by HPV-6 and HPV-11. It is important to note, however, that the majority of HPV infections go away on their own and do not cause any abnormal growths.

Cervical Cancer HPV - Precancerous Cervical Conditions

Abnormal cervical cells can be detected when a Pap test is done during a gynecologic exam. Various terms have been used to describe the abnormal cells that may be seen in Pap tests. In the Bethesda system (the major system used to report the results of Pap tests in the United States), precancerous conditions are divided into low-grade and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs). Squamous cells are thin, flat cells that cover internal and external surfaces of the body, including the tissue that forms the surface of the skin, the lining of the hollow organs of the body, and the passages of the genital, respiratory, and digestive tracts. Other terms sometimes used to describe these abnormal cells are cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and dysplasia. Low-grade SILs (mild dysplasias) are a common condition, especially in young women. The majority of low-grade SILs return to normal over months to a few years. Sometimes, low-grade SILs can progress to high-grade SILs. High-grade SILs are not cancer, but they may eventually lead to cancer and should be treated by a doctor.

Cervical Cancer & HPV - Behavioral Risk Factors

Behaviors such as beginning sexual intercourse at an early age (especially age 16 or younger) and having many sexual partners increase the chance that a woman will develop an HPV infection in the cervix. Most HPV infections go away on their own without causing any type of abnormality. It is important to note that infection with high-risk HPV types may increase the chance that mild abnormalities will progress to more severe abnormalities or cervical cancer. Still, of the women who do develop abnormal cell changes with high-risk types of HPV, only a small percentage will develop cervical cancer if the abnormal cells are not removed. Studies suggest that whether a woman develops cervical cancer depends on a variety of factors acting together with high-risk HPVs. The factors that may increase the risk of cancer in women with HPV infection include smoking, having many children, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Info Source: Cancer Information Service

Cervical Cancer & HPV - Alternative Names

          Cancer of the Cervix, Cervix Cancer, Cancer of the Uterine Cervix, Cervical Carcinoma

Cervical Cancer & HPV - Common Misspellings

          Cervixal Cancer, Cervicial Cancer, Cervical Cancar, Curvical Cancer

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