Due to the designation of last January as "Cervical Cancer Awareness Month" and "February 4 World Cancer Day", the titles "Cervical Cancer" and "Cervical Cancer Screening with HPV", which we encounter more and more frequently and are wondered about and talked about, are discussed. Let's try to understand together.
“Cervical cancer” is the most common type of gynecological cancer seen in women. Approximately more than 90% of cervical cancer cases are associated with a virus called "Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)", which we generally know as "HPV". While some types of HPV, which has more than 200 types, cause the formation of "warts" in the genital area, some types pave the way for the emergence of cervical cancer in the future, which are classified as "high-risk types".
High-risk types of HPV (especially HPV Type-16 and HPV Type-18, which carry the highest potential) cause negative changes in the cells that make up the cervical tissue over time. This differentiation, which progresses gradually, may turn into "cervical cancer" after a while. If this preliminary period is detected by screening tests, treatment may become possible before cancer develops. The process and screening tests before cervical cancer can be considered as a chance to be protected from cancer.
It is recommended that every woman who has started her sexual life have cervical cancer screening starting from the age of 21. This evaluation, known as the "Smear test", is performed during the gynecological examination by visualizing the cervix through the vagina, taking a swab from the cervical opening with the help of a brush, and sending it to the pathology laboratory for examination. In the laboratory, whether there is any negative differentiation in the cells falling from the cervix to the brush is evaluated under the microscope ("cytological" evaluation) and reported. According to the report, if a follow-up period is required by a gynecologist, further examination and treatment is planned.
From the age of 30, in addition to cytological evaluation, screening is also done by testing the presence of "high-risk HPV" in the sample taken in the same way. can be done. Again, depending on the absence or presence of high-risk HPV type, follow-up is planned by the gynecologist and, if necessary, further examination and treatment is planned. The screening test in which both cytological examination and the presence of HPV are evaluated together is known as "co-test". In our country, cervical cancer screening services with these tests are included in the screening programs of the Ministry of Health.
HPV vaccines developed in recent years have started to be applied at an early age within the national vaccination programs of some developed countries. HPV vaccination can and is recommended regardless of the presence of HPV in the person.
Read: 0
