Causes of Cervical Cancer and Risk Factors
Cervical cancer is one of several types of cancer, which precisely attacks the cervix or cervix of women. This type of cancer is quite common. To reduce the risk factors you have, it is important for you to know what things can be the cause of cervical cancer. In addition, the presence of one or more risk factors can also increase your potential for cervical cancer. Let’s look at the complete information below.
What causes cervical cancer?
The cervix, aka the cervix, is the lowest part of a woman’s uterus (uterus), so it can be said to be a link between the uterus and the vagina. Cervical cancer growth starts from the presence of abnormal cells (abnormal) in the cervix.
These cells then grow and develop rapidly and out of control. As a result, abnormal cells will develop and form a tumor in the cervix. These tumors can later develop and cause cervical cancer.
Not only in the cervix, tumors that have the potential to cause cancer can also grow to deeper cervical tissues, and even spread to various other organs (metastasis). Take for example, such as the lungs, liver, bladder, and vagina.
The causes of cervical cancer cannot be underestimated. This is because cervical cancer ranks 4th as one of the most common cancers in women, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO). Therefore, you must continue to be careful with all conditions that have the potential to cause this cancer.
However, what is often the question is about the causes of cancer itself. In most cases, cervical cancer is caused by the HPV virus (human papilloma virus).
The type of HPV virus that causes cervical cancer
There are about 100 types of HPV virus, but only certain types can cause cervical cancer. The two most common types of HPV viruses that cause cervical cancer are HPV-16 and HPV-18.
In short, it can be said that HPV is a group of viruses, and not just one type of virus. HPV virus generally spread through sexual contact. For example, there is direct contact between the genital skin, mucous membranes or the exchange of body fluids, and through oral sex.
In 2012, WHO states that there are more than 270 thousand cases of death in the female population due to cancer. Meanwhile, the number of new cervical cancer cases amounted to nearly 445 thousand in 2012.
All women of all ages are at risk for cervical cancer. However, this disease tends to be experienced by women who are sexually active, including young women in their 20s who are already sexually active.
It is important to understand first. Being infected with the HPV virus does not mean that you will immediately get cervical cancer. The immune system is responsible for fighting the entry of the HPV virus.
Not all infections are viral HPV will be the cause of this cancer. Sometimes, there are also HPV viruses that don’t cause any symptoms.
You may find genital warts, as well as other abnormal skin disorders. In fact, viruses HPV is not the only cause of cervical cancer.
The HPV virus can also cause various other cancers, both in men and women. Starting from cancer of the vagina, cancer of the penis, cancer of the rectum, cancer of the throat, cancer of the tongue, and so on.
Therefore, if you begin to feel various symptoms of cervical cancer, such as abnormal vaginal discharge, it never hurts to see a doctor to find out the cause. Do not delay to see a doctor, because the longer treatment for cervical cancer is carried out, the stage of cervical cancer may become more severe.
What are the risk factors for cervical cancer?
In addition to the HPV virus which causes cervical cancer, there are several other risk factors that can also increase a woman’s chances of developing cervical cancer.
These risk factors can be of various things. Either because of the environment, and an unhealthy lifestyle. Without one or more risk factors for cervical cancer, a woman may not experience this disease.
The following are various risk factors for cervical cancer:
1. Have a habit of changing sex partners
The hobby of multiple partners during sexual intercourse puts you at high risk of being infected with the HPV virus which can lead to cervical cancer. The greater the number of people who have had sexual relations with you and your partner, the greater your chance of contracting the HPV virus.
Indirectly, this is what can then be the cause of the appearance of cervical or cervical cancer in your body.
2. Having sex too early
Apart from having many partners in having sex, sexual activity that is done too early can also increase your risk of contracting the HPV virus which will later cause cervical cancer.
Why can this be a cause of cervical cancer? The reason is, at an early age, the structure of the reproductive organs including the cervix is more susceptible to HPV infection. Children will be much easier to contract the virus that can cause cervical cancer if teenagers do not get the HPV vaccination.
3. Smoking
Cigarettes don’t just cause people who smoke them to be exposed to chemicals that cause lung cancer and other cancers, including the cervix. However, people who are around active smokers also have the same risk of being exposed to these dangerous substances. The problem is, this substance has the potential to cause you to experience cervical cancer.
Harmful substances in cigarettes are absorbed into the lungs, and carried throughout the body through the bloodstream. No wonder this habit increases a woman’s risk of developing cervical cancer.
This is because the harmful substances in cigarettes cause damage to the DNA in cervical cells, which then has the potential to develop the cause of cervical cancer.
It doesn’t stop there, smoking can also make the immune system less effective at fighting HPV virus infection. Therefore, if you have this habit, stop immediately and do early detection of cervical cancer, for example a pap smear or IVA test to find out your health condition.
4. Have a weak immune system
Everyone’s body is equipped with an immune system or immune system whose job is to fight various viruses, including viruses HPV. When the body’s immune system is weak, it will automatically make it easier for the HPV virus to enter and develop inside.
Usually, a person with HIV / AIDS is more susceptible to having a weakened immune system. HIV is short for human immunodeficiency virus, which can also lead to AIDS.
Women who have HIV / AIDS have weak immunity. That is why, they can be very susceptible to infection with various kinds of disease viruses, including the HPV virus.
Even in women with HIV, the timing of the HPV virus development can tend to be faster.
5. Experiencing other sexually transmitted infections
If you have previously been exposed to infectious diseases, your risk can be even higher for cervical cancer. Although not the main cause, experiencing sexually transmitted diseases will make it easier for HPV virus infection, which triggers the development of abnormal cells that cause cervical cancer.
One example of a sexually transmitted disease is chlamydia. Chlamydia is a type of bacteria that can cause infection in the reproductive system. This one bacteria is usually transmitted through sexual contact.
But unfortunately, chlamydia infection experienced by a woman sometimes does not cause noticeable symptoms. Sometimes a woman does not know that she is experiencing chlamydia until she is examined.
Apart from chlamydia, there are still other sexually transmitted diseases that can cause cervical cancer, namely gonorrhea and syphilis.
6. Using long-term birth control pills
Taking birth control pills for a long time, especially more than 5 years, can be one of the causes of cervical cancer. The risk of this condition usually increases the longer you use oral contraceptives or birth control pills.
However, after no longer using birth control pills, this risk can decrease. In fact, his condition can return to normal after stopping birth control pills for about 10 years.
As the best solution, try to consult with your doctor before using oral contraceptives. Especially if you have one or more risk factors for cervical cancer.
7. Have a family history of cervical cancer
Do not rule out, your chances of developing cervical cancer can also decrease in the family. For example, if your mother or sister has had cervical cancer, you will be more prone to developing it than other women who don’t have a family medical history.
The tendency to experience this condition is due to inherited conditions. As a result, this condition makes a woman less able to fight infection with the HPV virus which can cause cervical cancer.
8. Have unhealthy eating habits
Did you know that an unhealthy diet can be a cause of cervical cancer? Yes, there are several foods that trigger this condition in most women. The reason is, unhealthy eating habits can trigger a person to experience weight gain.
Meanwhile, people who are overweight do have a greater risk of cervical cancer. Therefore, avoid foods that have the potential to increase body weight.
As an example, junk food or fast food, foods rich in saturated fat, red meat, to alcohol. It is better to eat lots of cervical cancer prevention foods and do a lifestyle that can help prevent cervical cancer.
