Health Watch: How To Protect Yourself From Cervical Cancer

There are about 11,070 American women who were diagnosed with cervical cancer and 3,870 will die from the said condition, according to the American Cancer Society. Each year about 700 women have the disease and more than 200 die from it. Women should protect themselves from this cancer that is one of the most causes of death among women.

Everyday Health defines cervix as the narrow tube at the lower end of the uterus that links the uterus to the vagina. The cervix is always closed and it opens only during labor when a baby passes through the birth canal. It also opens during women's menstrual period. The blood runs out of the uterus in the cervix.

Cervical cancer is developed when cancerous cells are visible on the surface of the cervix. One of its leading causes is HPV infection or the human papilloma virus. If a woman has HPV infection, it will more likely develop into cervical cancer. The HPV can be acquired by skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity with someone who is infected with the virus.

Other causes and risk factors for cervical cancer include taking oral contraceptives or birth control pills, overweight, have chlamydia, a common sexually transmitted disease, eating less fruits and vegetables, inheritance from mothers, multiple full-term pregnancies. Another possibility is when a mother took a drug, called diethylstilbestrol (DES), during her pregnancy.

An Australian scientist closer to developing a world first treatment for cervical cancer. @KendallGilding7 #7News https://t.co/hvP80u52VU

— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) March 13, 2016

To protect and save your life from this disease there are few things you must do. NPS Medicine Wise shares the following steps that you can take:

1.  Get vaccinated against HPV.

To safeguard yourself against HPV-related cancer disease you must get HPV vaccination shot. This vaccination can be applied to both men and women. It will work best before becoming sexually active and exposing to viruses.

2.  Have a regular Pap test.

A pap smear can detect if you have cancerous cells in the cervix. It is recommended that women aged 18 to 70 years old who are sexually active must have a Pap test every 2 years. This test saves over 1,200 Australian women every year from cervical cancer as it is detected early.

3.  Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables contain flavonoids, chemicals that fight against cancer. Consume fruits and vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, apples, cabbage, garlic, cranberries, spinach, soy, onions and Brussels sprouts, among others.