The risk factors and causes of cervical cancer Essay

The risk factors and causes of cervical cancer - Essay Example 805; Fonseca-Moutinho, 2011, para 1-4). About 90% of cervical cancer cases are however direct resultant of HPV virus whiles other causes such as smoking explains the remaining 10% of cervical cancer cases. It should be noted that regular pap tests are recommended, as HPV may stay long in human body after infections before cancerous symptoms start to be exhibited. Symptoms that one may be suffering from the type of cancer include bleeding from vagina and which would not be explained, breeding during sexual intercourse or better whenever a foreign object such as a diaphragm is exposed to the cervical region as well as the painful experience while having an intercourse. It is also a sign whenever one observes bloody vaginal discharge and as such, one should take all precaution in the event of such signs of cervical cancer. Diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer is dependent on regular tests and which would reveal it in the early stages, which would enable it to be treated successful ly (O'Malley et al, 2006, p. 2179). Applicable treatments to cancer patients include surgery such as hysterectomy, chemotherapy as well as the radiotherapy. In many instances and depending on the stage of growth, the treatments described can be administered separately, combined or even repeatedly. Nevertheless, there are some procedures in treatment, which have long lasting effects on the victim such as hysterectomy, which renders on incapable of bearing children. The most well known mechanism of protection against cervical cancer is through regular pap tests, which enable one to take precautionary measures once such abnormal cells are noted in a person. Moreover, persons aged below twenty-six years have the capacity to take up a vaccination, which protects one against infection of two main types of HPV (Kraszewski, 2008, p. 14; Thiry et al, 2009, p. 161). Other mechanisms of preventing against cervical cancer is through abstinence or practicing safe sex as sex is one major way that the cancer causing virus are transmitted. With such an introductory background, this paper intends to have an in-depth analysis of risk factors responsible of causing cervical cancer. However, the scope of analysis will be in relation to sexual behavior as a risk factor to contracting HPV which causes cervical cancer and how as a tool, sexual cancer would be adopted to be a primary management tool for cervical cancer. It should be noted that cervical cancer is not a new phenomena within the medical profession. However, dynamics in lifestyles as well as increased research studies have revolutionized the field of medicine and subsequently influenced the knowledge on cervical cancer. Unlike previously, cervical cancer can be diagnosed early, be treated fully and can be effectively prevented than before (Bailie et al, 1998, p.304). Increased awareness and the ease of access of pap test have increasingly played a fundamental role in containing the menace in the modern day societies. Mor eover, advancement of medical knowhow has been ascribed with efficiency in cervical cancer management. It is worth noting that there have been developed vaccines, which are administered for protection purposes against the infection. Besides, increased awareness have enabled people to adopt favorable living practices such as abstinence as well as practicing safe s