Cervical Cancer Symptoms are caused by an infection called HPV or human papillomavirus. This cancer and the accompanying Cervical Cancer Symptoms are normally very treatable, if they are caught early, which is why it is so important to have a pap smear yearly. Cervical Cancer Symptoms can strike any age, race, or income level of women, so it is important that you take all of the precautions possible to keep this infection from developing into cancer. Why are some women more likely to get Cervical Cancer than other women?
Age – Almost half of the cases of Cervical Cancer and Cervical Cancer Symptoms are in women that are in the mid-life stage of life, between the ages of 35 and 55. It does affect women that are younger or older than this, but it is far less common. Women that are less than 20 are very rarely affected by Cervical Cancer or Cervical Cancer Symptoms. This is most likely due to the fact that they are not as sexually active in most cases.
Race – Hispanic women are twice as likely as non-Hispanic white women to get Cervical Cancer and Cervical Cancer Symptoms, although it does affect women of every race. African American women are 50% more likely to be diagnosed with Cervical Cancer than non-Hispanic white women. Although Hispanic and African American women are much more likely than non-Hispanic white women to be diagnosed with Cervical Cancer or have Cervical Cancer Symptoms, this does not mean that they are safe. Cervical Cancer Symptoms can affect any woman at any time.
Exposure to HPV – Exposure to HPV (human papillomavirus) via sexual intercourse or sexual contact can greatly increase your chance of being diagnosed with Cervical Cancer or having Cervical Cancer Symptoms. Using a condom is one way that you can help protect yourself from HPV during intercourse, but it is only 70% effective, simply because any skin-to-skin contact with an infected person’s genital skin or anal area can pass the virus. Limiting your sexual partners and avoiding sex with partners who have had many sexual partners can help decrease your chance of being exposed to HPV even further.
Smoking – Smoking puts all different kinds of cancer-causing agents into your body and this includes your cervix. In fact, tobacco by-products have been found in the cervical mucous of women who smoke, so it is a known fact that smoking can even effect your cervix. Researchers claim that smoking changes the cell structure of cervical cells, which increases your chance of developing Cervical Cancer and Cervical Cancer Symptoms.
Cervical Cancer Symptoms can and do affect all different types of women, but the above risk factors cause some groups of women to be affected more than others. By understanding risk factors and the ways that you can prevent it, you can help to keep yourself as safe as possible from developing Cervical Cancer and Cervical Cancer Symptoms.