Although cervical cancer prevention programs already exist, the success of this program can not be separated from the participation of the population. It turned out that German women’s participation in cervical cancer prevention programs is relatively low. The results of the Germany National Health Interview and Examination Survey indicated a participation rate of 36.5% in 1997. Women in upper social classes participated more frequently than women in lower social classes. Participation rate dropped sharply among women over 55. In a health survey conducted in the State of Northrhine-Westfalia, 56.5% of participating women had a KFU during the year of the survey or in the previous year. Participation is strongly influenced by the knowledge of German women about the risks of cervical cancer.

To determine whether the German women know risk factors of cervical cancer, some researchers from the University of Mainz make a survey of Germany 1500 women age 25 to 75. From the results of these studies, was more than two third of the Germany women realize that they lack information about the risk of cervical cancer. In fact, only 3.2% of them knew that infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor for cervical cancer.

For that, a campaign about cervical cancer needs to be improved so that German women can better learn risk of cervical cancer. If they know the risk of this cancer, they will be more attention to prevent cervical cancer. Participation in cervical cancer prevention programs would be increased.

Mary Gerend and Jessica Barley found that men are not interest in getting HPV vaccine just because they can help protect their female sexual partners. An HPV vaccine for women has been available since 2006, and a vaccine for men is likely to be approved in the near future.

For maximum benefit to cervical cancer prevention programs, both men and women should be vaccinated but little was known about men’s interest in the vaccine before Gerend’s study, which was published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Gerend presented the findings recently at the annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine in Montreal.

Gerend’s research team randomly divided 356 male college students into groups and gave one group a self-protection message that focused on the benefits of HPV vaccination for men and the other a partner-protection message that focused on the benefits of HPV vaccination for men and their female partners.

Men were asked to rate, on a scale of 1 to 6, the likelihood that they would get the vaccine, with 1 equalling “very unlikely” and 6 equalling “very likely.” There was little difference between the groups, with both expressing only moderate interest in getting the HPV vaccine. Those who received the self-protection message had a mean response of 3.9 on the 6-point scale, while the mean response from the group who got the partner-protection message was 3.8.

Moreover, men who identified themselves as being in a committed relationship also did not indicate a higher degree of interest in the HPV vaccination.

The key point in encouraging women to receive the HPV vaccine is the message about how it reduces their risk of developing cervical cancer. The results of Gerend’s study have important implications for how the HPV vaccine for men will be marketed for public acceptance when it becomes available. Efficacy trials in men are ongoing, and the Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve HPV Vaccine for use in men as early as this year.

Women over 50 have a lower risk of developing cervical cancer than young adult women. Only 1% women in over 50 have precancerous changes but 10% of women in their 20s have abnormalities.

Previous studies have showed that cervical cancer screening in over 50s may be causing more harm than good because the cervical cancer risk is lower in older women. But, in this new study which done in women aged 20 to 64 years between 1988 and 2003 found that cervical cancer screening does in fact find serious abnormalities. It showed two-thirds of abnormal smears were found in women who had two previous negative results in their 40s.

From this study, we can conclude that stopping cervical cancer screening in older women, even in those who have had clear results in their 40s, would miss a group of women who have risks of developing cervical cancer later in life. So, women over 50 should continue to be screened, as they continue to be at risk of developing cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer ranks as the second leading cause of death among women in Philippines. The good news is that cervical cancer is preventable and curable if it is detected early. So, it is very important to build awareness on cervical cancer prevention.

Choices of cervical cancer treatment are based on cervical cancer stages when diagnosed. In early stage cervical cancer, the cancer can be operated. But, when diagnosed at late stage, it can not be operated.
In stage 0, cancer can be operated with local destruction of malignant cells. There is two options for treat cervical cancer in stage o. The cancer can be destructed with ablative prosedure, such as electrocoagulation diathemy, cryosurgery, or Laser C02. Cervical cancer in stage 0 also can be treated with excision prosedure like Cold-knife conization, Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure, or hysterectomy.
In stage Ia, cancer still can be operated with some options. If the patient don’t want to have baby anymore, she can choose total hysterectomy. If patient still want to pregnant, she should choose adequate cone biopsy.

In stage Ib – IIa, patients can choose radical hysterectomy, radical pelvic radiotherapy, or radical vaginal trachelectomy. If patients are young and desire to have baby, she could choose radical vaginal trachelectomy.

In Localized Advanced Cervical Cancer or stage IIb – IVa, Treatment of choice is radiotherapy with chemoterapy but it have some contraindications such as bad health status, elderly, inadequate bone marrow, and inadequate renal functions.

In metastatic cervical cancer, treatments are aimed to reduce cervical cancer symptoms. Supportive treatments are recommended for metastatic cervical cancer.

Radiotherapy must be avoided for pregnant women. For cervical cancer found during pregnancy, treatment may be delayed until after the baby is born.

It is important for patients to discuss the best cervical cancer treatment with her doctor.

Cervical Cancer Vaccination programs are very important to prevent cervical cancer but until now this vaccine was not used in Indonesia. Cervical cancer in indonesia need special attention because every day can be found 40 cervical cancer cases in this country. Mortality caused by cervical cancer is the highest not only in the case of cancer diseases experienced women, but also the highest compared to the case of cancer in general in Indonesia. Indonesia also ranks second highest in the world after China to cervical cancer cases. Data from the Ministry of Health, provision of vaccines can help build synergies among immunization, cervical cancer control, reproductive and sexual health. In order to realize cervical cancer vaccination programs, WHO are working with the Ministry Of Health accelerate obtaining the vaccine.

Immediately after the onset of sexual activity, rates of HPV are very high as women become infected. In most women, the immune system will quickly clear the infection, but in a immunedefficience-women the HPV infection persists.

Latest cervical cancer study found that women were more likely to show cervical abnormalities called squamous intraepithelial lesions or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, which sometimes become cervical cancer, when their infection persisted over several months (JAMA 2001;286:3106-14). From that study we can surely make a conclusion that HPV infection is cervical cancer risk factor which must be prevented.

Cervical cancer stage is classified based on FIGO System of staging. This system classifies cervical cancer in stages 0 through IV. FIGO system of staging is based on clinical staging rather than surgical staging. This means that the extent of cervical cancer is examined by the doctor’s physical examination and a few other diagnostic tests that are done in some cases, such as cystoscopy and proctoscopy.

Cervical cancer stage is important in choosing treatment and predict prognosis. Let’s take a look on cervical cancer stage based on FIGO that i found at cancer.org

Stage 0: The malignant cells are very superficial (only affecting the surface) are found only in the layer of cells lining the cervix, and they have not grown into (invaded) deeper tissues of the cervix. This stage is also called carcinoma in situ (CIS) or cervical intraepithelial neoplasis (CIN) grade III.

Stage I: In this stage the cervical cancer has invaded the cervix, but it has not spread anywhere else.

Stage IA: This is the earliest form of stage I. There is a very small amount of cancer, and it can be seen only under a microscope.

• Stage IA1: The area of invasion is less than 3 mm (about 1/8-inch) deep and less than 7 mm (about 1/4-inch) wide.

• Stage IA2: The area of invasion is between 3 mm and 5 mm (about 1/5-inch) deep and less than 7 mm (about 1/4-inch) wide.

Stage IB: This stage includes Stage I cancers that can be seen without a microscope. This stage also includes cervical cancers that can only be seen with a microscope if they have spread deeper than 5 mm (about 1/5 inch) into connective tissue of the cervix or are wider than 7 mm.

• Stage IB1: The cervical cancer can be seen but it is not larger than 4 cm (about 1 3/5 inches).

• Stage IB2: The cervical cancer can be seen and is larger than 4 cm.

Stage II: In this stage, the cervical cancer has grown beyond the cervix and uterus, but hasn’t spread to the walls of the pelvis or the lower part of the vagina.

• Stage IIA: The cancer has not spread into the tissues next to the cervix (called the parametria). The cancer may have grown into the upper part of the vagina.

• Stage IIB: The cancer has spread into the tissues next to the cervix.

Stage III: The cervical cancer has spread to the lower part of the vagina or the pelvic wall. The cancer may be blocking the ureters (tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder).

• Stage IIIA: The cancer has spread to the lower third of the vagina but not to the pelvic wall.

• Stage IIIB: The cancer has grown into the pelvic wall. If the tumor has blocked the ureters (a condition called hydronephrosis) it is also a stage IIIB.

Note: In the alternate staging system by the American Joint Committee on Cancer, stage IIIB is defined by the fact that the cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the pelvis.

Stage IV: This is the most dangerous stage of cervical cancer. The cancer has spread to nearby organs or other parts of the body.

• Stage IVA: The cancer has spread to the bladder or rectum, which are organs close to the cervix.

• Stage IVB: The cancer has spread to distant organs beyond the pelvic area, such as the lungs.

1.  five hundred thousand new cases of cervical cancer identified each year

2. eighty percent of cervical cancer occur in developing country

3. At least 200.000 women die because of cervical cancer each year

4. Cervical cancer is the third most commong cancer worldwide

5. The cause of cervical cancer is unknown, it seem related to multiple factor

6. Cervical cancer more prevalent in low socioeconomic women

7. Cervical cancer correlated with first coitus at early stage

8. Cervical cancer correlated with multiple sexual partners

9. Multiparity women have high risk to cervical cancer

10. Epidemiology data shows that cervical cancer is the most common malignancy of the female in developing country

Do you found other facts about cervical cancer. Please mention here..It is nice to discuss about cervical cancer facts!