In this cervical cancer awareness month, let’s remember how to prevent it.
- Cervical cancer is a disease that develops on the mucous membrane of the cervix, in other words on the tissue that covers it.
- Cervical cancer is the 12th leading cause of cancer in women.
With nearly 3,000 new cases and 1,000 deaths each year in France, cervical cancer remains a public health issue, and what it affects young women. “However, today we still have all the tools to make this disease disappear,” remind her French Society of Colposcopy and Cervicovaginal Pathology on the occasion of this month of mobilization.
National Screening
“We have a national organized screening which is being set up” specifies the association. Thus, as for breast cancer screening, French women aged 25 to 65 will soon receive an invitation to take their screening test with a gynecologist, a general practitioner or a midwife. “This screening is extremely effective, with the fact that after 30 years, it is now based on the HPV test, which is an even more efficient test than the cytological examination”, say health professionals.
Remember that the screening test must be carried out every 3 years, in all women aged 25 to 30 after two normal initial tests carried out at intervals, then every 5 years from 30 to 65 years. The principle of this screening is to diagnose and treat precancerous lesions of the cervix and the evolution of cancer progression. “It is essential to remind all important women of this screening and encourage them to participate,” insists the SFCPCV.
Vaccine against HPV infection
In addition to screening, we also have a vaccine against HPV infection, the main cause of precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. ” This vaccine has shown its extraordinary efficacy and safety,” underlines the association.
It is recommended for all young girls and young boys from 11 to 14 years old and can be offered as a remedial course until the end of the 19th year. In addition to cancer, the HPV vaccine also helps prevent precancerous lesions of the cervix and thus avoid associated treatments. Finally, it helps prevent all other HPV-related pathologies such as genital warts, but also pathologies due to HPV infection of the vagina, vulva, anus, penis and penis. oropharynx.
“The combination of HPV vaccination (for girls and boys) and screening should help make cervical cancer a disease of the past. French women will benefit from these measures,” conclude the experts.
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