Cancer of the cervix
Cervical cancer is one that begins in the uterine cervix, the lower end of the uterus that contacts the upper vagina.
It’s the most common in women worldwide and it’s the cancer that causes most deaths in the world.. It’s believed to be spread by the human papilloma virus(HPV) although other factors also contribute to the development of this cancer.
Risk factors
*starting Sex early
*having many children in a short period of time
*many sexual patners
*Tobacco smoking
*HIV infection
*Immune system suppression
*Past or current Chlamydia infection
*Overweight
*Long-term use of oral contraceptives (although the risk returns to normal when the contraceptive pills are discontinued)
*Having a first full-term pregnancy before age of 17
*Family history of cervical cancer
Signs and symptoms
*Abnormal vaginal bleeding
*Vaginal bleeding after menopause
*Vaginal bleeding after sex
*Bleeding or spotting between periods
*Longer or heavier menstrual periods than usual
*Other abnormal vaginal discharge
*Pain during sexual Intercourse
Girls who have had their menses but are not sexually active can be immunized against the HPV virus and in Uganda that age was put at maximum 14 years and the vaccine is free in government hospitals. Another way of prevention is by avoiding the risk factors above.
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