I was once informed that cancers have no known cause. As such, HPV -the Human Papillomavirus could not cause cancer. This is the common perception, reality is different.
What is a Cancer? Simply
put, it is an invasive growth. One which in most cases originates from the epithelium
and that can metastasize to other areas of the body. Cells within the body
continue dividing, at times at an alarming rate, when normally they should not.
HPV is a sexually
transmitted virus (it is not HIV) that is capable of changing the cervix.
Almost anyone who has had sex has had HPV at some time in his/her life
time. There are different types of HPV. Some like HPV 6 & 11 cause 90% of genital warts (flesh-colored
growths, sometimes appear like cauliflower) and others causing cancer of the
cervix- HPV types 16 &18. When
cells infected by HPV 16 &18 are left untreated (cervical changes
have treatment), they may develop into pre-cancer cells which may then turn into either cells of the cancerous
form or revert back to normalcy.
The widespead nature of the virus promotes the view that it is innocuous, but many HPV strains lead to the incidence of cervical and other cancers. Finding cervical
changes early reduces the risk of
getting cervical cancer. This includes having pap tests (done during pelvic
exams) at least once a year for women from ages 21-30, and then after that once
every 2 -3 years, or as determined by the doctor and from past medical
information. The Pap tests are screenings designed to seek out premalignant and malignant cells, but which may generally show up any infections or abnormalities in the endocervix and endometrium. A HPV specific test can also be undertaken.
For women in America
(possibly Australia too, for the vaccine’s original research originated here),
a vaccine Gardasil created in 2006 is available. The vaccine is designed to
prevent infection with HPV types 16,18,6 11. It works best for those not
exposed to these viruses (targets young women), but also helpful to adult women, since it is believed
rare to have all the four types at one time. Women of ages 13-26 thought to be beginning sexual activity are favored. Gardasil is a
vaccine made of HPV cells (lethality destroyed)
whose sole purpose is to initiate immunity response from the body.
Safety-wise, the
vaccine was fast-tracked by FDA, thus its complete/long term side effects are
not fully clear. The immediate side effects include headaches, drowsiness and
throwing up. In the face of these (with a background of DES, the first hormonal
therapy drug that increased cases of clear-celled vaginal cancer), the best
shot at preventing the ailment is frequent pap tests. If the viruses are
available, the test will show 95% of the time.
Always talk to a good doctor in
this matters.
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Next, I dont think pap tests check for malignant or pre-malignant cells. I beleive they just look for abnormalities in the cervical anatomy, including its placement in realtion to other body parts. And if by any chance the cell/tissue looks out of place (suspicious) then biopsies follow to determine that it is not cancer indeed!
Author/ Editor...help me hear!