New Delhi: Among women worldwide, cervical cancer is the fourth most common form of cancer. The cervix, in general, is called the mouth of the uterus in common man’s language. The development of a malignant mass, a lesion or a growth on the cervix, or even a microscopic pre-invasive lesion is called cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. It is noted that only if persistent infection is present, 1% of the women with HPV likely will develop precancerous lesions and cancer of the cervix.
Dr. Spurthy G Janney, Consultant – Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Manipal Hospital Whitefield, in an interaction with News9Live, spoke about the tobacco and cervical cancer risk.
Are Tobacco Related to Cervical Cancer Risk?
Many meta-analyses suggest a positive correlation between smoking and development of cancer cervix. Smoking doubles the risk of developing precancerous and cancerous lesions of the cervix. The incidence of cervical cancer in women who smoke is roughly about 25-26%.
Symptoms include:
- Intermenstrual bleeding- that is bleeding in between periods
- Post Intercourse bleeding/post-coital bleeding
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Unexplained pelvic or lower back aches
Let’s understand some of the predisposing factors for cervical cancer:
- Early marriage
- Multiple sexual partners
- Weakened immune system
- Oral contraceptive pills
- HPV infection
- Smoking
- Poor genital hygiene
Here, we see that our lifestyle choices like Smoking also have a huge impact on the development of cervical cancer.
The actual pathogenesis of smoking and cervical cancer is unknown to date. Several theories suggest that smoking causes DNA damage which can lead to cervical cancer over time. It may also suppress the immune response to HPV, thereby causing persistent HPV infection. Nicotine is found in high concentrations in the cervical mucous of women who smoke. This is a carcinogen causing epithelial damage and precancerous and cancerous lesions on the cervix.
HPV cervical carcinogenesis linked to smoking is complex and multifactorial. However, an unhealthy lifestyle increases the likelihood of cervical cancer development. Smoking also reduces the survival among the cervical cancer patients. Few studies suggest the p53 tumour suppressor gene, interleukins 10 were under-expressed, and ki67, cyclooxygenase 2 were over-expressed in smokers compared to non-smokers.
Steps to prevent cervical cancer:
- Regular cervical screening helps in early detection of precancerous and cancerous lesions with timely diagnosis and management
- The national vaccination program is available from the age of 9 years to 45 years
- This reduces the cancer risk to 70 percent by protecting against the HPV infection
Will quitting smoking help?
“Definitely yes! Quitting smoking is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of cervix cancer. Stopping smoking greatly reduces the recurrence of cervical precancerous and cancerous lesions. At times, it may even cause normalization of the changes at the cervix. Quitting smoking for 20 years or more has the same chance of developing cervical cancer as a woman who has never smoked,” said Dr Janney.
Many meta-analyses suggest a positive correlation between smoking and development of cancer cervix. Smoking doubles the risk of developing precancerous and cancerous lesions of the cervix. The incidence of cervical cancer in women who smoke is roughly about 25-26%. Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
