Hello everyone, I am Zhang Xiuling, chief physician of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shenyang Medical College - Liaoning Provincial Veterans General Hospital, and today I will talk to you about some relevant knowledge about cervical cancer.
Q: What kind of people are susceptible to cervical cancer?
A: The first is that people who are at high risk of HPV infection, or have a history of HPV infection, or have sexually transmitted diseases, and for patients who have had sex too early, have multiple sexual partners, smoke, have low immunity, or have been previously treated for cervical cancer and precancerous lesions, they are prone to cervical cancer, which means that the risk of cervical cancer increases.
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Q: So what is HPV? Does HPV infection necessarily lead to cervical cancer?
A: HPV is an abbreviation for human papillomavirus, which is divided into high-risk and low-risk types according to its pathogenicity. Therefore, infection with low-risk HPV generally does not develop into cervical cancer, and persistent infection of high-risk HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer. HPV types 16 and 18 are the most common, and HPV is mainly transmitted through sexual activity, but can also be transmitted through contact with skin and mucous membranes. Clinically, about 90% of sexually active men or women will be exposed to HPV at some point in their lives, and the HPV infection rate in the general population in mainland China is about 15%.
Although HPV infection is very common, about 90% of infected people will be automatically cleared within two years of HPV infection, and less than 10% of people will develop persistent HPV infection. Then, after 10 to 20 years, it may develop into cervical cancer, precancerous lesions or invasive cancer. And from persistent HPV infection to low-grade or high-grade lesions, in the process, it is a reversible. That is, even high-grade lesions can be reversed to lower-grade lesions.
Low-grade lesions may resolve without any treatment. However, please note that clinical follow-up must be done well, and high-grade lesions must be actively treated.
Q: Can cervical cancer be prevented?
A: Cervical cancer is the only malignant tumor with a clear etiology, and persistent infection of high-risk HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer. Moreover, cervical cancer is currently the only malignant tumor that can be eliminated through etiological prevention, early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment.
Author: Zhang Xiuling
Source: The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shenyang Medical College, Liaoning Provincial Veterans General Hospital
Editor: Pei Li
Proofreading: Chi Qian
First trial: Guo Xinyu
Review: Xu Jiang