Women should pay attention to four misunderstandings about cervical cancer. Some common knowledge about cervical cancer

Cervical cancer, a female malignancy with a second highest incidence rate after breast cancer, kills nearly 300,000 women worldwide each year.

In recent years, the increasing incidence of cervical cancer and the younger age of onset have aroused people's attention to this disease. However, at present, many women still have misunderstandings about cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is actually not terrible, it is a preventable and curable disease.

Be aware of four misconceptions about cervical cancer

Myth 1: HPV infection = cervical cancer

The occurrence of cervical cancer is closely related to a virus called human papillomavirus (HpV). Studies have shown that persistent infection with high-risk types of human papillomavirus is a necessary factor for the occurrence of cervical cancer and its precancerous lesions. This virus can be detected in the bodies of the vast majority of cervical cancer patients.

Any woman who has sex may be infected with HPV through sexual contact. About 80% of women have been infected with this virus in their lifetime.

However, being infected with HPV does not necessarily lead to cervical cancer, because every healthy woman has a certain degree of immunity. Studies have shown that after being infected with HPV, the immune system of most women can eliminate the HPV that enters the body. Only a few women cannot eliminate the HPV that enters the body, causing persistent HPV infection, which may cause cervical precancerous lesions. Some of these patients will further develop cervical cancer, and this process takes about 5 to 10 years.

Whether HPV infection will progress to cervical cancer is also related to the type of HPV. There are about 100 subtypes of HPV virus. The most common types of HPV infection in the female reproductive tract are 6, 11, 16, and 18. Among them, HpV6 and HpV11 are low-risk types, while HpV16 and 18 are high-risk types. Cervical cancer studies from all over the world have found that HpV16 and HpV18 have the highest infection rates in cervical cancer patients.

Myth 2: Cervical erosion can turn into cancer

Many women have the misunderstanding that cervical erosion can cause cervical cancer, and therefore they are very afraid of cervical erosion. In fact, there is no necessary connection between the two.

Medically speaking, when the columnar epithelium in the female cervical canal turns outward and replaces the squamous epithelium, doctors will find that the cervix is ​​locally congested and appears red during examination, which is called "cervical erosion". Erosion is not "rotten" in the true sense. It can be a physiological phenomenon. Under the action of estrogen, the columnar epithelium in the cervical canal of women of childbearing age turns outward and replaces the squamous epithelium of the cervix, presenting an "eroded" appearance. However, "erosion" is rare in women before puberty and during menopause because of the relatively low estrogen levels in their bodies.

It is worth noting that cervical erosion can also be a common inflammatory condition. Early cervical cancer is very similar in appearance to cervical erosion and can be easily confused. Therefore, if cervical erosion is found during a gynecological examination, it should not be taken lightly. Further cytological examination and biopsy are needed to confirm the diagnosis, rule out the possibility of cervical cancer, and provide correct treatment.

Myth 3: Not paying attention to gynecological examinations

There is a gradual natural course from infection with HPV to the development of cervical cancer, which generally takes about 5 to 10 years. Therefore, as long as women undergo regular cervical cancer screening, it is entirely possible to detect the "signs" of the disease in time and nip it in the bud. At present, the five-year survival rate of patients with early cervical cancer after treatment can reach 85% to 90%.

Women of childbearing age must not neglect annual gynecological examinations, including cervical cytology examinations such as Pap smears or liquid-based cytology (TCT) examinations, which are important methods for detecting cervical precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. Especially the following groups who are prone to cervical cancer should not take it lightly:

People who are persistently infected with high-risk types of HPV, i.e., those who are positive for HpV16 or HpV18 in HPV virus testing;

People with bad sexual behavior factors, including starting sexual life too early, having multiple sexual partners, and poor sexual hygiene, will increase the risk of cervical cancer.

Women who marry and have children early and have multiple pregnancies;

Patients with sexually transmitted diseases, whether male or female, suffering from genital warts, syphilis, gonorrhea, etc., will increase the risk of cervical cancer in women;

People with weakened immune system, smoking and malnutrition.

Misconception 4: Ignoring “clues”

Cervical cancer may not cause any discomfort to patients in the early stages, and some symptoms are easily ignored. Women of childbearing age should learn to pay attention to the "health alarms" sent by the body, which may be just "clues" but may contain hidden dangers.

Contact bleeding mainly refers to bleeding after sexual intercourse or after gynecological examination, defecation or urination. Even if it happens only once and in small amounts, you should be vigilant.

Abnormal vaginal discharge Most cervical cancer patients have varying degrees of increased vaginal discharge. Therefore, women should pay attention to the characteristics, amount and odor of vaginal discharge. Especially when a large amount of watery or mucous vaginal discharge is found, it must be paid attention.

Cervical cancer has a high rate of early treatment

Previously, the age range for cervical cancer incidence was mainly in the 50s, but later it gradually dropped to the 40s, 30s, and even the current 20s.

The cure rate of cervical cancer is very high. It can reach 80% if it is discovered in stage I and 60% if it is discovered in stage II.

Cervical cancer progresses slowly from the early stage to the middle and late stages, taking about 10 to 20 years. Of course, it can be faster or slower.

Cervical cancer treatment is of great value

From the above data, we can see that cervical cancer has great therapeutic value. It is not like some cancers, which have a low cure rate, cause great pain to patients, and have relatively low therapeutic value.

Therefore, patients with cervical cancer should actively seek treatment, because the cure rate is indeed quite high. Even if it enters the late stage, it does not mean that you can give up. You should firmly believe in treatment, which is the first step to curing cancer.

For cancer patients, the psychological pressure they face is undoubtedly very great, so cancer patients, especially cervical cancer patients, must not give up, they must trust doctors, and face treatment with a positive attitude. This healthy psychological suggestion itself can increase the chances of curing the disease.

Cervical cancer treatment cannot be delayed

As mentioned earlier, cervical cancer has a high cure rate, and the transition from the early stage to the middle and late stages is slow, but it is cancer after all, so you must not let your guard down, especially once you find it, you must not delay the treatment. The earlier the treatment, the greater the possibility of recovery. If it is true as the news said, the actress delayed treatment for 4 months after the discovery of cervical cancer, which undoubtedly increases the risk of the disease. Moreover, after the cancer is discovered, if the work is particularly busy and you do not get the necessary rest, your immunity will be reduced and the cancer will be aggravated.

Nowadays, since many women have a strong health awareness, cervical cancer can often be detected in the early stage, so it can be treated early. However, in central and western my country, due to economic development restrictions, many women have no awareness of physical examinations, and cervical cancer is often not discovered until the late stage, resulting in a relatively high mortality rate. This also reminds women to establish a health awareness of regular physical examinations and early treatment.

Cervical cancer is easy to detect early

Another characteristic of cervical cancer is that it is easy to detect in the early stages. Whether it is a routine gynecological examination or a more professional thin-layer cytology examination, it can detect signs of cervical cancer in the early stages.

In addition, some physical signs may also indicate cervical cancer, such as vaginal contact bleeding (such as during sexual intercourse), bleeding during bowel movements, etc. If you have these symptoms, you can go to the hospital for a gynecological examination.

Cervical cancer is closely related to irregular sexual life, such as starting sexual life too early, having sexual life too frequently, etc. Therefore, women, especially young women, need to change their unhealthy sexual lifestyle and pay attention to cleanliness and hygiene to reduce the risk of cervical cancer.