What causes cervical cancer?

Question

I heard terrible news that someone I know has been diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Answer 1

Cervical cancers are a product of the dysplasia produced by specific strains of HPV (the virus that causes genital warts).

HPV is a necessary precursor to cervical cancer, and as of now, the only identified direct cause of the disease.

Cervical/uterine cancers have the 2nd or 3rd highest mortality rate among women (can't remember if ovarian rates are worse now). However, treatment is often relatively successful if caught early enough and treated aggressively enough.

The mortality rate is high with cervical cancers for a few reasons. The first is that they go undetected without regular pap smears until they have progressed fairly far. Second reason is proximity to lymphatics and vasculature--cervical tumors have access to metastisize if not caught early enough.

Early treatment, if aggressive enough (surgery, chemo) can be successful.

Answer 2

HPV infection Human papilloma virus or HPV is the major cause of cervical cancer. There are many different types of HPV. It is sometimes called the genital wart virus as some types of HPV cause genital warts. In fact, the types that cause warts are not the types that cause cervical cancer. But there are other types of HPV that are considered 'high risk' for cancer of the cervix. HPV is passed on from person to another through sexual contact. Women who get cervical cancer have had past infections with HPV. High risk types of HPV can cause changes in the cells covering the cervix that make them more likely to become cancerous in time. But most women infected with these viruses do NOT develop cervical cancer. So other factors must also be needed. Other risks Women who smoke are more likely to get cervical cancer than those who do not. Taking the pill could increase a woman’s risk of cervical cancer. It is not clear why this is. Women with a weakened immune system are also more likely to get cervical cancer, as are those who have had a large number of children.

Answer 3

Commonly it is caused by HPV. One in four sexually active women under the age of thirty have contracted one of the more than sixty types of HPV. So, if you haven't been tested, and are sexually active, get tested because it can decrease your chances of developing cervical cancer. I am not an authority on the matter, so check out WebMD, but beware, the symptom checker on this website has been known the create hypochondriacs.

Answer 4

As a nurse, I once saw a mention that sex with uncircumcised males raises the risk of cervical cancer. Just a tidbit to add to the answers above.

Answer 5

Cancer is a tricky thing. It can be diet, environment anything now a days can give you some form of cancer. Remember we are all born with something, we just don't know it's there until the cells become active. We cause it to become active. If we get it when we are old, then it has made itself active. Sorry to hear that. I had a friend who died of cancer last yer, 39, I'll pray for your friend. Have her try Shaklee.com

Answer 6

Human papilloma virus (HPV) has been known to cause cervical cancer. I hope your friend's cancer is confined to her cervix and she can be cured by surgery with perhaps some follow-up treatment.

Answer 7

One fifth of all cancers worldwide are caused by a chronic infection, for example, human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer and hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes liver cancer.
Please see the webpages for more details on Cervical cancer.

Answer 8

There are many probable causes for cervical cancer but nothing is proven if diagnosis is early then prognosis is excellent.
Some possible causes are :
poor hygiene, human papilloma virus, multiple sex partners, radiation and many more...

Answer 9

HPV.... it's an STD and hopefully they caught it in time! It sucks.. but there are so many ways to help cure it!

Answer 10

Per the commerical, it is HPV virus. Can be spread by unprotected sex.