Cervical cancer Flashcards
What is cervical cancer?
Neoplasia arising from the cervix - the lower part of the uterus
What is the peak age of diagnosis of cervical cancer?
25-29
What type of cancer are cervical cancers?
Squamous cell carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma
Mixed
What does cervical cancer develop from?
Progression from cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
What timeframe does CIN develop over?
10-20 years
What happens to most CIN?
Spontaneously regress - not all progress to cancer
When does invasive cervical cancer occur?
When the basement membrane of the epithelium has been breached
Name the most common sites of metastasis
Lung
Liver
Bone
Bowel
What are most cervical cancers caused by?
Human papillomavirus
What percentage of cancer cells contain HPV DNA in the cells
99/7%
How is HPV transmitted?
Sexually
How many different HPV types affect the genital area?
30
What does HPV affect?
Skin and mucous membranes
What percentage of women are thought to be infected with HPV at some point?
80%
How long does it take the immune system to clear HPV infection?
2 years
Which HPV types cause genital warts?
6 and 11
What are the two high risk serotypes of HPV?
16 and 18
Describe how HPV 16 and 18 are high risk
Thought to produce proteins which inhibit the tumour suppressor protein p53 in cervical epithelial cells, allowing for uncontrolled cell division
Which HPV serotypes does the HPV vaccination protect against?
16, 18, 6, 11
What percentage reduction in cervical cancer has screening and vaccination thought to account for
40%
List some risk factors for cervical cancer
HPV Smoking STIs Long term >8yr combined oral contraceptive pill use Immunodeficiency
List the symptoms of cervical cancer
Abnormal vaginal bleeding - post coital, intermenstrual, post-menopausal
Vaginal discharge - blood stained, foul smelling
Dyspareunia
Pelvic pain
Weight loss
Advanced disease - oedema, loin pain, rectal bleeding, radiculopathy, haematuria
Where is most cases of cervical cancer detected?
Routine screening