Cancer Prevention: What You Need To Know

Cervical Cancer Prevention

What Are The Risk Factors?
Studies show that the development of cervical cancer depends on a variety of factors. Some of these risk factors are listed below.

• Early age of first sexual intercourse (16 or younger)
• A history of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection or other sexually transmitted disease such as herpes simplex 2
• Smoking or exposure to environmental tobacco smoke
• Current or past sexual partner with risk factors for sexually transmitted diseases
• Having sexual intercourse with many sexual partners
• Decreased resistance to infection or testing HIV-positive
• Long-term users of oral contraceptives (5 years or more)
• Poor nutrition

The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a very common virus that causes abnormal growth of tissue on the skin of the body. There are more than 100 types of HPV and each type affects certain parts of the body. HPV’s are important because the abnormal tissue growth they cause can lead to cancer of the female organs, including the cervix. It is estimated that more than 6 million women in the United States have HPV infection. Early diagnosis and treatment of this abnormal tissue is a way to prevent cancer.

What Can I Do to Prevent the Problem?
To reduce your risk of cervical cancer, protect yourself against genital human papilloma virus (HPV) exposure. The best way to prevent HPV infection is to not have any genital contact with another person.

For those who choose to e sexually active, a long-term relationship with an uninfected partner who has not or is not having sex with others may help prevent exposure to HPV.

HPV infection can occur in both male and female genital areas that are protected by a latex condom. While condoms may not protect against HPV, condom use has been associated with a lower rate of cervical cancer.

Smoking, or exposure to another person’s tobacco smoke is associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer. The risk increases the longer a person smokes and if they smoke heavily. Women exposed to active or passive tobacco smoke have up to three times the risk of nonsmokers or those not exposed to tobacco smoke. The best advice is to stop smoking and take measures to avoid the smoke of others.

Poor nutrition, especially diets lacking in vitamins A, C, E and folic acid have been linked with a higher incidence of cervical cancer. These nutrients are found in the following sources:

• Vitamin A: liver, fish liver oils, eggs, dairy products, yellow/orange fruits and vegetables, green vegetables
• Vitamin C: fresh fruits and vegetables
• Vitamin E: green vegetables, whole-grain cereals, wheat germ
• Folic Acid: vegetables, mushrooms, liver, oranges, nuts, egg yolks, and dried beans and peas

Overall, if you eat a total of five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, your diet will provide you with the necessary nutrients to help protect you from cervical and other cancers.

Regular screening examinations, including a pelvic examination and Pap test, can detect changes in the cells before they have an opportunity to become cancerous. To do a Pap test, the nurse or doctor gently scrapes the surface of the cervix to collect lining cells. The cells are examined by a pathologist. If you are sexually active, or have reached 18 years of age, you should have regular examinations and Pap tests.

Where Can I Get More Information?

University of Iowa Resources

• University of Iowa Health Care, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
• University of Iowa Health Care, Department of Family Medicine
• Cancer Information Service (1-800-237-1225)

Other Resources

• Your family physician
• National Cancer Institute
  http://www.cancer.gov/cancer_information/
• American Cancer Society
  http://www.cancer.org

If you would like more information about cervical cancer prevention, or to obtain phone numbers to the above organizations, please contact the Cancer Information Service (1-800-237-1225) or e-mail: cancer-information@uiowa.edu.

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