While cervical cancer ranks 4th among the most common cancers in the world, it rises to the 2nd rank in women under the age of 45. Worldwide, 604 thousand women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year, and about half of these patients die.
However, cervical cancer, one of the most common cancers in the world, can actually be prevented with regular screening. Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist and Gynecological Oncology Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Serkan Erkanli gave information about 10 wrongs that are thought to be true in society about cervical cancer.
The most important risk factor for cervical cancer is oncogenic human papilloma viruses, and these viruses are responsible for 99 percent of the disease. HPV vaccines, which prevent oncogenic HPV infection, are the most effective protection method against this type of cancer.
Thanks to vaccines, the risk of developing cervical cancer can be prevented by 70-90%. Other preventive methods are screening programs in which smear and HPV-based tests are applied. Thanks to these screening tests, cervical cancer can be prevented at an early stage, even before it develops. When the diagnosis of cervical cancer is made, it is important to apply the right treatment as soon as possible.
Cervical cancer is not seen at a young age: Wrong!
Fact: Cervical cancer is usually seen in women in the 35-45 age group. However, this type of cancer can be seen in the advanced age group, as well as in women younger than 35 years of age. In fact, approximately 60 thousand women under the age of 35 are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year in the world. Women younger than 21 have a very low risk of developing cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer progresses insidiously, does not show any symptoms: Wrong!
Fact: Pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix usually do not cause symptoms. For this reason, it is vital that the screening program be performed on women who have no complaints. According to the stage of cervical cancer; It can give symptoms in the form of abnormal vaginal bleeding and bleeding after sexual intercourse. In the following periods; irregular breakthrough bleeding, pain in the groin and abdomen, if the cancer has progressed further; It can manifest itself with signals such as pain in the kidneys or legs and swelling in the legs.
Cervical cancer cannot be detected early: Wrong!
The truth: Cervical cancer can be detected early, even when it is still in the stage of precancerous lesions. It takes about 15-20 years for the precancerous lesions to transform into cervical cancer. In women with a weakened immune system, this period may decrease to 5-10 years. This time interval allows the detection of precancerous lesions with smear and HPV-based tests before they turn into cancer.
Cervical cancer is not seen in women with a single sexual partner: Wrong!
Fact: HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) is mostly transmitted sexually. HPV from a relationship with a single partner causes abnormalities in cells, and if not detected early, it can lead to cancer.
I don't need a smear test because I have no complaints: Wrong!
The truth: Precancerous lesions of the cervix do not cause any complaints. Symptoms appear only when cancer develops. For this reason, it is necessary to start the smear test, which is cervical cancer screening, at the age of 21 without any actual complaints, and HPV-based tests at the age of 25-30.
To prevent cervical cancer, I have to have a smear test frequently: Wrong!
The truth: The smear test, which detects cellular changes that can turn into cervical cancer, is started at the age of 21 and continued every 3 years until the age of 65. While a single smear test can detect 55 percent of precancerous lesions, a single HPV test can detect 95 percent of these lesions. Therefore, the HPV test is added to the smear test after the age of 30. When HPV-based tests are normal, the next test is recommended every 5 years.
In risky situations or if the results are abnormal, the durations of both tests can be shortened. If there is no risky picture, having the smear test frequently does not increase the chance of early diagnosis of cervical cancer, and may lead to anxiety and unnecessary biopsy due to the possibility of being mistaken.
Vaccination doesn't work after you've had an HPV infection: Wrong!
Fact: There are about 14 types of oncogenic human papillomaviruses that cause cervical cancer. A patient infected with one of these can be protected against other types included in the vaccine, thanks to HPV vaccines. In addition, the immunity provided by the vaccines against this virus shows a stronger effect than the immunity developed by the body against the infection.
I don't need to have a smear test after vaccination: Wrong!
The truth: Although HPV vaccines are highly protective against cervical cancer, they cannot prevent cervical cancer 100 percent. Therefore, routine cervical cancer screenings should be neglected after vaccination.Failure to do so is vitally important.
The presence of abnormal cells in the smear test means cervical cancer: Wrong!
Fact: The presence of abnormal cells indicates an increased likelihood of precancerous lesions. However, this picture does not mean that the patient has cervical cancer. What is more important here is that the rate of precancerous cell disorders has increased compared to the normal smear test result. Depending on the degree of cellular abnormality in these patients, it may be necessary to perform a biopsy from the cervix. In this way, precancerous lesions can be detected and treated at an early stage, thus preventing cervical cancer.
My HPV test is positive, I will get cervical cancer: Wrong!
The truth: More than 80 percent of women are infected with HPV at least once in their lifetime. However, the body's immune system clears HPV infection in more than 90 percent of patients within 2-3 years. In 10% of patients, HPV infection is permanent. Close follow-up of this group of patients is very important for early diagnosis and treatment of precancerous lesions. Since every HPV does not cause cancer, when the test is positive, a biopsy or close follow-up of the patient may be required depending on the HPV infection and the result of the smear test.