Spreading Cervical Cancer Awareness

Cervical cancer is widely known as the second most common cancer among women. Fred Lewis at Docturs.com/dd informs that according to a survey, only 40% of American women had heard of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and only 20% had heard of its link to cervical cancer.

[USPRwire, Fri Jul 01 2011] Cervical cancer is widely known as the second most common cancer among women. Fred Lewis at Docturs.com/dd informs that according to a survey, only 40% of American women had heard of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and only 20% had heard of its link to cervical cancer. This shows the awareness about cervical cancer and its consequences. Docturs.com offers detailed information on cervical cancer for the spread of its awareness.

The history of cervical cancer can be traced back to 400 BCE when Hippocrates said that it was incurable and in 1928, pap smear tests were introduce to screen for cervical cancer. The first HPV vaccine was approved by FDA in 2006 and epidemiologists working in the early 20th century noted that cervical cancer behaved like a sexually transmitted disease. The truth about cervical cancer was discovered gradually and today, it can be cured if the tumor is benign and it has not metastasized.

The prevention of cervical cancer is possible by following a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition intake, regular exercise, safety and hygiene, avoiding stress, balancing careers and social life, using barrier contraceptives and having a safe sex life with monogamous relationship and HPV vaccination. ‘Prevention is better than cure’, but if cervical cancer is not prevented, it can be treated through radiation therapy, surgery or chemotherapy.

Health news talk about cervical cancer being the most preventable cancer, now that pap smears have been introduced to be taken regularly, so that it can be detected in early stages and can be cured. The numbers have dropped drastically over the past 20 years, with the spread of awareness, but it is also true that still, over 9,000 women in the U.S. develop cervical cancer every year.

The risk of cervical cancer can be reduced in many ways like getting regular pap smears to detect early cervical changes, having sex with one partner so that there is no risk of developing HPV and avoid smoking – because if it is combined with HPV infection, it can accelerate cervical dysplasia. There is always a risk of HIV if one is not practicing safe sex using condoms and it increases the risk of developing cervical cancer, follow-up on abnormal Pap test result or colposcopy result is also important as dysplasia can recur, and if it remains undetected, can turn into cervical cancer. Getting HPV vaccine before the age of 27 prevents high risk strains and vaccines are most effective when given to young girls before they become sexually active. There is also one HPV vaccine which is approved by FDA to give to young girls at the age of 9.

Dennis Frederick at Docturs talks about the detailed symptoms, causes and treatment of cervical cancer for a better awareness and a safe and alert life. Docturs is medical vertical offering detailed information on every medical topic for health and wellness.

For more information visit http://docturs.com/dd/pg/groups/15901/cervical-cancer/