What are the ways to prevent cervical cancer? To prevent cervical cancer, you need to do screening + vaccination

"Cervical cancer has the clearest etiology research among all tumors. In addition to continuing to do a good job of screening, prevention from the source is just around the corner." Professor Liu Jihong, director of the Department of Gynecology at the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and chief expert in single disease management for cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment, pointed out that physical examinations can only achieve secondary prevention of cervical cancer, while primary prevention can achieve prevention.

Domestic vaccines are expected to be launched on the market

Statistics show that 50% of women will be infected with HPV (human papillomavirus) virus, and the occurrence of cervical cancer has been confirmed and proven to be directly related to HPV infection. The birth of HPV infection vaccine has provided favorable conditions for the thorough prevention and control of cervical cancer.

Liu Jihong said that 10% of women infected with HPV cannot clear the virus on their own, so it develops into a persistent infection, laying the foundation for the occurrence of cervical cancer. If these patients have been vaccinated before, they may avoid vaccine HPV infection.

"The best time to get vaccinated is when you are 9 to 12 years old, and the effect is best when you are not having sex," Liu Jihong said. However, with further research on the HPV vaccine, the vaccine's protection period is being relaxed, "women who have sex can also be vaccinated, but the effect is definitely worse."

In 2006, the first cervical cancer vaccine was launched in the United States. Now it has spread to more than 100 countries and regions around the world, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan in China. Since it has not yet entered mainland China, many women choose to go to Hong Kong for vaccination, which usually requires three injections within six months and costs about 3,000 yuan.

Although there are different types of HPV, the common types in China are 16 and 18, which can cover 70%-80% of patients. Therefore, these two types have become the focus of the development of cervical cancer vaccines in my country. Liu Jihong revealed that the domestic vaccine in which Zhongshan Cancer Hospital participated is currently strengthening clinical trials and is expected to be available in the market in recent years.

Routine screening should not be relaxed

Can women who have successfully received the cervical cancer vaccine rest easy? In this regard, Liu Jihong emphasized that vaccination cannot replace routine cervical cancer screening, and women who have sexual lives should undergo regular reproductive system examinations.

Since vaccines cannot avoid the risk of HPV infection in all populations, physical examinations and screening are still a long-term task that must be carried out. Liu Jihong believes that only by paying attention to preventive screening and early treatment can the incidence of cervical cancer be truly reduced.

According to the characteristics of cervical cancer incidence in my country, the incidence in rural areas is higher than that in urban areas. In 2009, my country launched a cervical cancer screening project for rural women in some pilot counties. Liu Jihong participated in the supervision of the project screening in the Guangdong pilot area, but found that even though the government provided free services, rural women did not cooperate with the screening due to their lack of health awareness.

Liu Jihong called on women to take more care of themselves. "The cervical cancer screening method is very simple and non-invasive. It can be done in ordinary hospitals. Screening should be carried out for one to two years." Women who start sexual life at a young age, have multiple sexual partners, bleed after sexual life or have irregular bleeding during menopause are the key targets of the investigation.

Chemotherapy to improve efficacy

In terms of treatment, standardized and systematic treatment is particularly important for cervical cancer at different stages. Liu Jihong introduced that the precancerous lesions of cervical cancer are called "intraepithelial neoplasia", which is the most likely early stage to develop into a tumor. Through freezing, laser, burning or electric ring cutting, the incidence of cervical cancer can be greatly reduced. Zhongshan Cancer Hospital has a cervical lesion specialist clinic. Patients with cervical precancerous lesions can be treated directly in the clinic after physical examination and screening.

The combined multidisciplinary treatment is currently an effective method to overcome cervical cancer. Surgery and radiotherapy are conventional methods. In recent years, chemotherapy has been used as an adjuvant treatment for cervical cancer surgery or radiotherapy at home and abroad, and has achieved certain results.

Liu Jihong said that whether chemotherapy should be used as an adjuvant treatment depends on individual circumstances. Cervical cancer is much more sensitive to radiotherapy than chemotherapy, but for patients with large tumors or metastasis to adjacent tissues of cancer cells who are not suitable for surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy can be used in the early stages after excluding other contraindications.

In addition, this may be a blessing for patients who want to have children. Two years ago, a young patient was diagnosed with cervical cancer shortly after her marriage. Because the tumor grew very large and the patient did not agree to remove her uterus, Liu Jihong tried chemotherapy first. Unexpectedly, after three courses of treatment, the tumor disappeared. No cancer cells were found in the cervical spine resection and sent for pathological examination. The follow-up was good.

It is reported that through the rational comprehensive application of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the overall 5-year survival rate of cervical cancer patients in this hospital has reached more than 80%.