Globally, more than 500 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. With the screening and vaccination campaigns supported and initiated by many countries, especially the World Health Organization, it is aimed to eliminate cervical cancer from all over the world in the near future.
Cervical cancer and gynecological seen by 4,5 per hundred thousand in Turkey - ranks 3rd among reproductive system cancers.
Academic Hospital Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecological Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Hüsnü Gökaslan emphasized that this cancer can be detected with the smear test that has been used for about 100 years and is XNUMX% preventable and said, “Thanks to this test we have used for almost a century, we have the chance to detect cellular disorders in the early period and catch cervical cancer”.
Thanks to the smear test, death rates from cancer are decreasing
Prof. Dr. According to the information provided by Hüseyin Hüsnü Gökaslan, cervical cancer reaches its peak for two periods in human life. The first is around 35 years old and the second is around 55 years old.
Stating that the smear test used to detect the presence of cervical cancer, like mammography used for screening in breast cancer, Prof. Dr. Gökaslan shared the following information:
“Today, two community screening tests are used for the diagnosis of cervical cancer. Smear and HPV tests can be used separately or together. When we use it together, we can increase the scanning frequency from 3 to 5 years. When the smear test is performed periodically, your chance of catching risky structures increases to 95 percent. When we do a single HPV test, we have a 94 percent chance of detecting it. Therefore, when both are used together, it becomes a very effective screening method.
However, we do not use the HPV test under the age of 30, we only use the smear test. "
Starting sex at an early age and multiple births increases the risk
Stating that cervical cancer can be considered as a sexually transmitted disease, Prof. Dr. Gökaslan said, "When we prevent HPV infections, if we detect the cellular disorders they cause at an early stage, we really have the chance to prevent this cancer."
Prof. Dr. Gökaslan risk factors include starting sexual intercourse at an early age, polygamy, having multiple sexual partners, sexual intercourse without condom, smoking, disorders in the immune system, having multiple births, using contraceptive pills for a long time and the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases. lined up.
Don't underestimate post-intercourse bleeding
Reminding that many examinations for screening purposes cannot be performed due to the fear of getting Covid-19 infection from the hospital due to the pandemic, Prof. Dr. Gökaslan said “However, it is very important for patients to continue their screening as soon as possible” and warned: “The most common symptom of cervical cancer is bleeding outside the menstrual period. this bleeding may be mild, inflammatory - bloody. Bleeding after sexual intercourse is very important, especially in those who have a sexually active life. This bleeding is a bleeding that needs to be investigated. Any bleeding after menopause should also be considered as an alarm. Generally, bleeding occurs after a tumor has formed and is triggered for a reason such as sexual intercourse. No bleeding other than menstrual bleeding is normal, it definitely requires a doctor's consultation. "
Smoking causes the most cervical cancer after lung cancer
Drawing attention to the effect of smoking on increasing the risk of cervical cancer, Prof. Dr. Gökaslan said, “Smoking causes the most cervical cancer after lung cancer. Therefore, it is very important to quit smoking ”and continued his words as follows:
“The Pap test should start at the age of 21, according to the latest consensus. After that, it is recommended to be done at the ages of 3 - 24 - 27 every 30 years and to be followed up with a smear test. With the HPV test performed every 5 years, if it is detected among the high-risk virus types, then the smear test should also be done. Smear tests can be done free of charge in family health centers. "
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