Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women in developed countries. It is caused by changes in the cells of the cervix, 70% of which are caused by types 16 and 18 of the human papillomavirus (HPV), of which more than 100 types have been detected.
HPV and cervical cancer
Being a carrier of HPV is not a direct trigger for cervical cancer, although there is a likelihood of developing cervical cancer. The virus can be present in an inactive form and is not hereditary.
The most common tumor is squamous cell carcinoma, established in the lining of the cervix, and adenocarcinoma, located in the glands that produce cervical fluid. In early stages, HPV can be detected by the appearance of warts on or around the male and female genital organs, as well as in the anal area. The size of these warts is minimal, they may be barely visible or measure a few centimeters in diameter.
Symptoms and detection
Cervical cancer does not usually present symptoms, only in very advanced stages. For this reason, Dr. Vidal Peláez considers it vitally important to prevent it by performing periodic cytology tests. If bleeding appears after intercourse, between periods or if swelling in the area is noticed, it is advisable to see a specialist.
The performance of cytology has helped to significantly reduce the number of deaths due to this disease. Thanks to this test, it is easy to find out if a woman has the virus. We can also detect changes and alterations in the cells of the cervix before they become cancerous.
After performing this examination, if cancerous cells are found in the outermost part of the cervix, a surgical conization can be performed, which consists of removing only this area. The consequence of this procedure would be the inability of the woman to become a mother, since she will have a higher risk of miscarriage. This can happen because the cervix is more open, a situation that can be solved with an easy procedure, called cerclage, to close it with stitches. If the cancer has advanced and an invasive carcinoma has already appeared, it is necessary to perform the Wertheim-Meigs operation, which consists of removing the entire uterus and the regional lymph nodes.