Fact Or Myths: Myths about HPV and Cervical Cancer Checked

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According to the National Cervical Cancer Coalition“Humanpapillomavirus (HPV) is the name of a group of viruses that infect the skin. There are more than 100 different types of HPV. Some types of genital HPV may cause genital warts, while other types of genital HPV are linked to abnormal cell changes on the cervix that can lead to cervical cancer.”

HPV is very common. It’s estimated that nearly all sexually active women and men will contract HPV at some point in their lives. Fortunately, in the majority of cases, the body’s immune system naturally eliminates HPV without causing harm

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the cells of the cervix — the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. It is often caused by persistent infection with high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus.

According to the Australian Gynaecological Cancer Foundation, “Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. In 2022, an estimated 604,000 women were diagnosed with the disease and over 342,000 died from it. About 94% of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries, equating to a survival rate of about 43%.”

The foundation also highlighted that “Clinically, cervical cancer occurs mainly in premenopausal women, who usually have children to care for. Typically, it presents with bleeding after sexual intercourse (post-coital bleeding), but if left undiagnosed, it will erode into the bladder or bowel, and the patient will present with the leakage of urine or feaces from the vagina. Unfortunately, this is a common mode of presentation in low- and middle-income countries. If diagnosed while still confined to the cervix, it can be treated surgically (by radical hysterectomy and removal of pelvic lymph nodes) but once it has spread beyond the cervix, it must be treated by radiation therapy.”

Here are some of the myths of HPV and Cervical Cancer, checked and verified.

Myth: It is not possible to prevent cervical cancer – False

Prof Andreas Obermair, a specialist in gynaecological oncology and complex pelvic surgery, explains– “Firstly, the cervical cancer vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV) will prevent more than 90% of cervical cancers. Secondly, screening will find abnormal cells on the cervix that are so small and harmless that they can be treated early before they become cancerous.”

Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center further notes that “Besides the HPV vaccination, your risk for cervical cancer can be minimized by avoiding: Smoking, Multiple sexual partners, Sexual intercourse at an early age, Chlamydia infection and weakened immune system or HIV infection.”

Myth: Cervical cancer is only diagnosed in elderly/young women – False

Cervical cancer typically affects women across various age groups. On average, diagnosis occurs at 47 years old. Notably, 70% of cases are detected in women under 60 who have not undergone regular cervical cancer screening. Although cervical cancer is rare in women under 20, it can affect women of all ages.

Myth: If a woman gets the HPV vaccine, she no longer needs the Pap or HPV test – False

“Girls and women who get the HPV vaccine will still need to be tested with the Pap test and HPV test. The HPV vaccine only protects against two of the more than a dozen types of cancer-causing HPV types. Even then, vaccination is only fully effective when given to women who have not yet been exposed to HPV. That means the ideal candidate for the vaccine is an adolescent girl or young woman who is not yet sexually active. The bottom line: All women, including those who are vaccinated, need regular screening with a Pap and (if they are age 30 or older) an HPV test.” Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center.

Myth: Cervical cancer is hereditary – False

Cervical cancer is not hereditary, as it is primarily caused by the HPV infection rather than inherited genetic mutations. However, cervical cancer may appear to run in some families due to shared risk factors, such as smoking habits, rather than genetic predisposition.

Contrary to breast and ovarian cancer, cervical cancer is not hereditary, according to MD Anderson Cancer Center. Instead, it’s primarily caused by the HPV. As Schmeler notes, “Cervical cancer is caused by HPV, so the best way to make sure your kids don’t get it is to ensure they get the HPV vaccine.”

Furthermore, for those too old for vaccination, regular Pap tests are crucial. These tests enable doctors to detect cervical cancer early, often before symptoms appear, when treatment is most effective.

Myth: I can’t have a baby now that I have had cervical cancer – True

During cervical cancer treatment, patients typically undergo a hysterectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy to the pelvic area. However, newer treatment options now allow doctors to preserve patients’ fertility, enabling them to become parents. These innovative treatments include assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to freeze eggs, and ovarian transposition surgery, which relocates ovaries outside the radiation field to protect them from harm.

As emphasized by MD Anderson Cancer Center, “Yes they cannot bear children, cervical cancer patients typically undergo a hysterectomy and/or chemotherapy and radiation therapy to the pelvic area. But there are a lot of new treatment options that enable our doctors to spare patients’ fertility so they can become parents.”

Myth: If you have HPV, you will develop cervical cancer – False

Having HPV doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll develop cervical cancer. There are over 100 strains of HPV, with some posing a high risk for cervical cancer and others being low-risk. Fortunately, the body’s immune system usually clears the virus within two years. However, in some cases, the virus persists and causes abnormal cell changes in the cervix, often without noticeable symptoms.

In Nigeria, cervical cancer is the second leading cancer among women, following breast cancer, while globally, it is the fourth most frequent cancer affecting women. The Pink and Blue project, an organization established to raise awareness on cancers, points out that Cervical cancer is the most prevalent gynecological cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Nigerian women, accounting for approximately 14,000 new cases and over 8,000 fatalities annually. Unfortunately, it also has the highest mortality rate, exceeding 50%, primarily due to delayed diagnosis, which renders treatment ineffective. Women diagnosed with cervical cancer in Nigeria face significant challenges, including inability to afford treatment, lack of knowledge about suggestive symptoms, seeking traditional medicine upon symptoms and late diagnosis. Given its high prevalence, after  breast cancer, it is crucial for women to be informed about cervical cancer, its symptoms, and treatment options to combat myths and misconceptions surrounding the disease.