by Isabelle Esteves

Created on: May 28, 2008   Last Updated: August 17, 2008

Ten thousand woman will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year. Of that 10,000 up to 4,000 will die and that is just in the United States. World wide there will be over 500,000 women affected. One of the greatest tragedies of cervical cancer is that it often strikes young women. It may affected them when they have young children or before they have had any children. The treatment will often make having children impossible. Early detection is the best weapon we have against this killer of women.

Cervical Cancer has been getting a lot of press lately. There is a new vaccine that will help prevent a certain form of cervical cancer. It is being touted as the new penicillin, the wonder drug of the 21st century. Clearly it is a great new weapon in the doctors arsenal against cervical cancer but it should not be treated as if it is the end all. It can only prevent about 70% of the cervical cancer cases. While it is a great discovery, it is not and should not take the place of the yearly PAP test.

The vaccine is made to be given to young girls and women. For the rest of us we need to rely on the PAP smear and our own observations to provide us with the best chance of early diagnosis.

The early signs of cervical cancer are:
Vaginal bleeding when there shouldn't be any, after sex, after menopause and
between regular periods
Vaginal discharge that can have a foul smell and be watery or bloody
Pain in the pelvic area
Pain during sexual intercourse

There are things that increase your risk of contracting cervical cancer:
Multiple sexual partners increases your changes of being infected with HPV
Having sex before the age of 18
Having a compromised immune system
STD's
Smoking

It is important that you start having PAP smears within 3 years of when you become sexually active or by the age of 21. For women ages 21-29 you should have a yearly PAP test, from 30-69 every two years and after 70 you may stop having PAP tests if you have had three normal tests in a row and no abnormal tests in the last 10 years.

If discovered early the chances of a complete cure are very good. Treatment can involve radiation, chemotherapy, radical trachelectomy and hysterectomy. If the cancer is discovered early then the removal of the cervix with a check of the pelvic lymph glands may be enough. If the cancer is more advanced the addition of radiation and chemotherapy may be advisable. If it is advanced then a radical hysterectomy with radiation and/or chemotherapy may be the best course of action.

The diagnosis of cervical cancer doesn't need to be a death sentence but it is important to do everything you can to make sure that it is diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Learn more about this author, Isabelle Esteves.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.