Cervical cancer often too late to be treated because the symptoms are not recognized. However, if gearly stage cervical cancer could detected early and treated immediately, the chances of recovery will be greater.
Cervical cancer is cancer that grows in the cells in the cervix. This cancer is generally caused by: human papillomavirus or HPV which transmission occurs through sexual intercourse, be it copulation or penetration or oral sex.
In addition to infection with the HPV virus, there are also other risk factors that can make a woman more at risk of cervical cancer, namely:
- Having more than one sexual partner.
- Smoke.
- Have a sexually transmitted disease, such as herpes, genital warts, and HIV/AIDS.
Long-term use of birth control pills is also said to increase the risk of cervical cancer. However, this assumption still needs to be confirmed by further research.
Some Possible Symptoms of Early Stage Cervical Cancer
Symptoms of early stage cervical cancer are difficult to recognize. Early stage cervical cancer often does not cause any complaints or symptoms. When it appears, the symptoms are not typical and can resemble the symptoms of other diseases.
Symptoms of cervical cancer are usually only seen when cervical cancer has entered an advanced stage, where cancer cells have spread to surrounding tissues.
However, there are some signs and symptoms that can be suspected as early symptoms of cervical cancer, namely:
- Bleeding from the vagina outside of menstrual periods, after sex, after a pelvic exam, or after menopause.
- The discharge is watery, brown in color, mixed with blood, and has a foul smell.
- Pelvic or back pain that does not subside.
- Pain when urinating or having sex.
- There is blood in the urine.
If there are some of the symptoms above, you should immediately consult a gynecologist.
How to reduce the risk of cervical cancer
To reduce the risk of cervical cancer, there are several things that can be pursued, namely:
1. Perform cervical screening or Pap smear
Regular pelvic examinations and Pap smears are one of the recommended ways to detect cervical cancer early. Through this examination, the doctor can find out if there are abnormalities in the cells of the cervix.
Pap smear examination is recommended to be done every 3 years in women aged 21-29 years, and every 3-5 years in women aged 30-65 years.
If the results of the examination point to the possibility of cervical cancer, the doctor will confirm it by carrying out further examinations, namely colposcopy and biopsy.
2. Avoid risky sexual behavior
To reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer, it is important to practice safe sex. The trick is not to change partners and use condoms during sexual intercourse. If you want to have unprotected sex, make sure your partner doesn't have a sexually transmitted disease.
3. Get vaccinated against cervical cancer (HPV vaccine)
Recommendations for giving the HPV vaccine are as follows:
- Given to girls from the age of 10-13 years with repeated doses up to 3 times within 6 months.
- If the HPV vaccination is given for the first time when the child is 13 years old, then the dose is given again 2 times within 1 year.
If you have never received the HPV vaccine at the age of children or teenagers, then the HPV vaccine can be given at an adult age, according to the doctor's consideration.
However, you need to remember, the HPV vaccine only reduces the risk of cervical cancer and does not guarantee you are 100 percent protected from this cancer. You are still advised to undergo a Pap smear to detect cancer early and avoid risky sexual behavior.
4. No smoking
Smoking or inhaling secondhand smoke (passive smoking) can make women more susceptible to cervical cancer. Therefore, immediately stop smoking and avoid cigarette smoke.
Because the symptoms of early stage cervical cancer are not clear and often without symptoms, you need to have regular screening checks to the doctor, especially if you are at risk for developing this disease.. If symptoms appear, immediately consult a doctor, no need to wait for the next routine examination schedule.