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Ching 11

Causes of cervical cancer A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell, which starts to multiply out of control. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. However, there are 'risk factors' which are known to increase the risk of cervical cancer developing. These include: Human Papilloma Virus Around 95% of all cases of cervical cancer are linked with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Human papilloma viruses (HPVs) are a group of more than 100 different types of virus. Some types of HPV can cause genital warts, common warts and verrucas. The types of HPV which cause these conditions are not associated with cervical cancer. Other types of HPV can cause changes in the cells of the cervix, called cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN). It is CIN that may develop into cancer if it is not treated. However, it is important to note that most women who are infected with these types of HPV will not develop CIN - the infection simply increases the risk. The types of HPV associated with cervical cancer are nearly always passed on during sexual contact with an infected person. This means that having a large number of sexual partners or having sex from a young age can increase the chances of a woman becoming infected with HPV, and thus her risk of developing cervical cancer. Some women who develop cervical cancer may be distressed that friends and family could think they fall into these categories. Its important to remember that although factors such as a large number of sexual partners can increase the chances of catching the HPV virus, many women who have only had one sexual partner have HPV, and may go on to develop CIN or cervical cancer. It is not correct to say that women who get cervical cancer have it because they slept with a large number of partners, or because they had sex from a young age. Smoking Chemicals from cigarettes get into the bloodstream and can affect cells throughout the body. Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to develop certain cancers, including cervical cancer. A weakened immune system The body's immune system helps to protect against HPV and to destroy any cells that become abnormal. This means that if your immune system is not working properly your body is less able to deal with HPV infection and abnormal cells, and so you are more at risk of developing cervical cancer. The immune system can be weakened by smoking, poor diet, infections such as HIV and AIDS, or by medicines (immunosuppressants) designed to suppress the immune system (which may be needed after an organ transplant for example). How many children you have, and at what age Women who have their first baby before the age of 17 have double the risk of developing cervical cancer, compared to women who have their first baby at age 25 or more. Research has also found that women with three or more children have an increased risk when compared to women with no children. Contraceptive pill Research suggests that women who use the contraceptive pill for more than ten years may have a slightly increased risk of developing cervical cancer. However, its important to remember that the increase in risk is low, that if you have regular cervical screening the increased risk is cancelled out, and that for most

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55 views2 pages

Ching 11

Causes of cervical cancer A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell, which starts to multiply out of control. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. However, there are 'risk factors' which are known to increase the risk of cervical cancer developing. These include: Human Papilloma Virus Around 95% of all cases of cervical cancer are linked with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Human papilloma viruses (HPVs) are a group of more than 100 different types of virus. Some types of HPV can cause genital warts, common warts and verrucas. The types of HPV which cause these conditions are not associated with cervical cancer. Other types of HPV can cause changes in the cells of the cervix, called cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN). It is CIN that may develop into cancer if it is not treated. However, it is important to note that most women who are infected with these types of HPV will not develop CIN - the infection simply increases the risk. The types of HPV associated with cervical cancer are nearly always passed on during sexual contact with an infected person. This means that having a large number of sexual partners or having sex from a young age can increase the chances of a woman becoming infected with HPV, and thus her risk of developing cervical cancer. Some women who develop cervical cancer may be distressed that friends and family could think they fall into these categories. Its important to remember that although factors such as a large number of sexual partners can increase the chances of catching the HPV virus, many women who have only had one sexual partner have HPV, and may go on to develop CIN or cervical cancer. It is not correct to say that women who get cervical cancer have it because they slept with a large number of partners, or because they had sex from a young age. Smoking Chemicals from cigarettes get into the bloodstream and can affect cells throughout the body. Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to develop certain cancers, including cervical cancer. A weakened immune system The body's immune system helps to protect against HPV and to destroy any cells that become abnormal. This means that if your immune system is not working properly your body is less able to deal with HPV infection and abnormal cells, and so you are more at risk of developing cervical cancer. The immune system can be weakened by smoking, poor diet, infections such as HIV and AIDS, or by medicines (immunosuppressants) designed to suppress the immune system (which may be needed after an organ transplant for example). How many children you have, and at what age Women who have their first baby before the age of 17 have double the risk of developing cervical cancer, compared to women who have their first baby at age 25 or more. Research has also found that women with three or more children have an increased risk when compared to women with no children. Contraceptive pill Research suggests that women who use the contraceptive pill for more than ten years may have a slightly increased risk of developing cervical cancer. However, its important to remember that the increase in risk is low, that if you have regular cervical screening the increased risk is cancelled out, and that for most

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rochelle
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Causes of cervical cancer

A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell, which starts to multiply out of control.
The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. However, there are 'risk
factors' which are known to increase the risk of cervical cancer developing. These
include:

Human Papilloma Virus

Around 95% of all cases of cervical cancer are linked with the Human Papilloma Virus
(HPV).

Human papilloma viruses (HPVs) are a group of more than 100 different types of virus.
Some types of HPV can cause genital warts, common warts and verrucas. The types of
HPV which cause these conditions are not associated with cervical cancer.

Other types of HPV can cause changes in the cells of the cervix, called cervical intra-
epithelial neoplasia (CIN). It is CIN that may develop into cancer if it is not treated.
However, it is important to note that most women who are infected with these types of
HPV will not develop CIN - the infection simply increases the risk.

The types of HPV associated with cervical cancer are nearly always passed on during
sexual contact with an infected person. This means that having a large number of sexual
partners or having sex from a young age can increase the chances of a woman becoming
infected with HPV, and thus her risk of developing cervical cancer.

Some women who develop cervical cancer may be distressed that friends and family
could think they fall into these categories. Its important to remember that although factors
such as a large number of sexual partners can increase the chances of catching the HPV
virus, many women who have only had one sexual partner have HPV, and may go on to
develop CIN or cervical cancer.

It is not correct to say that women who get cervical cancer have it because they slept with
a large number of partners, or because they had sex from a young age.

Smoking

Chemicals from cigarettes get into the bloodstream and can affect cells throughout the
body. Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to develop certain cancers, including
cervical cancer.

A weakened immune system

The body's immune system helps to protect against HPV and to destroy any cells that
become abnormal. This means that if your immune system is not working properly your
body is less able to deal with HPV infection and abnormal cells, and so you are more at
risk of developing cervical cancer.

The immune system can be weakened by smoking, poor diet, infections such as HIV and
AIDS, or by medicines (immunosuppressants) designed to suppress the immune system
(which may be needed after an organ transplant for example).

How many children you have, and at what age

Women who have their first baby before the age of 17 have double the risk of developing
cervical cancer, compared to women who have their first baby at age 25 or more.

Research has also found that women with three or more children have an increased risk
when compared to women with no children.

Contraceptive pill

Research suggests that women who use the contraceptive pill for more than ten years may
have a slightly increased risk of developing cervical cancer.

However, its important to remember that the increase in risk is low, that if you have
regular cervical screening the increased risk is cancelled out, and that for most women
the benefits of taking the pill outweigh the slightly increased risk.

• show glossary terms

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