Almost all cervical cancer is caused by HPV. Some cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and oropharynx (back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils) are also caused by HPV.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is linked with several cancers such as cancer cervix, vagina, vulva, head and neck, anal, and penile carcinomas.
Research has found that it can take 10 to 20 years, or even longer, for HPV-infected cervical cells to develop into a cancerous tumor. Among women whose cervical cells are infected with high-risk HPV, several factors increase the chance that the infection will be long lasting and lead to precancerous cervical cells.
These viruses rarely lead to cancer. They are known as low-risk HPV. Common types of low-risk HPV include HPV-6 and HPV-11. Other types of HPV are known as high-risk HPV.
Almost all cervical cancer is caused by HPV. Some cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and oropharynx (back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils) are also caused by HPV. Research is still being done to understand how and to what extent HPV causes these cancers.
HPV can cause cervical and other cancers, including cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus. It can also cause cancer in the back of the throat (called oropharyngeal cancer). This can include the base of the tongue and tonsils. Cancer often takes years, even decades, to develop after a person gets HPV.
In most cases, vaginal bleeding is the first noticeable symptom of cervical cancer. It usually occurs after having sex. Bleeding at any other time, other than your expected monthly period is also considered unusual. This includes bleeding after the menopause (when a woman's monthly periods stop).
Those who said they were depressed or believed they had high levels of stress also still had an active HPV infection. HPV usually clears up on its own, but this study is really the first to indicate a link between stress and persistent HPV infection.
– there's no evidence that HPV has triggers like herpes or asthma that cause flare ups, but many believe that a weakened immune system can lead to outbreaks being more likely. Genital warts are more likely to flare-up if your immune system is not able to effectively fight the HPV infection causing them to appear.
The Cure Rate Is Very High
“If a patient's tumor is HPV-positive, the longterm cure rate for most stages is 80 to 90 percent,” reports Dr. Hu, professor in the Departments of Radiation Oncology and Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery.
When cervical cancer is diagnosed after it has spread to a distant part of the body, the 5-year relative survival rate is 19%. The 5-year relative survival rate for all people with cervical cancer is 67%.
Cervical cancer is generally viewed as treatable and curable, particularly if it is diagnosed when the cancer is in an early stage. This disease occurs in the cervix, or the passageway that joins the lower section of the uterus to the vagina.
Female reproductive system
Signs and symptoms of more-advanced cervical cancer include: Vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods or after menopause. Watery, bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odor. Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse.
Early stage cervical cancer usually includes stages 1A, 1B and 2A. Locally advanced cervical cancer usually includes stages 2B, 3 and 4A. Advanced stage cervical cancer usually means stage 4B.
Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer
These symptoms include: pain in your lower back or pelvis. severe pain in your side or back. constipation.
vaginal bleeding that's unusual for you – including bleeding during or after sex, between your periods or after the menopause, or having heavier periods than usual. changes to your vaginal discharge. pain during sex. pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy.
Cervical cancer most commonly spreads to the: lymph nodes. the space between the hip bones (pelvis) tummy (abdomen)
The symptoms of HPV-related anal cancer include: bleeding, discharge, pain, or itching of the anus. swelling of the lymph nodes in the anal or groin area. changes in bowel habits or the shape of stools.
The Pap test (also called a Pap smear or cervical cytology) collects cervical cells so they can be checked for changes caused by HPV that may—if left untreated—turn into cervical cancer. It can find precancerous cells and cervical cancer cells.
Myth: If you have HPV, you will probably get cervical cancer. Fact: HPV is very common. But cervical cancer is not. The truth is that having HPV does not mean you have or will get cervical cancer.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) symptoms in women. HPV often causes no symptoms, but it can lead to warts on the genitals. In females, this includes the cervix, vulvar, and vagina, as well as the anus. It can also increase the risk of throat cancer in males and females.