Cervical cancer: an overview of cervical cancer, or cervical dysplasia
Cancer of the cervix, also known as cervical cancer or cervical dysplasia, is characterised by the rapid and uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the cervix
Almost all of these cell changes that evolve to cancer are due to infection by certain strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV).
Symptoms of cervical cancer include:
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding (i.e. at times other than the menstrual cycle), especially following contact (e.g. sexual intercourse or insertion of an IUD).
- Pain during sexual intercourse.
- Vaginal discharge of pinkish mucus or mixed with blood.
Cervical cancer can be prevented by regular gynaecological examinations and Pap tests
The Pap test can almost always detect changes in cervical cells before they give rise to cancer (precancerous lesions).
Factors that increase a woman’s risk of developing cervical cancer include the following:
- Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection.
- Sexual promiscuity (initiation of sexual intercourse at an early age and multiple sexual partners).
- Smoking.
Cervical cancer initially remains localised in the cervix.
With the passage of time it undergoes a process known as progression, whereby cancer cells acquire the ability to spread to deep tissues, neighbouring organs and eventually to more distant ones (metastasis).
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