CERVICAL CANCER

Here you can learn:

• How Common is Cervical Cancer?

• What is Cervical Cancer?

• What You Can Do

• Signs and Symptoms of Cervical Cancer

• Causes of Cervical Cancer

• Pap Test

• What is it?

• Why Get One Done?

• When to Get a Pap Test

• Helpful Hints and Links

HOW COMMON IS IT?

Cervical cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in Canada.  In 2002, 560 Ontario women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and 160 women died from the disease.  Cervical cancer is mostly preventable by having a regular Pap test. 

WHAT IS IT?

The cervix is the lower portion of a woman’s womb or uterus and plays an important role during childbirth. Early changes in the cervix can happen without pain or symptoms. If these changes are not found and treated, they can develop into cancer.  

Regular pap tests are an excellent way to find cervical cancer at an early stage when it can be treated successfully.  Pap tests are important because they can find two kinds of unusual or abnormal cells: 

• cancer cells

• cells that may become cancer

If the abnormal cells look like they may become cancer cells, they are easily treated.  If the abnormal cells are cancer cells but they have not yet spread, they can be removed.  In the early stages, cervical cancer is 90% curable.  There has been a big drop in the incidence of cervical cancer mostly because of regular Pap testing.   That is why a Pap test can save your life.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

The Ontario Cervical Screening Guidelines recommend that you should have a Pap test:

• Once you become sexually active, have a Pap test and pelvic examination every year.

• After 3 normal yearly Pap tests, continue screening every 2 years until you are 70 years old.

• Talk to your family doctor or health care provider about having a Pap test after menopause or a hysterectomy.

• Use a condom during sexual intercourse.  This will decrease the chance that you will pick up HPV (genital warts).

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CERVICAL CANCER

Cervical cancer can develop over a long time without causing any signs or symptoms.  Changes to the cervix are often discovered during a routine Pap screening test.

Having the following signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have cervical cancer.  They could be caused by other problems so see your doctor to be sure.

• abnormal vaginal bleeding

• bleeding between periods

• Irregular periods

• Foul smelling vaginal discharge

• Bleeding after sexual intercourse

• Pain

• Increased mucous discharge

• Constant tiredness or shortness of breath

WHAT CAUSES CERVICAL CANCER

There is no single cause of cervical cancer, but some factors appear to increase the risk of developing it.  A risk factor means anything that can increase your chance of getting a disease such as cancer.  Different cancers have different risk factors, it does not necessarily mean that you will get the disease.

It is important to focus on the risk factors that you can change (such as smoking) rather than those that you cannot change (such as family history).  Knowing the risk factors can convince you to get a Pap test for early detection or prevention of cervical cancer.

RISK FACTORS:

• Having HPV (human papilloma virus or genital warts).  These are passed from one person to another during sexual contact.

• Smoking increases the likelihood of getting cervical cancer by two times.

• Having sexual intercourse before age 19

• Having many sexual partners

• Having a sex partner who has had multiple partners.

• A mother who took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) during pregnancy

• Having HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) that causes AIDS creates a weaker immune system.

• Having a chlamydia infection.  This is a bacteria in the female reproductive system that is spread by sexual contact.  A Pap test will show if you are infected.

• Diet of less than 5 – 10 servings of fruits and vegetables increases the risk.

• Family history indicates a bigger chance of developing the disease.

Some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.

BE GOOD TO YOURSELF!

PREVENT CERVICAL CANCER: GET A PAP TEST

WHAT IS A PAP TEST?

A Pap test is one of the many tests that your doctor or health care provider will do to detect unhealthy cells in your cervix.  During a Pap test, a small sample of cells are removed from your cervix and are sent to the laboratory to be looked under a microscope. 

The laboratory needs a clean sample of cells to test.

So, the following are basic instructions before having a Pap test:            

• Do not have sexual intercourse for 24 hours.

• Do not douche.    

• Do not use any vaginal jelly or cream.

• Do not go for your Pap test when you are having your menstrual period.

WHY DO I NEED TO GET A PAP TEST DONE?

Pap tests can save your life.  Cervical cancer can kill you. 

The Pap test has been around for 50 years yet many women with cervical cancer have never had one.  Every week about 11 women in Ontario will get cancer of the cervix and 3 women will die from it.

Having a Pap test regularly will identify abnormal cells long before they become cancerous.  Even if cervical cancer is discovered in the early stages, it can be treated very successfully. 

The Pap test takes only a few minutes.  You may feel nervous or uncomfortable but as you make it part of your regular medical checkup you will get accustomed to it.    

WHEN DO I NEED A PAP TEST?

Once you have become sexually active, have a Pap test every year.  After three normal Pap tests, your doctor or health care provider may suggest that you have a regular physical exam and a Pap test every 2 years until you are 70 years old.  If you have had a hysterectomy or have gone through menopause, you may still need a regular Pap test, so check with your doctor. 

OTHER HELPFUL TIPS TO PREVENT CANCER

• Keep your weight at a normal level.

• Get to know your body.  Don’t shrug off warning signs.

• Be a non-smoker and avoid tobacco smoke

• Eat a healthy diet.  Eat 5 – 10 fruits and vegetables every day.

• Limit alcohol use.

• Be physically active for 30 – 45 minutes every day.

Make a promise to yourself. Have a regular Pap Test.  A Pap Test can prevent cancer of the cervix. 

READ MORE ABOUT THIS TOPIC:

Links:

• Cancer Care Ontario www.cancercare.on.ca

• Canadian Cancer Society www.cancer.ca (Cancer Information, Cervical Cancer)

  A non profit organization dedicated to cancer cure, prevention and management.  The site provides reliable information on cervical cancer and other cancers.

• Health Canada, Cervical Cancer www.hcsc.gc.ca/english/iyh/diseases/cervical_cancer.html   

• Women’s Health Matters www.womenshealthmatters.ca/

• Health Canada, Cervical Cancer www.canadian-health-network.ca/

• Canadian Health Network– www.canadian-health-network.ca/ is a federal agency responsible for maintaining and protecting the health of Canadians.  This site provides information on a variety of topics including cervical cancer. 

For more information locally, call the Grey Bruce Health Unit at (519) 376-9420.