HPV Cervical Cancer
More than 76 % of the women in the U.S. have never heard of the virus that might lead to cervical cancer. The scary news is that 24 million Americans may have HPV and not even know it. The really sobering fact is HPV causes 100% of all cervical cancers. HPV cervical cancer is a serious medical condition that can be fatal.
There are close to 70 types of HPV. Most people are only familiar with HPV genital warts, which occur in only 1% of sexually active adults while many infected people never know they’ve contracted a virus. The types of HPV virus known to cause genital warts have nothing to do with the HPV cervical cancer risk.
Genital warts are related to HPV types 6 and 11 usually while HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33 and 35 are the associated with HPV cervical cancer.
HPV cervical cancer types are also linked to an increased risk of cancers of the vulva, anus, and bladder.
While the signs of genital warts are of course evident there is no way to know when HPV is evident without taking a test for it. HPV viruses usually run their course and the body is able to defend against them, but problems associated with the different types, especially HPV cervical cancer call for a routine medical examination.
A Pap smear to detect HPV cervical cancer should be part of a woman’s yearly medical routine. The Pap smear doesn’t actually detect the HPV virus, but it doesn’t indicate abnormal cervical cell changes. These abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix can indicate HPV virus or other vaginal infections. When problems are found the physician will order further follow up tests to detect any further changes in the cervix.
If the Pap smear does indicate a problem it doesn’t necessary mean that HPV cervical cancer is present. It is believed that some types of changes in the cervical cells are a precursor to the condition for an invasive cancer of the cervix. In other words, the outer layer of cells is being replaced by cancer triggered by the HPV cervical cancer virus.
It’s important to find the problem quickly in order to successfully treat the condition. 90% of HPV cervical cancer deaths could be prevented through earlier detection using the Pap smear.