Cervical Cancer News Information Blog | HPV Vaccines, The Pap Smear Test, and the Latest Cervical Cancer Research

Chipley, FL

Around 300,000 women die from the disease. And yet, cervical cancer is preventable -; regular screening, along with vaccination, could prevent nearly every case.

To help women protect themselves, the European Cervical Cancer Association (ECCA), along with partners in the United States, recently launched the Pearl of Wisdom Campaign to Prevent Cervical Cancer. The campaign teaches women how to protect their health through regular screening and other measures. The campaign also promotes the Pearl of Wisdom as the global symbol for cervical cancer prevention.

What is cervical cancer? Cancer can develop in any part of the body, including the cervix -; the lower, narrow part of a woman's uterus. The human papillomavirus (HPV), a common, sexually transmitted virus, causes cervical cancer. Most HPV infections go away without symptoms or treatment, but certain high-risk types of HPV can cause the cervix to produce abnormal cells, which can eventually become cancerous.

Why screening? Screening helps find abnormal cervical cells before they become cancerous. When caught early, these abnormal cells can be easily removed to prevent cancer from developing. Cervical cancer doesn't have symptoms until the disease reaches advanced stages, so women should be screened regularly all through their life, even if they feel healthy.

The Pap test looks for abnormal cervical cells. The HPV test detects high-risk types of HPV, which can lead to abnormal cervical cells. In women 30 and older, the Pap and HPV tests together provide the best screening protection against cervical cancer.

Girls and young women can be vaccinated against the two most common cancer-causing HPV types -; 16 and 18 -; which are responsible for about 70 percent of cervical cancers. Studies have shown that vaccination is highly effective at preventing cervical disease. However, vaccination does not protect against all high-risk HPV types. "Even women who have been vaccinated must be screened to protect against cervical cancer caused by the HPV types not included in the vaccines," said Dr. Philip Davies, director of the ECCA.