Viral Cancer? Causes and treatment of cervical cancer

What is cervical cancer?

The most important gynecological disease for people in their 40s and 50s is cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the No. 1 incidence rate among intraepithelial cancers that occur in Korea in both men and women. Every year, about 10,000 patients visit the hospital with cervical cancer or precancerous lesions of cervical cancer.

In the case of cervical cancer in Korea, the 5-year survival rate is about 80%, but in the case of distant metastases to other organs such as the lungs, the survival rate drops to about 25%, so early diagnosis and early treatment are important.

What causes cervical cancer?

It is clearly stated that cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus. Specifically, viruses 16 and 18 are responsible for about 70% of cervical cancers. In the case of Korean patients, there are many cases where viruses 52 and 58 are detected.

Symptoms of cervical cancer?

If you are a middle-aged woman, you may think you are experiencing menopausal symptoms and you may easily overlook these symptoms. However, in the case of cervical cancer, the age of onset is 40 to 50 years, so if you have any of the above symptoms, it is recommended that you go to the hospital immediately for treatment

Treatment of cervical cancer?

Treatment options vary depending on how advanced cervical cancer is.

First, stage 1, which is confined to the cervix, can be cured with hysterectomy or radical hysterectomy.

Second, even in the case of local metastases, i.e., metastases to the pelvis or upper vagina, chemotherapy with radiotherapy can ensure a certain survival rate.

Third, in the case of stage 4 with distant metastases, chemotherapy is the standard treatment. However, if the patient is a woman of childbearing age who wants to become pregnant, a hysterectomy may be performed. However, since this treatment can only be performed on selected patients, it is necessary to visit the hospital and consult a doctor before making a decision.

How to prevent cervical cancer?

There are three main ways to prevent cervical cancer.

First, quit smoking. Smoking is widely recognized as a risk factor for cervical cancer. Therefore, by quitting smoking, the incidence of cervical cancer can be slightly reduced.

Second, safe sex. Of course, birth control devices cannot prevent the transmission of the human papillomavirus. However, the use of contraceptives can prevent the human papillomavirus from causing cancer, so it is recommended to have safe sex using condoms.

Third, do not hesitate to take hormone treatment. Especially middle-aged and elderly women, many people are hesitant to take hormone treatment. Cervical cancer treatment and menopausal treatment can be done together, so I would advise you not to hesitate to take hormone treatment.