A brief analysis of the three common misunderstandings about cervical cancer

As the number of cervical cancer patients continues to increase, more and more people are beginning to pay attention to the relevant knowledge of cervical cancer, but some people still have misunderstandings about cervical cancer . Here are some common misunderstandings about cervical cancer.

In general, common misunderstandings about cervical cancer include:

1. Cervical erosion can turn into cancer

Many women have such a misunderstanding that cervical erosion can cause cervical cancer, and therefore they are very afraid of cervical erosion. This is the most common misunderstanding of cervical cancer. In fact, there is no necessary connection between the two.

Medically speaking, when the columnar epithelium in the female cervical canal turns outward and replaces the squamous epithelium, doctors will find that the cervix is ​​locally congested and appears 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 turns outward and replaces the squamous epithelium of the cervix, presenting an "eroded" appearance. However, "erosion" is rare in women before puberty and during menopause because of the relatively low estrogen levels in their bodies.

It is worth noting that cervical erosion can also be a common inflammatory condition. Early cervical cancer is very similar in appearance 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, rule out the possibility of cervical cancer, and provide correct treatment.

2. HPV infection = cervical cancer

This is also a common misunderstanding about 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 types of human papillomavirus is a necessary factor for the occurrence of cervical cancer and its precancerous lesions. This virus can be detected in the bodies of the vast majority of cervical cancer patients. All women who have sex are likely to be infected with the HPV virus through sexual contact. About 80% of women have been infected with this virus in their lifetime.

However, being infected with HPV does not necessarily lead to cervical cancer, because every healthy woman has a certain degree of immunity. Studies have shown that after being infected with HPV, the immune system of most women can eliminate the HPV that enters the body. Only a few women cannot eliminate the HPV that enters the body, resulting in persistent HPV infection, which may cause cervical precancerous lesions. Some of these patients will further develop cervical cancer, a process that takes about 5 to 10 years.

3. Not paying attention to gynecological examinations

There is a gradual natural course from infection with HPV virus to the development of cervical cancer, which generally 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 after treatment can reach 85% to 90%.

Therefore, women of childbearing age must not neglect annual gynecological examinations, including cervical cytology examinations such as Pap smears or liquid-based cytology (TCT) tests, which are important methods for detecting cervical precancerous lesions and cervical cancer.

The above is an introduction to common misunderstandings about cervical cancer. I hope it will help you understand cervical cancer. For more questions about cervical cancer, you can consult our online experts, who will answer them in detail.

For more information, please visit the cervical cancer disease special topic at http://www..com.cn/zhongliu/gj/ or consult an expert for free. The expert will then give a detailed answer based on the patient's specific situation.