Cervical cancer Health Article

Support Groups

National Cervical Cancer Coalition - http://www.nccc-online.org/

Expectations (prognosis)

Many factors influence the outcome of cervical cancer. These include: 

• The type of cancer
• The stage of the disease
• The age and general physical condition of the woman

Pre-cancer conditions are completely curable when followed up and treated properly. The chance of being alive in 5 years (5-year survival rate) for cancer that has spread to the inside of the cervix walls but not outside the cervix area is 92%.

However, the 5-year survival rate falls steadily as the cancer spreads into other areas.

Complications

• Some types of cervical cancer do not respond well to treatment.
• The cancer may come back (recur) after treatment.
• Women who have treatment to save the uterus have a high risk of the cancer coming back (recurrence). 
• Surgery and radiation can cause problems with sexual, bowel, and bladder function.

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you:

• Are a sexually active woman who has not had a Pap smear in the past year
• Are at least 20 years old and have never had a pelvic examination and Pap smear
• Think your mother may have taken DES when she was pregnant with you
• Have not had regular Pap smears (ask your health care provider how often you should have one performed)

Prevention

A new vaccine to prevent cervical cancer is now available. In June 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine called Gardasil, which prevents infection against the two types of HPV responsible for the majority of cervical cancer cases. Studies have shown that the vaccine appears to prevent early-stage cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. Gardasil is the first approved vaccine targeted specifically to prevent any type of cancer.

Practicing safe sex (using condoms) also reduces your risk of HPV and other sexually-transmitted diseases. HPV infection causes genital warts. These may be barely visible or several inches wide. If a woman sees warts on her partner's genitals, she should avoid intercourse with that person.

To further reduce the risk of cervical cancer, women should limit their number of sexual partners and avoid partners who participate in high-risk sexual activities.

Getting regular Pap smears can help detect pre-cancerous changes, which can be treated before they turn into cervical cancer. Pap smears work very well in spotting such changes, but they must be done regularly. Annual pelvic examinations, including a pap smear, should start when a woman becomes sexually active, or by the age of 20 in a non-sexually active woman. If abnormal changes are seen, a colposcopy with biopsy should be performed.

If you smoke, quit. Cigarette smoking is associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer.

References

Lowy DR, Schiller JT. Prophylactic human papillomavirus vaccines. J Clin Invest. 2006 May;116(5):1167-73.

Villa LL, Ault KA, Giuliano AR, et al.  Immunologic responses following administration of a vaccine targeting human papillomavirus Types 6, 11, 16, and 18. Vaccine. 2006 May 15 [Epub ahead of print].

US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Licenses New Vaccine for Prevention of Cervical Cancer and Other Diseases in Females Caused by Human Papillomavirus. Rockville, MD: National Press Office; June 8, 2006. P06-77.