Cervical Cancer 101: Everything You Need to Know About Causes and PreventionCERVICAL CANCER

What is Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer begins in the cells of the cervix. The cervix is the bottom, narrow end of the uterus (womb). The cervix joins the uterus and the vagina (birth canal). Cervical cancer typically grows slowly over time. Before cancer develops in the cervix, the cells undergo a process called as dysplasia, during which aberrant cells grow in the cervical tissue. If the abnormal cells are not killed or eliminated, they may develop into cancer cells that proliferate and spread deeper into the cervix and surrounding tissues.

KEY FACTS

• Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally with around 660 000 new cases and around 350 000 deaths in 2022.
• Cervical cancer is caused by persistent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV).  Women living with HIV are 6 times more likely to develop cervical cancer compared to women without HIV.
• Prophylactic vaccination against HPV and screening and treatment of pre-cancer lesions are effective strategies to prevent cervical cancer and are very cost-effective.
• Cervical cancer can be cured if diagnosed at an early stage and treated promptly.
• In Kenya, Cervical cancer contributes approximately 12% of all cancer cases diagnosed in Kenya, and is the leading cause of cancer mortality in Kenya, with an estimated 3,200 deaths every year.

What Causes Cervical Cancer?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection that can affect the skin, genitals, and throat. Almost every sexually active person will become infected at some point in their lives, generally without symptoms. In most situations, the immune system removes HPV from the body. Persistent infection with high-risk HPV can cause abnormal cells to grow, eventually leading to cancer. Persistent HPV infection of the cervix leads to 95% of cervical malignancies if not treated. It typically takes 15-20 years.

Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer

• Multiple sexual partners
• Having sex at early age
• Sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV/AIDS

Prevention

Increasing public knowledge and access to information and services are critical to prevention and control throughout the life cycle.

1. Vaccination between the ages of 9 and 14 is highly successful in preventing HPV infection, cervical cancer, and other HPV-related malignancies.
2. Screening begins at the age of 30 (25 years in women living with HIV) and can detect cervical illness, which, when treated, avoids cervical cancer.
3. Regular pap smear tests to detect the cancerous conditions of the cervix after 35 years
4. Safe sexual practices such as using condoms
5. Avoid smoking

HPV vaccination and other prevention steps

As of 2023, there are 6 HPV vaccines available globally. All protect against the high-risk HPV types 16 and 18, which cause most cervical cancers and have been shown to be safe and effective in preventing HPV infection and cervical cancer.

As a priority, HPV vaccines should be given to all girls aged 9–14 years, before they become sexually active. The vaccine may be given as 1 or 2 doses. People with reduced immune systems should ideally receive 2 or 3 doses. Some countries have also chosen to vaccinate boys to further reduce the prevalence of HPV in the community and to prevent cancers in men caused by HPV.