🧬 Reproductive🔴 ApplicationCervical Cancer

Cervical Cancer and Screening

Cancer of the neck of the womb, strongly linked to a common virus and largely preventable by screening and vaccination.

Key points

Almost all cervical cancer is caused by long-lasting infection with high-risk types of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
The virus drives slow, stepwise changes in the surface cells, from mild abnormality to pre-cancer and then to invasive cancer.
Because these changes take years, screening can catch and treat them before cancer develops.
Screening uses the Pap smear, which samples surface cells, and testing for high-risk HPV.
It is one of the few largely preventable cancers, through HPV vaccination and regular screening; late symptoms include bleeding after intercourse.

Memory trick

Cervical cancer is caused by persistent high-risk HPV, which drives slow steps from pre-cancer to cancer over years; screen with the Pap smear and HPV test; largely preventable by vaccine plus screening; late sign is bleeding after intercourse.

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🧬 Reproductive🔴 ApplicationCervical Cancer

Cervical Cancer and Screening

Cancer of the neck of the womb, strongly linked to a common virus and largely preventable by screening and vaccination.

Key points

Almost all cervical cancer is caused by long-lasting infection with high-risk types of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
The virus drives slow, stepwise changes in the surface cells, from mild abnormality to pre-cancer and then to invasive cancer.
Because these changes take years, screening can catch and treat them before cancer develops.
Screening uses the Pap smear, which samples surface cells, and testing for high-risk HPV.
It is one of the few largely preventable cancers, through HPV vaccination and regular screening; late symptoms include bleeding after intercourse.

Memory trick

All of Obstetrics & Gynaecology More Reproductive