Doctor, how can I find out if I am at risk for cervical cancer?
The pap test, or cervical cytology screening, is a simple test to look at cells taken from the cervix that tells your doctor if there are any abnormal cells on the cervix that may lead to cancer.
Cervical cancer was the leading cause of cancer deaths in American women as recently as 1930. In countries where cytologic screenings are not as widely available, cervical cancer remains a common cause of death. Cervical cancer has a defined pre-malignant phase that can last for many years. This allows for the screening and the treatment of pre-malignant cells on the cover of the cervix before they invade the cervix. The skin covering the cervix resembles the skin inside the mouth.
Infection with HPV (human papillomavirus) is necessary in order for cervical neoplasia to develop; however, most HPV-infected women will not develop significant cervical abnormalities. About 80 percent of sexually active people have been exposed to HPV, but in about 90 percent of those people, the infection will either be cleared or the viral load will be reduced to undetectable levels within two years. HPV has about 40 sub-types that can infect people, but only a few of them can cause the progression from infection to cancer. The most common sub-types are sub-types 6 and 11, which cause warts but rarely progress to cancer, and sub-types 16 and 18.
Immunization against sub-types 6 and 11 and 16 and 18 will be available in the United States very soon. But remember that there are 40 total sub-types, so pap smears will be around until there are immunizations against all of them.
The best ways to decrease the risk of cervical cancer are to be in a monogamous relationship and to improve your immunity by exercising, decreasing stress, eating healthy and not smoking.