Did you know that cervical cancer is caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV)?
Although most HPV infections go away on their own without causing any harm, there are over 30 different types of HPV that affect the genital area, and 2 of these cause approximately 70% of cervical cancer cases. When these types of HPV infect the cells of the cervix (the opening to the uterus), it’s a possibility that the cells will become cancerous. How could cervical cancer affect your life? • If precancerous lesions (abnormal cells that could become cancer but haven’t yet) are caught early, they can most often be successfully treated. • If the cancer is not caught early enough, this may mean you need to undergo surgery or radiation therapy. Basically, the later the cancer is detected, the lower the survival rate. In Canada, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women between 20 and 44 years old. Find out ways to protect yourself against cervical cancer: • Ask your doctor about having regular Pap tests and checkups to help detect any problems early. • Be sure to prac
