On the occasion of Cervical Cancer Awareness Week, observed every year from January 16 to 21, the Cancer Society presents scientific facts and updated studies. The Cancer Society emphasizes that with the help of awareness, vaccination and early detection, cervical cancer can be eradicated in Israel.
Cervical cancer is responsible for about 10% of new cancer cases in women in Israel
In the last decade, the number of women diagnosed with a precancerous lesion in the cervix has increased in Israel, at the same time as an increase in the performance of tests for early detection. The majority of morbidity is observed between the ages of 50-25 and the peak of morbidity between the ages of 30 and 34. According to the estimate of the Cancer Society, in 2023, approximately 1,400 women in Israel will be diagnosed with a pre-cancerous condition, and approximately 300 women with invasive cervical cancer. According to Ministry of Health data, in 2019, 1,381 Israeli women were diagnosed with precancerous lesions and 262 women with invasive cancer of the cervix.
Moshe Bar-Haim, CEO of the Cancer Society explained that:
Even in the shadow of the security situation, it is essential to continue the fight against cervical cancer and increase awareness of the disease. We know unequivocally that vaccination, early detection through tests and avoiding smoking dramatically reduce the risk of getting sick. This is a cancer that can be eradicated in Israel.
Papilloma virus and smoking
It should be emphasized that the risk factors for cervical cancer are the human papilloma virus (HPV) and smoking. The papilloma virus damages skin cells and mucous membranes. The virus is very common in the population and is transmitted by direct contact, usually during sexual intercourse. Some strains of the virus cause warts in the genitals, while other strains are considered to have a high risk of developing pre-cancerous changes and cancer in the cervix.
Performing a cervical smear can prevent cancer. A routine examination of the cervix once every three years is the best way to detect the presence of the papilloma virus and to diagnose changes in the cervical tissue. Early detection and timely treatment will prevent the development of a cancerous tumor in this area. The periodic examination resulted in a significant reduction in the number of cervical cancer patients in the world.
The recommendations of the Cancer Society:
- The Cancer Society urges women to quit smoking as an effective way to reduce the risk of cervical cancer and other cancers.
- The Cancer Society also recommends that women aged 65-25 perform a cervical surface examination. The test is included in the medication basket for women aged 25 to 54 once every three years and for women aged 55 to 65 once every five years. According to the medicine basket, women over the age of 65, who have not had an examination in the last 10 years, are entitled to have one examination.
- The association also urges parents to make sure to vaccinate their children against the papilloma virus. The vaccine is routinely given to eighth grade students as part of the school and funded by the Ministry of Health. Those who were not vaccinated at school can receive the vaccine up to the age of 18 at the offices of the Ministry of Health free of charge. The Cancer Society emphasizes that it is important to vaccinate girls and boys, since the papilloma virus is a risk factor for morbidity not only in cervical cancer but in other types of cancer, such as vulvar cancer, rectal cancer, oral and pharyngeal cancer, and penile cancer.
The possible symptoms of cervical cancer
- The Cancer Society explains that pre-cancerous changes and early tumors of the cervix are not always accompanied by symptoms, and they are usually discovered during the recommended routine tests.
- The most common complaint of women with cervical cancer is irregular bleeding, such as bleeding between menstrual cycles or bleeding after intercourse.
- Sometimes there are also abnormal discharges from the vagina or discomfort during intercourse. There may also be bleeding among women whose menstrual cycle has stopped.
- The Cancer Society emphasizes that there are many other conditions that may cause these symptoms, but it is important not to ignore them if they appear. Therefore, every woman is urged to report them to her doctor. The earlier you meet with the doctor, the earlier the diagnosis will be made, and the chance of successful treatment will increase.
A unique service of the Cancer Society - free sexual counseling:
The Cancer Society operates a counseling service on body image, sexuality, intimacy and fertility issues for women dealing with cervical cancer, for those recovering and for patients with other types of cancer. The consultation is intended for any patient who wishes to consult, share, share the feelings of coping and receive information about the effects of the disease on sexuality and fertility, treatment options and the restoration of sexual function, as well as a referral to other professional experts. The service is provided by the association's sexuality therapist, in Hebrew, Russian and English, in a personal meeting, by phone or Zoom, free of charge and without the need for a referral.
A new study from Italy: the relationship between compulsive smoking and cervical cancer
From past studies it has emerged that women who smoke are at a 70% higher risk of developing cervical cancer than women who do not smoke, but the relationship between exposure to second-hand smoke and the risk of contracting the disease has not yet been examined.
In a new meta-analysis study, researchers from Italy asked to check whether the risk of women who do not smoke but are exposed to secondhand smoke in their environment of getting cervical cancer and developing pre-cancerous lesions is higher than that of women who do not smoke and are not exposed to secondhand smoke. For this purpose, the researchers examined data from 21 studies on the subject, which together included more than 5,000 cases of cervical cancer and precancerous lesions that may cause the development of cervical cancer.
The analysis of the data shows that women who were exposed to passive smoking had a 42% higher risk of developing cervical cancer and a 50% higher risk of developing pre-cancerous lesions in the cervical area, compared to women who were not exposed.
Exposure to smoking
The highest risk of getting cervical cancer exists in women who are exposed to passive smoking at home or to the smoking of a partner, compared to exposure at work and in the past at the parents' home. Also, the risk of developing pre-cancerous lesions increased according to the degree of exposure to passive smoking - the number of hours of exposure per day and the number of cigarettes to which the women were exposed over time.
In conclusion, the researchers note that reducing smoking rates, both active and passive smoking, is one of the most effective strategies for reducing the incidence of cervical cancer.
*The study was published in the scientific journal Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology in November 2023, translated and accessed by the information center of the Cancer Society on the occasion of awareness week to promote the fight against cervical cancer.
New American study: the quality of the diet affects infection with the human papillomavirus
In a new study conducted in the United States, they sought to test the relationship between the quality of women's nutrition and their risk of contracting the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is known to increase the risk of cervical cancer. The study included 10,543 women aged 59-18 who did not get cancer and who did not receive a vaccine against the virus. The women participated in a national health and nutrition survey in the US between 2016-2003. The women were tested for the presence of different strains of the papilloma virus in their bodies - strains that are defined as high risk for the development of cervical cancer and low risk strains, as well as women without the presence of the virus strains.
Diet quality was assessed using a healthy diet index, with a higher score indicating better diet quality. According to the definitions of the index, a quality diet included several categories: vegetables, whole grains, dairy products, high-protein foods, seafood and vegetable protein, total consumption of fruit (fresh + fruit juice), fresh fruit (without fruit juice), green leafy vegetables and legumes.
It was found that 25.2% of the women whose diet was of low quality were infected with the dangerous strains of the papilloma virus, compared to 10.2% of the women who maintained a high-quality diet. Three of the nutritional categories were found to have a significant effect on infection with the virus, both in high-risk and low-risk varieties - total consumption of fruit, consumption of fresh fruit only and consumption of green leafy vegetables and legumes.
Women who consumed green leafy vegetables and legumes had a 32% lower risk of contracting the dangerous strains of the virus compared to women who did not consume these foods at all. Similarly, sufficient consumption of fruits and fruit juices compared to non-consumption reduced their risk of contracting the dangerous strains by 43%. The consumption of fruit alone also had a similar effect.
Similar results were also seen regarding the risk of contracting the less dangerous strains of the virus, and adequate consumption of these three food categories significantly reduced the risk.
The researchers conclude that according to the study, eating enough fruits, green leafy vegetables and legumes can reduce the risk of contracting the human papilloma virus in the genitals and getting cervical cancer.
*The research was published in the journal The Journal of Infections and Diseases in the May 2023 edition, translated and accessed by the information center of the Cancer Society on the occasion of awareness week to promote the fight against cervical cancer.