-- National Cancer Prevention and Treatment Publicity Week Series of Popular Science (6): Cervical Cancer
Sun Ning Su Xiaoming, Department of Radiation Therapy, Strategic Support Force Characteristic Medical Center (formerly 306 Hospital).
Edited by Liu Yan/Cui Yan, Medical Science Popularization Center
As a common female malignant tumor, cervical cancer has become more and more young in recent years, and as a cancer that occupies the first place in female reproductive tract tumors, cervical cancer seriously threatens women's life and health, so it is necessary to understand the scientific knowledge of cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer, also known as cervical cancer, is a malignant tumor that occurs in the cervix and is the most common gynecological malignant tumor in the female reproductive tract. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most important risk factor for the development of the disease, and people can prevent cervical cancer through regular screening and vaccination. Early cervical cancer has a high cure rate and a relatively good prognosis.
The main symptoms of cervical cancer
Patients with early-stage cervical cancer may not have any symptoms and are usually detected by screening. However, as the disease progresses, patients will have symptoms such as contact vaginal bleeding, abnormal vaginal discharge such as bloody vaginal discharge, increased vaginal discharge, irregular vaginal bleeding or postmenopausal vaginal bleeding, and vaginal discharge. In the late stage, symptoms such as difficulty in urinating and urinating, anemia and so on.
Risk factors associated with cervical lesions
(1) The main causative factor: persistent infection of high-risk HPV (the HPV infection rate in men can be as high as 45%, and most of them have no obvious symptoms, which is more likely to cause infection in partners).
(2) Other high-risk factors
◆ Have a family history of cervical cancer and other diseases.
◆ Premature sex (first sexual activity < 16 years old).
◆ יהוה (18 יהוה) יהוה
◆ Multiple sexual partners or sexual partners with multiple sexual partners.
◆ HIV infection.
◆ Have other sexually transmitted diseases.
◆ Autoimmune diseases or long-term immunosuppressants.
◆ Have long-term smoking, drug abuse, alcohol and other bad habits.
Cervical cancer prevention
(1) Maintain a healthy lifestyle, change bad habits, quit smoking and drinking, eat reasonably, get enough sleep, exercise moderately, have a peaceful mind, and maintain a happy mood.
(2) Establish a sense of self-protection, safe sex, correct use of condoms, avoid the occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases, avoid early sexual life, too many sexual partners, avoid long-term use of oral contraceptives, avoid multiple pregnancies, multiple births, multiple abortions, etc.
(3) HPV vaccination to prevent the occurrence of cervical cancer by blocking HPV infection.
(4) Regular cervical cancer screening, early detection of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL), and timely treatment of high-grade lesions are effective measures to prevent cervical invasive cancer.
Cervical cancer screening methods
Cervical cytology is the basic method of cervical intraepithelial lesions and early cervical cancer screening, screening begins 3 years after the start of sexual life, HPV testing can be combined with cytology for cervical cancer screening in women over 25 years old.
Cervical cancer treatment
(1) Surgical treatment: Patients with early-stage cervical cancer can completely remove the tumor through surgery, and postoperative adjuvant chemoradiotherapy can be performed according to the tumor condition after surgery.
(2) Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is an important anti-tumor systemic therapy, and chemotherapy is mainly used in the treatment of cervical cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, postoperative or post-radiotherapy adjuvant therapy, palliative chemotherapy, etc., and is the main treatment method for patients with advanced cervical cancer.
(3) Radiotherapy: With the advancement of radiotherapy technology, radiotherapy is widely used in the anti-tumor treatment of cervical cancer. Radiotherapy for cervical cancer is divided into teletherapy and brachytherapy, and radiotherapy is suitable for all stages of cervical cancer.
(4) Targeted therapy and immunotherapy: With the advancement and development of medicine, these treatments target specific targets or the immune system of tumors, and have more precise and individualized treatment effects.
It is very important for women to pay more attention to their own health, and understanding the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer and actively taking corresponding measures will help us better protect ourselves.
(The picture comes from the Internet)