Prevention of cervical cancer starts now
The uterus is divided into the cervix and the body of the uterus. Lesions of the cervix include developmental abnormalities, injuries, inflammation, tumors, and endometriosis, etc. It is an area that is prone to lesions. When it comes to the cervix, we are probably most familiar with cervical cancer, which has been the “No. 1 killer” threatening women’s reproductive health, and the incidence rate is increasing by 2%-3% every year. There are hundreds of thousands of new cases in China every year, nearly 1/3 of the world total, and about 50,000 people die from cervical cancer every year. In the past decade, the incidence of cervical cancer has been increasing year by year and tends to be younger.
Most people are afraid to talk about cancer. In fact, cervical cancer is not terrible, it is not only preventable and treatable, but even curable and eradicable. Cervical cancer is the only cancer that has a clear cause, can be prevented and controlled through screening, and has the hope of being eradicated. Cervical cancer is caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV for short). However, the general infection can be eliminated by the body through autoimmunity, but if it is not eliminated and survives in the body, it becomes a persistent infection, and then cervical precancerous lesions, which we call cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), will occur first. It usually takes about 10 years for CIN to develop into cervical cancer. There are no clinical symptoms during this period, but doctors are fully capable of early detection and early treatment of CIN during this period to stop it from developing into cervical cancer.
How can CIN be detected early? This becomes a key aspect in the prevention and treatment of cervical lesions. The application of the three-step technique for early screening and confirmation of cervical cancer and its CIN is an internationally recognized diagnostic procedure. The so-called three-step technique refers to: cytology, colposcopy and histopathology.
Cytology is the primary screening technique in the three-step ladder and is divided into traditional smear and advanced liquid-based cytology (TCT), which is a major innovation of cervical smear and can significantly increase the detection rate of cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. All women who are sexually active should undergo cervical cytology at least once a year, and the screening interval can be extended to 2-3 years when satisfactory and normal results are obtained in 3 or more consecutive examinations. In China, due to the vast area, large population, economic culture and health care are in the development stage, it is difficult to make the above screening plan, but doctors and women should establish the awareness of screening, and improve and implement the screening work when conditions allow. Focus on risk factors for cervical lesions.
The following should receive cytologic screening and follow-up
Multiple sexual partners or sexual partners with multiple sexual partners, early sexual activity, sexual partners of sexual partners with cervical cancer, those who have had or are having HPV infection in the reproductive tract, AIDS patients and those with other sexually transmitted diseases, those who have received organ transplants, smokers, drug users, those with a history of cervical, endometrial, vaginal or vulvar cancer, low socioeconomic class, etc. Friendly advice before the TCT test. You should avoid menstrual period, sexual intercourse, vaginal medication, vaginal douching and gynecological examination within 72 hours for TCT examination.
For those with abnormal cytology examination, they should be referred to the second-stage examination – colposcopy.
Colposcopy indications.
① those with ASCUS and above on TCT.
② negative cytology but suspicious of cancer by visual observation.
③History of clinically suspicious disease.
④pre-treatment of cervical lesions.
⑤ Cervicitis that has been untreated for a long time.
Histopathology is the gold standard for the diagnosis of cervical lesions. Depending on the pathology results, further treatment options can be decided for the purpose of early treatment.
What can be done to prevent cervical cancer and CIN?
First, to improve the cancer prevention and health care network, to conduct regular screening and treatment, and to advocate women with sexual life to have TCT examination every year, especially those with high risk factors of cervical cancer.
Strengthen publicity and education, and popularize tumor knowledge. Understand the risk factors related to the occurrence of cervical cancer, carry out sexual health education and pay attention to the hygiene of sexual life.
Be alert to cancer signals such as bleeding during sexual intercourse, irregular vaginal bleeding, especially irregular bleeding and fluid flow after menopause, and go to regular hospital for medical consultation in time.
Advocate marriage at an appropriate age, avoid unplanned conceptions and reduce the number of abortions. Strengthen perinatal health care, correctly deal with obstructed labor, and prevent cervical laceration. (Because the occurrence of CIN is related to the genetic mutation produced by the cervical epithelium in the process of regeneration and repair)
V. Removal of excessively long penile foreskin. For those with excessively long penile foreskin, circumcision should be performed, which can not only prevent penile cancer, but also reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in the spouse.
If you are a married woman, we suggest you to have annual cervical cancer screening to prevent cervical cancer, starting from me, starting from now.