Cervical Cancer Vaccine

Cervical Cancer Vaccine

Frequent Human papilloma virus, or HPV, is a major vehicle for abnormal cells to grow on the cervix which can evolve into Cervical Cancer. The cervix is the womb or the bottom portion of the uterus. One of the main recourses in preventing the abnormal cells from going unnoticed for many years is regular Pap tests. HPV vaccine can alsohelp to prevent the development of these infections with specific types of the Human papillomavirus. This cervical cancer vaccine has been found to prevent one of the largest risks of the disease, HPV 16 and 18. These vaccines are able to help prevent around 70% of cervical cancer.

What Cervical Cancer Vaccines Are Available?
There are two major types of HPV that are responsible for spreading most cases of cervical cancer through sexual contact. There are two different vaccines that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Cervarix is the vaccine for girls and Gardasil is for both boys and girls. If it is given to a girl before she is ever exposed to HPV, the vaccine can usually prevent the transmission of cervical cancer. Both vaccines are able to prevent vulvar and Vaginal Cancer, but Gardasil is also able to keep women and men from getting Anal Cancer and genital Warts. The point is to keep the virus from spreading through men by vaccinating them as well.

When to Get Cervical Cancer Vaccines
The vaccine works much better for young people rather than older people. So with regards to getting cervical cancer vaccines the younger the better, generally between 11 and 12 years of age. The vaccine can be given to boys and girls as young as 9 years old and it is recommended that the boys and girls get the vaccine before they actually engage in sex and have had a chance to be in contact with HPV. The vaccine may not work if the young person has already been infected with the virus.

Even though the first of the three doses is recommended for those aged 11 to 12, it should still be given to women by the time they are 25 and for men by the time they are 21. Men can still get the vaccine up until 26 if they choose.

Duration: The vaccines are given over 6 months as a 3 injection treatment. After the first dose the second is give up to 2 months later and the third up to 6 months after the first.

There are people who should not get the cervical cancer vaccine: those who are pregnant; those severely or moderately ill; those with an Allergy to latex or yeast; and those who are allergic to the vaccine or any part of the vaccine.

How Effective Are Cervical Cancer Vaccines?
The vaccines are highly effective because they are able to target the types of HPV that cause the cervical cancer as well as other types of cancer as well, such as cancer of the anus, vulva, vagina, and oropharynx.

• Research has suggested that once the vaccine has been given, it can provide protection up to 10 years with no compromise regarding its effectiveness.


• The cervical cancer vaccines are not as effective or might have no effect on existing infections or associated diseases.


• The vaccines should never replace Pap tests which is one of the most reliable forms of HPV detection.

Are There Any Side Effects of Cervical Cancer Vaccines?
The side effects of cervical cancer vaccines are minor, which mainly include soreness on the arm where the injection was performed, low grade fever, and Headaches. Fainting and dizziness can occur after the injection has been administered but the risk of fainting can be diminished by staying seated for up to 15 minutes after getting the shot. The Cervarix vaccine may also result in vomiting, Diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain.

Other Ways of Preventing Cervical Cancer
While the cervical cancer vaccine is one of the most effective ways of preventing cervical cancer, there are other things you can do to limit your chances of contracting the virus. They include:

• Put off having sex as long as you can.


• Don't have sex with an unlimited number of sexual partners or with someone who has many sexual partners.


• Don't rely on condoms to provide protection as this virus can be transmitted by exposure to the skin or other areas that have been exposed.


• Stop smoking as it compromises your immune system and its byproducts have been found in specimens of cervical cancer.


• Have a Pap test every three years beginning when the woman is 21 years old.


• Combine your Pap test with your HPV test from 30 years of age to 65. This can almost double the interval between screenings from 3 years to 5.


• Keep getting screenings for up to 20 years after you have had a history of an advanced precancerous diagnosis.

Know the severity of cervical cancer, what the cancer is, how it is transmitted and how to deal with it via vaccine, Pap smear and surgery through a real life story:

Cervical Cancer

Cervical Cancer






The cervix lies on the lower portion of the womb of a woman which opens into the vagina. It can be easily detected through simple Pap test and cervical cancer is the most common type of cancers in women all over the world. In countries where cervical screening is part of routine cervical cancer is less common. HPV is the virus that causes cervical cancer and sex workers and women with multiple sex partners are likely to develop this cancer. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment are some of the popular methods of treating this cancer.

Causes :

Cervix is made of cells like any other organ in your body. Cells undergo constant change in their routine causing death of older cells and forming new cells. However due to abnormal changes in this process some of the cells of cervix become abnormal and infected causing cervical cancer. Human Papilloma Virus is the major cause of cervical cancer.

There are many strains of this virus but only two of them causes this cancer. Many of them cause genital warts in men and women. It is likely that most of the adults are infected with HPV at some point of their life. But due to strong immunity the infection does not bother your body cells. Having more number of sex partners can cause cervical cancer. Smoking cigarette can increase the risk of getting cancer.

Symptoms :

Cervical cancer does not show any signs or symptoms. In rare cases it can cause symptoms like pain during intercourse, Vaginal Bleeding while having sex, bleeding between periods and discharge from vagina. For some women it would cause irregular periods. Back pain, anemia and urinary problems are common in some women. In rare cases there would be urine leakage through vaginal opening when fistula develops between the bladder and vagina.

What Happens If You Are Not Treating It ?

If left untreated or unnoticed, cervical cancer can spread into the tissue layers of the uterus and progresses to the lymph nodes. From there it has every chance to spread to other organs like kidney and liver.

Who Are At Risk ?

Women with persistent HPV infection, women having multiple sex partners and those with impaired immunity are likely to develop cervical cancer.

Diagnosis :

Your doctor would perform a pelvic exam and request for Pap smear test. If required, she may order for cervical biopsy, endocervical biopsy and LEEP test for collecting tissue sample from the cervix and testing it. To be accurate with the staging and intensity of cancer, your doctor would ask you for imaging tests like X-ray of lungs, CT/MRI/PET scan for checking how far the cancer has spread to other body parts.

Treatment :

If detected at early stages, cervical cancer can be fully treated. The more the delay the worse would be the outcome. Surgery is done for removing cancer causing cells in the cervix. It is done after considering factors like how far the cancer cells has spread inside and whether you want to have children or not. Cone biopsy or LEEP procedure is done for removing part of cervical tissue affected with cancer. Radical trachelectomy is done for removing part of cervix, vagina and lymph nodes of the pelvic floor. Hysterectomy is the process of removing the cervix along with uterus. During the surgery, the ovaries together with fallopian tubes are fully removed.

In modified form of radical hysterectomy the uterus plus cervix are removed but only fewer organs and tissues are removed. Pelvic exenteration is done only when the cancer has spread widely to the belly and pelvis. In this process apart from the uterus and cervix, colon, rectum and bladder will be removed. It is the most severe form of pelvic surgery. After removing them, the surgeon would create artificial openings for passing urine/stool and fix artificial vagina.

Hysterectomy is done in most of the cases diagnosed with cervical cancer. This is a major surgery done with general anesthesia which would warrant few days stay in the clinic. Chemotherapy is done for some women to destroy cancer causing cells. Radiation treatment uses high powered beams to kill cancer cells. The mode of treatment is decided by the doctor according to the stage of your cancer. Some of the drugs given during chemotherapy are carboplatin, bevacizumab, ifosfamide, docetaxel and mitomycin. These drugs can cause side effects like vomiting/nausea which you can overcome with other medications.

It is very important to complete the follow-up care with your oncologist after surgery or other therapy for cervical cancer. You should stick on the regular checkups doing Pap test for every 6 months for the first few years. In rare cases cervical cancer can come back after treatment. Cancer detected in early stage can be fully cured.

Images, Pics, Photos and Pictures of Cervical Cancer :

Prevention :

Discuss with your gynecologist to have Pap test once in 6 months depending on your age and risk factors. If you are a smoker, quit smoking immediately since it reduces the chance of getting cervical cancer. Women who are under 25 years can get vaccinated for HPV. Practice safe sex and avoid having sex with multiple partners. Avoid having sex if you or your partners have sexually transmitted disease or infection. The virus can spread easily through oral sex also and hence avoid having sex when you carry an infection.