Facts You Need to Know About Cervical Cancer!

HPV VIRUS IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF CERVICAL CANCER

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers that affect a woman's reproductive organs. Left untreated, the cancer spreads and makes it more difficult to treat. Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, are responsible for the majority of cervical cancer cases.

The immune system response in most women prevents the virus from doing harm after being they are exposed to HPV. In a small group of women the virus survives for years. Then it eventually converts some cells on the surface of the cervix into cancer cells. Because their immune system is weaker, older women are most at risk of developing cervical cancer.

REDUCED COSTS

Cervical cancer is a disease that progresses through pre-cancerous and cancerous stages over a number of years. More importantly, cervical cancer is virtually 100% curable if it is detected and treated appropriately in the earlier stages of progression. Conversely, the cost of treatment increases significantly if cervical disease is discovered at later stages.

The National Cancer Institute estimates that about 3.5 million Pap smears are found to be inconclusive each year in the US, often leading to unnecessary colposcopy, biopsy and office visits. The average cost of the standard management of such cases is about $1,200 per case. The NCI estimates the cost to the US health care system at about $3.6 billion each year. HPV typing of samples diagnosed as ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance), or Low-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LSIL) may help triage women into conservative follow-up, or colposcopy and biopsy.

Thanks to ThinPrep® Pap test screening, the death rate from cervical cancer can be greatly decreased. ThinPrep® offers early and accurate detection of even precancerous cells. With earlier detection, less invasive treatment options offer greater success rates.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF CERVICAL CANCER

Since early cervical cancer generally produces no signs or symptoms, detection of the abnormal cells are important with ThinPrep®.

As the cancer progresses, these signs and symptoms may appear:

• Bleeding from the vagina after intercourse, between periods or after menopause.

• Watery, bloody discharge from the vagina that may be heavy and have a foul odor.

•  Many Sexual Partners - The number of sexual partners one has had and the number of partners that those partners have had greatly increases the chance of acquiring HPV.
• Early Sexual Activity - Having first sexual intercourse before age 18 increases the risk of HPV. HPV seems to affect immature cells more easily and can make precancerous changes to them.
• Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) - STDs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis or HIV/AIDS, increases the chance of being exposed to HPV.
• Cigarette Smoking - The link cigarette smoking has to cervical cancer isn't known, but tobacco use does increase the risk of precancerous changes as well as the risk of developing cervical cancer.

THINPREP'S INVALUABLE ROLE IN DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

• Delaying first intercourse
• Having fewer sexual partners
• Using condoms
• Having routine Pap tests