|
There are ways to prevent cancer of the cervix from becoming a life threatening condition. If combated with a healthy lifestyle and detected and removed while still in a precancerous state cervical cancer does not have the chance to grow and develop before it is defeated. Follow these tips and prevent cervical cancer from affecting you!
Get screened regularly.
Being diligent about HPV tests and pap smears is vital if you want to prevent cervical cancer. You should get tested once a year after you begin any type of sexual activity. Pap smears help detect early signs of changes in the cells of your cervix. HPV tests detect if you have been infected with the Human Papillomavirus, or HPV. This virus causes cervical cell mutations and is spread through sexual activity.
Follow up on abnormalities.
Finding out that you are infected with HPV doesn’t necessarily mean you will develop cervical cancer. Your body can fight off the virus before it causes any permanent damage. To make sure you don’t have any cervical cell damage after finding out you have HPV or discovering abnormalities in your pap smear you should have a colposcopy.
A colposcopy is a procedure in which a doctor magnifies your vagina, vulva and cervix and searches for any cellular changes, growths or any type of abnormality. If something questionable is found, a biopsy is taken for tests and analysis. If the changes are precancerous, your doctor will give you treatment options. You have a choice to wait and monitor the changes to try and give your body a chance to fight off the HPV, or to remove the precancerous cells before they have a chance to develop into cancer with a small surgery.
Do not smoke.
Avoid the development of cervical cancer by not smoking. Smoking cigarettes doubles your risk of not fighting off the HPV virus before it begins to make changes in your cervix. It is never too late to stop smoking, as your health risks decrease immediately when you stop smoking. It is also possible to undo some of the damage done to your body once you stop smoking.
Vaccinate yourself.
If you are between the ages of 9 and 26 you should get the vaccination for cervical cancer. The vaccine, known as Gardasil, protects you from the 4 most common strands of HPV. It does not stop the virus if you have already been infected with HPV, but in the case that you are HPV positive you should still get vaccinated because it will prevent you from getting any more strands of HPV than you already have.
Be selective and monogamous.
Your chances for getting infected with HPV increase with the number of sexual partners you have. Be selective in who you’re with, always use protection (though condom are not proven to protect against HPV 100%), and always ask someone about their sexual history before you become intimately involved with them.
Live a healthy lifestyle.
Exercising regularly and eating a well balanced diet full of fruits and leafy green vegetables helps your body to fight the HPV virus and prevent cervical cell changes and the development of cervical cancer. Take a daily multivitamin that provides you with the vitamins and minerals your body needs to run efficiently.
|
