JaQt: Cervical Cancer Info

I can't help it but to post this information taken from the National Cancer Society of Malaysia website. I realised there are many women out there who still doesn't know about cervical cancer. Hmm.... I will always get these type of responses when I ask some people... "later la..", "won't occur now also..", "next year la.." etc ... wt-heck! You can see the skin cell of the cervix change ah?? Prevention is better than cure. Then they will answer, "I know laa but I'm still young what.." Duii...berabis la ko 'young' sana.. Anyways, for those who know and is aware about cervical cancer.. Hi5!! It's better to know more information than nothing. I went to get my cervical cancer vaccine (Cervarix) yesterday. Queued up and the girls in front of me were younger than me. But I can see that they are learning about cervical cancer and take precaution and care for their health. Not sure why, but I feel happy/glad when I see women who take care about their body and learn about it. At least, absorb the information and not being ignorant.

The Cervix
The cervix is at the lower part of the uterus (womb), which protrudes into the vagina. The cervix is sometimes called the neck of the womb. There is a small opening in the cervix, the cervical canal, which leads through the cervix into the main part of the uterus.

The cervix has several important functions. It produces some of the moistness that helps lubricate the vagina. It also produces the mucus that helps sperm travel up to the Fallopian tubes in an effort to fertilise an egg from the ovary. The cervix holds the developing baby in the uterus during a pregnancy. During labour the cervix opens to allow the baby to be born.

The cervix is covered by two different kinds of cells . Squamous cells cover the outer part. Endocervical cells cover the inner part.

Cervical cancer
There are two main types of cervical cancer. These are squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma, the most common type of cervical cancer, starts in the squamous or skin-like cells of the cervix. Adenocarcinoma is a less common type of cervical cancer. It starts in the glandular cells. In addition cervical cancer may be either microinvasive or invasive.

Microinvasive cervical cancer This is when cancer cells have just broken through the bottom layer of the skin of the cervix. At this stage, the cells have not spread more than five millimetres into the tissues of the cervix.

Invasive cervical cancer
In this, the cancer cells have spread from the surface skin of the cervix into the deeper tissues of the cervix. The cancer may also have spread to part of the vagina or to the lymph nodes and other tissues surrounding the cervix, within the pelvis, or beyond the genital and pelvic areas into nearby organs.

The 8 Early Warning Signs of Cancer

Any change in bowel or bladder habit
Unusual bleeding or discharge from any part of the body

e.g. Vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods or after menopause

An unexplained lump that does not go away

e.g. lump in the breast
e.g. lump in the neck

A sore that does not heal

Changes to a skin spot, wart or mole

Hoarseness of voice or nagging cough of more than two weeks

Unusual bleeding from the nose, deafness or ringing sound in the ear.

Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing

It is believed that 2/3 of all cancers can be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For cancers that can be detected early, there is over an 80% chance of surviving the cancer. Cancer detected early can save lives.

A Healthy Lifestyle:

You can lower your risk for cancer by choosing a healthy lifestyle. This means: