FOR THE most part, cervical cancer (cancer of the cervix) does not occur in women by chance. Various studies indicate that at least 95 per cent of cervical cancer cases are caused by a germ, known as the human papillomavirus (HPV).
More than 100 types of HPV have been identified by scientists, and they say that most of them are harmless but about 30 of them are spread through sexual contact. Some of those types, spread through sexual contact, have been linked to the development of cervical cancer and other genital cancers.
The U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) states that although HPVs are transmitted during sexual intercourse, usually a medical doctor would not be able to say with certainty that an infection had occurred. It appears, based on the various studies published, that in most women exposed to the virus, their immune system can prevent the virus from doing harm. However, not all women are so fortunate and the virus will persist in the body for years, eventually changing the cells in the cervix from normal ones to cancerous ones. The changes in the cells occur very slowly through the phases of viral infection, becoming precancerous and then invasive cervical cancer.
These slow changes in the cells make the medical intervention the Pap smear a useful test to detect the precancerous changes and treat the woman before the changes reach full-blown cancer.
It appears that more research is required to clearly define the factors that make some women more susceptible to the ravages of this virus. However, the NCI and other research agencies are studying the modus operandi of these very intelligent viruses. The scientists want to discern how HPVs cause normal cells to change into precancerous ones and how these changes can be prevented. They have gone as far as to create vaccines for some types of the HPV such as the HPV-16 and the HPV-18, and these vaccines are being studied in clinical trials. If an effective vaccine can be created against the HPV then a disease such as cervical cancer can be brought under control.
So far, the researchers have identified proteins E5, E6 and E7 produced by HPVs that interfere with the functioning of the cells in the cervix. This knowledge could prove invaluable in interrupting the action of HPV infection.
Without an available vaccine, the medical advice is to implement lifestyle strategies such as avoiding multiple sexual
partnerships and using condoms to prevent the spread of HPVs.
Other types of HPV may not cause
cervical cancer but are linked to genital warts, according to the (U.S) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The warts may appear on or around the genitals or anus. Another type of HPV causes common skin warts such as those found on the hands and feet. These contagious warts, the NIAID indicates, are spread during oral, genital or anal sex with an
infected partner, usually within three months of contact.
In women the warts may be found on the outside and inside of the vagina, on the opening to the womb (that is the cervix) or around the anus. However, warts are less common in men but may occur on the tip
of the penis, the shaft, scrotum or around the anus. The warts may also appear in the
mouth or throat if oral sex was performed with an infected person, the NIAID
indicates.
RISK FACTORS
The Jamaica Cancer Society indicates that risk for cervical cancer increases:
when a woman has many sexual partners the more sexual partners you come in contact with and the number of partners which your sexual partner had in the past greatly increases your chances for acquiring HPV.
early sexual activity, meaning having your first sexual intercourse before the age of 18, increases the risk of HPV. Scientists believe that cells in under-18 women are immature and more susceptible to the precancerous changes linked to HPV.
women who have other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV/AIDS, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, have greater exposure to HPV.
women who smoke cigarette also appear to be at greater risk for HPV, though scientists have not yet figured out the exact mechanism. Cigarette smoking apparently increases the risk of precancerous changes and cancer in the cervix.
