Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer

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Cervical cancer is the type of cancer that forms in the cervix tissue in women. The cervix is the organ which connects the uterus and the vagina. There are multiple causes for cervical cancer. These causes include: HPV, smoking, immunosuppression, chlamydial infection, diet, oral contraceptives, intrauterine device use, multiple full term pregnancies, young at a first full term pregnancy, poverty, diethylstilbestrol, and a family history of cervical cancer. The most important risk factor for cervical cancer is the Human Papillomavirus, also known as, HPV. HPV is a virus spread through skin-to-skin contact. It is normally sexually transmitted and usually goes away on its own but can sometimes become cancerous. It is such a major risk factor for this type of cancer because it is so commonly and easily transmitted.

Cancer in the cervix can be extremely deadly because the cervix is a major organ of the female body. It forms the lower part of the uterus, or womb and connects the uterus to the vagina, or birth canal. There are two main cells which cover the tissues in the cervix. They are squamous and glandular cells. The common place for these two cells to come in contact with one another is called a transformation zone. Most cervical cancers begin either in the transformation zone or directly in the lining of the cervix. This is what makes cervical cancer the fourth deadliest cancer for women all over the world.

Cervical cancer occurs when normal cells in the cervix undergo pre-cancerous changes that then become cancer. Pre-cancerous changes include: cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, squamous intraepithelial lesion, and dysplasia. All of these pre-cancerous changes can be revealed through a Pap Smear Test. A Pap...

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...th HPV are unaware that they have it which makes it that much more dangerous because that is how it spreads faster. More women in the United States are being diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, but hopefully with cervical cancer awareness that will change.

Works Cited

National Cancer Institute, . N.p.. Web. 30 Mar 2014.

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. N.p.. Web. 30 Mar 2014. .

CDC, . N.p.. Web. 30 Mar 2014. .

American Cancer Society, . N.p.. Web. 30 Mar 2014.

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Harper , D. M.. N.p.. Web. 30 Mar 2014.
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