Cervical cancer myths and misunderstandings

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Everyday I will hear that cervical erosion will become cancerous when it is severe. In fact, not all of them will become cancerous. It can only be said that patients with cervical erosion are a dangerous group of cervical cancer. Cervical erosion can be cured if it is actively treated. Yes, it’s just that women often delay treatment, don’t take this disease seriously, and eventually make more serious diseases appear. The wrong understanding of cervical cancer is often the key point that causes the disease. It can be seen how well the disease is understood. importance.

Myth 1: HPV infection = cervical cancer

The occurrence of cervical cancer is closely related to a virus called human papilloma (HPV). Studies have shown that persistent infection with high-risk types of human papillomavirus is a necessary factor for cervical cancer and its precancerous lesions. This virus can be detected in the body of most cervical cancer patients.

Any woman who has sex may be infected with the HPV virus through sexual contact. About 80% of women have been infected with this virus during their lifetime.

However, HPV infection does not necessarily cause cervical cancer, because every healthy woman has a certain immunity. Studies have confirmed that after HPV infection, most women’s immune systems can clear HPV into the body. Only a small number of women can cause precancerous cervical lesions because they cannot destroy the HPV that has entered the body and cause continuous HPV infection. Some patients will further develop into cervical cancer, this process takes about 5 to 10 years.

Whether it will progress to cervical cancer after HPV infection is also related to the type of HPV. There are more than 100 subtypes of HPV virus. The most common types of HPV infection in female reproductive tracts are types 6, 11, 16, 18. Among them, HPV6 and HPV11 are low-risk types, while HPV16 and 18 are high-risk types. Cervical cancer studies from countries around the world have found that HPV16 and HPV18 have the highest infection rates among cervical cancer patients.

Myth 2: Cervical erosion can turn into cancer

Many women have the misunderstanding that cervical erosion can cause cervical cancer, so they are very afraid of cervical erosion.

Medically speaking, the female columnar epithelium inside the cervical canal is valgus instead of the cervical squamous epithelium. When the doctor examines, he will find that the local cervical congestion appears red, which is called “cervical erosion”. Erosion is not “rot” in the true sense. It can be a physiological phenomenon. Under the action of estrogen, women of childbearing age have the valgus epithelium inside the cervical canal to replace the squamous epithelium of the cervix, showing a “erosion” shape. However, women have relatively low levels of estrogen before puberty and menopause, so “erosion” is also rare.

It is worth noting that cervical erosion can also be a common inflammatory state. Early cervical cancer is very similar in appearance to cervical erosion and is easily confused. Therefore, if cervical erosion is found in the gynecological examination, it cannot be taken lightly. It is necessary to confirm the diagnosis by further cytology and biopsy, exclude the possibility of cervical cancer, and treat it correctly.

Misunderstanding 3: Do not pay attention to gynecological examination

From the infection of HPV virus to the occurrence and development of cervical cancer, there is a gradual natural course, generally as long as about 5 to 10 years. Therefore, as long as women are regularly screened for cervical cancer, it is entirely possible to find the “seedling” of the disease in time and kill it at the budding stage. At present, after treatment for patients with early cervical cancer, their five-year survival rate can reach 85% to 90%.

Women of childbearing age must not ignore the annual gynecological examination, including cervical cytology such as Pap smear or liquid-based cytology (TCT) examination, which is an important method for discovering cervical precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. Especially the following prone populations of cervical cancer should not be taken lightly:

People who are continuously infected with high-risk types of HPV virus, that is, those who are tested for HPV virus and found to be positive for HPV16 and HPV18;

Poor sexual behavior factors, including premature age to start sex, multiple sexual partners, and poor sexual hygiene, will increase the risk of cervical cancer;

Misunderstanding four: “silk trail” turned a blind eye

Cervical cancer may not cause any discomfort to the patient at an early stage, and some symptoms are easily overlooked. Women of childbearing age should learn to pay attention to the “health warning” issued by the body. Sometimes, although it is only “silent signs”, there may be hidden dangers.

After early detection, cervical cancer is not so terrible. Proton therapy is still hopeful to cure. Proton therapy is actually the acceleration of positively charged protons through accelerators, which become very penetrating ionizing radiation. It enters the human body at a high speed and is guided by special-shaped equipment to finally reach the tumor site. Because of the fast speed, the chance of interacting with normal tissues or cells in the body is extremely low. When reaching a specific part of the tumor, the speed suddenly decreases. And stop and release a lot of energy, which can kill cancer cells without damaging surrounding tissues and organs. Proton therapy can still effectively treat these tumors while protecting these important organs or structural functions. It is impossible during treatment.

After women have a correct understanding of the disease, whether it is cervical erosion or cervical cancer, they must have a positive attitude to treat it. When there is cervical erosion, first rule out the possibility of cancer, and then correct treatment, Once cured, it will be fine. Once suffering from cervical cancer, the first time is to receive effective treatment, the condition can be controlled quickly, and the health will be less harmful.

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