Know about the cancer of the cervix
Cancer or malignant tumors that start off in the cervix or the lower, narrow part of the uterus that is located in between the bladder and rectum and that opens out into the vagina could first a start off in the cells in the cervix and could after that spread to other parts and be very difficult to control.
It is to be further understood that these cells that are abnormal and multiplying without the death of other cells first lie on the surface of the cervix and then go deeper into the cervix, and then to the other organs and cause cervix cancer or what is also called invasive cervix cancer.
It is astonishing to note that cervical cancer affects women in ages below 55, with this cancer being quite different from other types of cancer, with most cervical cancers being adenocarcinoms or squamous cell carcinomas.
With the present medical development of pap smear tests, you would find that the rate of death of this type of cancer has come down very much, with most researchers of the opinion that the rate of invasive cervical cancer is just 1/4th that of non-invasive cervix cancer.
It would be interesting to know that there could be various precancerous symptoms or conditions for cervical cancer with the cells that look cancerous looking abnormal but not cancerous.
But it is important to know that these very cells turn cancerous as time goes on. It is again significant to note that these changes that take place prior to the diagnosis of cancer may not cause pain or any other abnormal symptom. It is only a Pap smear test that can reveal cervical cancer.
It is right to say that the presence of flats abnormal cells that appear on the surface of the cervix and grow abnormally as notices later is what cervical cancer is all about. Understanding the changes in the cells that are cancerous in the case of cervical cancer would make you come across cells that may appear and disappear randomly, or persist to grow.
In addition you may notice a large number of cells on the cervix surface that may or may not become cancerous over a period of years. Thanks to the advent of Pap smear test the detection of this cancer is easily done and the cancerous growth can be controlled in time by treatment.
The knowledge of symptoms of cervical cancer would sure help treat it in time, so it is good to observe if you have abnormal bleeding that starts and stops in between regular menstrual cycles, with bleeding that occurs during sexual intercourse, a pelvic exam or douching calling for prompt medical attention. It is also quite common to find that there is menstrual or bleeding after menopause that lasts long. There could be also presence of vaginal discharge.
Is cervical cancer hereditary
As most serious diseases that could be hereditary, it is important to note that generally this cancer is not carried on from generation to generation. It is caused by the HPV virus, and there is a vaccine that has been found out to fight this cancer.
The vaccines that helped to fight other virus diseases have been able to fight cervical cancer caused by HPV virus. But it is interesting to note that this cancer can be passed over from one generation to the next just like the color of hair and eyes, so it is quite possible that mothers could pass on HPV virus to their children.
This does not necessarily mean that the child will have cervical cancer, as it is also possible that the babies could get rid of this virus all by themselves.
But you would be interested in knowing that it is wrong to assume that cervical cancer cannot be inherited at all as cervical cancer can be passed as a syndrome, with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome being a very prominent example. This could prove to be applicable and have been responsible for many having differently colored spots like freckles on their lips, on their skin, inside their mouths, their hands, around their mouths, and their feet.
It is again most important to note that not all HPV cause cancer and it is only the 2 HPV genes, E6 and E7, that cause or matter for cervical cancer. It is again important to notice that though many may get the HPV virus, most may not even develop any unhealthy symptoms and may get rid of the virus within a few years.
But it is again significant to note that the 2 important HPV genes, E6 and E7 that lead to development of cancer need to be all the time in the body to develop into cancer cells.
Again the changes in DNA cause cancer and this is possible only when it happens in the wrong gene or the oncogene that causes cancer. This is possible only when there is UV light from the sun or other chemicals in the environment that helps in the division of cells.
But in most cases the cells can protect themselves against DNA damage or just die. So this curbs the potential of mutation and just a few risky versions of E6 and E7 cannot accomplish this task.
You would surely have now come to understand the answer to the question is cervical cancer hereditary.