Did you know? Although breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, the second most common cancer in women, such as “cervical cancer,” is another serious disease that requires vigilance and regular screening as well, especially for women aged 30-50 years. According to statistics from the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, the number of deaths fromcervical cancer is as high as 4,500 cases per year, averaging 12 people per day, and there are also as many as 8,000 new cases annually.
Interesting Topics
- How is HPV, the virus that causescervical cancer, transmitted?
- 7 Symptoms ofcervical cancer that require urgent medical attention
- Who is at risk of developingcervical cancer?
- Methods of screening forcervical cancer
- How to preventcervical cancer
How is HPV, the virus that causescervical cancer, transmitted?
Current studies clearly confirm that “cervical cancer” mostly results from infection with cancer-causing types of HPV virus, which is easily transmitted through sexual intercourse and contact with carriers that introduce the virus into the vagina. Once HPV enters the body, the disease progresses over about 10-15 years. During this period, there are no symptoms or warning signs. By the time symptoms become clear, women infected with HPV usually are over 30 years old, and by then, the condition is often severe. Therefore, screening before symptoms appear should not be neglected.
7 Symptoms ofcervical cancer that require urgent medical attention
Women aged 30 and above should undergocervical cancer screening even if they have no symptoms. If any of the following warning signs appear, they should see a doctor immediately.
- Vaginal bleeding, bleeding after sexual intercourse, or spotting between periods
- Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
- Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss
- Discharge from the vagina or abnormal vaginal discharge, whether watery or thick, mucus-like, pus-like, blood-tinged, or containing tissue fragments, with or without odor
- Blood in stool or urine (found in cases where cancer has spread to the bladder and lower colon)
- In cases where the lesion is large, it may cause dull pain in the lower abdomen, difficulty urinating or defecating, or pressure on the ureters causing kidney dysfunction, potentially leading to kidney failure
- Swelling of the legs, which may indicatecervical cancer has spread to the lymph nodes
Who is at risk of developingcervical cancer?
- Women who had sexual intercourse at a young age (under 18 years old)
- Women with multiple sexual partners or whose partners have multiple partners
- Women who have given birth to more than 3 children
- Having diseases that cause immunodeficiency
- History of sexually transmitted infections such as herpes or gonorrhea
- Women who smoke
Methods of screening forcervical cancer
Currently, there are 3 methods forcervical cancer screening.
- Pap smear
This test involves the doctor using a spatula to collect tissue from the cervix before sending it to the laboratory for examination. This method has been used for a long time and is inexpensive, but it may not be very accurate. It is recommended to have this test at least once a year.
- ThinPrep
ThinPrep screening involves the doctor inserting an instrument through the vagina to collect some cervical cells for detailed laboratory examination.
|
When should you get a ThinPrep test? |
|
| 3 years (after first sexual intercourse)
or women aged 21 and above |
Should start screening every 1-2 years |
| Women aged 30 and above | Screen annually (for 3 consecutive years) |
| Women aged 70 and above | If results are normal for 3 consecutive years,
screening may be discontinued |
| Women who used Diethylstilbestrol during pregnancy
or those with low immunity |
Screen annually |
There is no need to feel worried or embarrassed with your doctor. Every woman should not delay starting screening and regularly observing symptoms ofcervical cancer to reduce risk because this silent threat can progress and become harder to treat. Besides radiation or chemotherapy, patients may need to have their uterus removed. Therefore, women who have ever had sexual intercourse at any age or women over 30 who have never had sexual intercourse should undergocervical cancer screening annually because this disease can be cured if detected early.
- HPV DNA
This is a deep DNA-level test using biomolecular techniques that can detect HPV infection before cervical cancer develops, allowing prevention and treatment of HPV before it progresses to cervical cancer. This method is highly accurate and allows screening intervals of up to 5 years.
How to preventcervical cancer and stay away from it
- Avoid having multiple sexual partners
- Use condoms every time during sexual intercourse
- If you experience abnormal symptoms such as unusual vaginal discharge or bleeding after sexual intercourse, see a doctor
- Regularly screen for cancer, especially cervical cancer, at least once a year
