Cervical Cancer and Dysplasia
The cervical cancer and dysplasia prevalence is one of the most important concerns for health care providers in many countries. Each year millions of new cases of these conditions are reported. Several hundred thousand women die each year from cervical cancer. As a rule, cervical cancer develops from cervical dysplasia within several years. It is important to know that cervical cancer and cervical dysplasia may not cause evident symptoms.
Women who have history of smoking, depressed immune system, sex with multiple partners, early sexual activity, are more likely to develop cervical cancer and dysplasia. Besides, an important risk factor for these conditions is the presence of human papilloma virus (HPV) in the genital area. A healthy lifestyle and avoiding risky sexual contacts help to decrease the risk of cervical cancer and dysplasia. Women should also have regular pelvic examinations. Cervical dysplasia can be found at early stage through Pap smear testing, that is why it is necessary to have this test annually.
The treatment of cervical cancer and cervical dysplasia is much more effective if these conditions are detected early. A very effective screening test for diseases of the cervix is Papanicolaou test (Pap smear). This diagnostic procedure allows to detect abnormal changes in the epithelium of the cervix. It is important to undergo Pap test regularly, because it helps to avoid serious cervical diseases.
There may be different treatments used for cervical cancer and dysplasia. Sometimes cervical lesions are removed through surgical methods such as LEEP procedure, cone biopsy, cryosurgery or laser therapy. The choice of treatment method for women with cervical cancer and dysplasia depends on the stage of the disease. In addition, doctors consider the risks of possible complications associated with surgical or other procedures.
There are different methods for prevention, screening and treatment of cervical cancer and dysplasia. Modern technologies to detect these conditions include HPV testing, improved techniques of cytological analysis, and others. New screening technologies allow for revealing the presence of precancerous cells as well as for the higher efficacy assessment of the risks of cancer. In addition, since the main etiological factor for cervical cancer and dysplasia is human papilloma virus, there is much attention devoted to the development of the vaccine against this virus.
