What are the early symptoms of cervical cancer? Beware of these 3 misunderstandings about cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is a common malignant tumor. If it is not treated promptly and effectively, it will cause great harm to female friends and may directly endanger the patient's life. So how to prevent cervical cancer?

How to prevent cervical cancer?

1. Popularize cancer prevention knowledge, understand and avoid the risk factors of cervical cancer. Obviously, factors closely related to the incidence of cervical cancer include early sexual life (16 years old), sexual dysfunction and sexually transmitted diseases (especially HPV infection), early marriage, early childbearing, multiple births, etc.

2. It should be emphasized that sexual hygiene is an important issue for both men and women. It is common sense for women to keep their perineum clean. Men often ignore sexual hygiene and are prone to become the "source" of gynecological diseases. Studies have found that viruses and bacteria are hidden in the male foreskin, which can easily cause inflammation and cervical cancer in women; if a man's ex-wife has cervical cancer, his second wife is more likely to have cervical cancer; if a man has penile cancer, women are also likely to get sick. Men who pay attention to sexual hygiene can objectively help their wives prevent cervical cancer.

3. For women with a sexual history of more than 2 years, regular cervical cancer prevention examinations every year are the key to early detection and treatment of cervical cancer.

Diet is the key to preventing cervical cancer

1. Supplement beta-carotene

Beta carotene is converted into vitamin A, which helps protect the immune system from attacks by free radical molecules and has a significant immune-enhancing effect. According to scientists, the blood beta carotene of cervical cancer patients is lower than that of the control group, and the risk factor for cervical cancer is low intake of beta carotene.

Animal foods that contain more vitamin A are: animal liver and eggs. β Plant foods rich in carotene, such as spinach, rapeseed, amaranth, lettuce leaves, pumpkin, etc.

2. Eat more soybeans and their products

Soy products: such as tofu, soy milk, dried tofu, etc.

Vegetables: such as celery, broccoli, edamame, sugar snap peas, etc.

Since these foods can supplement phytoestrogens, the isoflavones and lignin contained in phytoestrogens are considered by scientists to have antioxidant effects. Phytoestrogens can inhibit the growth of cervical adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, inhibit cell division, and effectively prevent the invasion or metastasis of cancer cells.

3. Supplement trace elements zinc and selenium

Zinc and selenium play an extremely important role in the production and function of immune cells. Scientific studies have shown that low levels of zinc and selenium in the body can lead to a poor immune system. Cervical cancer is associated with trace elements zinc and selenium. Deficiencies in these trace elements lead to a significant increase in the incidence of cervical cancer and breast cancer. It is particularly important to supplement zinc and selenium in the diet.

Animal foods rich in the trace elements zinc and selenium include: oysters, fish, lean meat, animal offal, eggs, beef kidneys, pork kidneys, shrimps, etc. Eggs have the highest zinc content.

Plant raw materials containing zinc and selenium include: edible fungi, seaweed, sesame, peanuts, wheat germ powder, nuts, etc.

To prevent cervical cancer, you must first clarify four misunderstandings

Myth 1: HPV infection = cervical cancer

The occurrence of cervical cancer is closely related to a virus called human papillomavirus (HpV). Studies have shown that persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus is a necessary factor for cervical cancer and its precancerous lesions. This virus can be detected in the vast majority of cervical cancer patients.

Any sexually active woman may be infected with HPV through sexual contact. About 80% of women will be infected with the virus in their lifetime.

However, cervical cancer does not necessarily occur after being infected with HPV, because everyone has a certain immunity. Studies have shown that after being infected with HPV, the immune system of most women can enter the body and eliminate HPV. Only a few women cannot eliminate what enters the body. HPV, causing persistent infection with HPV, may lead to cervical precancerous lesions. Some patients will further develop cervical cancer in about 5 to 10 years.

Will HPV infection develop into cervical cancer? HPV is related to the type. There are more than 100 subtypes of HPV virus. The most common types of HPV infection in the female reproductive tract are 6, 11, 16, and 18. Among them, HpV6 and HpV11 are low-risk types. Studies on cervical cancer from all over the world have found that HpV types 16 and 18 are high-risk types. The infection rate of HpV16 and HpV 18 in cervical cancer patients is the highest.

Myth 2: Cervical erosion can turn into cancer

Many women have the misunderstanding that cervical erosion can cause cervical cancer, so they are very afraid of cervical erosion. There is no necessary connection between the two.

In medicine, when the columnar epithelium in the female cervical canal everts and replaces the squamous epithelium in the cervix, doctors will find that the cervix is ​​locally congested and red during examination, which is called "cervical erosion". Erosion is not "rotten" in the true sense. It can be a physiological phenomenon. Under the action of estrogen, the columnar epithelium in the cervical canal of women of childbearing age everts and replaces the squamous epithelium in the cervix, presenting a "eroded" state. Due to the relatively low estrogen level in the body, "erosion" is rare in women during puberty and before menopause.

It is worth noting that cervical erosion may also be a common inflammatory condition. The appearance of early cervical cancer is very similar to cervical erosion and can be easily confused. Therefore, if cervical erosion is found during a gynecological examination, it should not be taken lightly. Further cytological examination and biopsy are needed to confirm the diagnosis, exclude the possibility of cervical cancer, and treat it correctly.

Myth 3: Not paying attention to gynecological examinations

There is a gradual natural course from HPV infection to the occurrence and development of cervical cancer, which usually lasts about 5 to 10 years. Therefore, as long as women undergo regular cervical cancer screening, it is entirely possible to detect the "signs" of the disease in time and nip it in the bud. At present, the five-year survival rate of patients with early cervical cancer can reach 85% to 90%.

Women of childbearing age should not neglect annual gynecological examinations, including Pap smear or liquid-based cytology (TCT) cervical cytology examinations. Examinations are an important way to detect cervical precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. In particular, the following groups of people who are prone to cervical cancer should not take it lightly:

High-risk types of people who are persistently infected with HPV, that is, patients with positive HPV16 and HPV18 test results; patients with adverse sexual behavior factors, including early sexual life, multiple sexual partners, poor sexual hygiene, etc., will increase the risk of cervical cancer;

Women who marry and have children early and have multiple pregnancies;

Male or female genital warts, syphilis, gonorrhea, etc. will increase the risk of cervical cancer in women;

People with weakened immune function, smoking, and malnutrition.

Misunderstanding 4: Ignoring the "clues"

Cervical cancer may not cause any discomfort in the early stages, and some symptoms can be easily ignored. Women of childbearing age should learn to pay attention to their body's "health alerts", which are sometimes just "clues" but may contain hidden dangers.

Contact bleeding: mainly refers to bleeding after sexual intercourse or gynecological examination, bleeding after urination. Even if it is only once and the amount is small, you should be vigilant.

Abnormal vaginal discharge: Most cervical cancer patients have varying degrees of increased vaginal discharge, so women should pay attention to the nature, quantity and smell of vaginal discharge. Especially when a large amount of watery or mucous vaginal discharge is found, it must be paid attention.