Cervical cancer and HPV
The recent enrollment of a vaccination against cervical cancer in state schools has brought it under the spotlight, together with the Ceravix vaccine. An article in the South African Medical Journal states that more than 7 000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and an estimated 3 000 die as a result of it. The …
The recent enrollment of a vaccination against cervical cancer in state schools has brought it under the spotlight, together with the Ceravix vaccine.
An article in the South African Medical Journal states that more than 7 000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and an estimated 3 000 die as a result of it.
The Mayo Clinic website says that the causes for cervical cancer is not clear. It is clear however that human papillomavirus (HPV) a sexually transmitted virus plays a role in it.
HPV is a common virus contracted via skin contact, especially via sexual or oral intercourse. It is said that eight in 10 women will contract some strain of HPV in their lifetime, but it usually clears by itself.
Out of the more than 100 strains recognised, strain 16 and 18 is linked with cervical cancer and other cancerous growths or warts on the genital area. This is the strains that the Ceravix vaccine builds immunity against.
The Mayo Clinic website states that most women that contract the HPV virus will never get cancer.
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