Head & Neck, Cervical Cancers

Abnormal bleeding and abdominal pain are two of the most common symptoms of cervical cancer. Unfortunately, some patients don’t have any symptoms until the cancer has become relatively advanced.

The best screening is the Pap smear. It’s been around for decades. However, when it was first developed, the fact that an HPV infection can cause abnormal cells in the cervix wasn’t known. Now it is — so we also have HPV DNA screening, which adds to the tools we have for detection.

There are cervical cancer screening tests on the horizon that wouldn’t require the use of a speculum. Eventually, there might be tests patients can self-administer at home.

In the United States, women should get their first Pap smear at 21. How often an individual needs to get one depends on whether HPV DNA is found. If it isn’t, the next Pap smear typically doesn’t need to be done for another three to five years. However, if a person has had multiple sexual partners, they should consider talking about that with their doctor.

Before the [GARDASIL®] vaccine, around three-quarters of adults in the United States had evidence of HPV in their mucosa. However, because the virus is typically short-term and quickly cleared by the body, many people weren’t aware they ever had it. It’s not common for someone to have a long-term HPV infection. But when it does stay around, that’s when it can start causing abnormal cells that can eventually turn into cancer.

Individuals who are living with immunosuppression challenges are at a greater risk for cervical cancer because their bodies may not be able to clear an HPV infection. These would include people such as transplant patients, those taking immunosuppressive medications for chronic disease, patients with HIV, and people who are experiencing bone marrow failure.

Other risk factors include being a smoker, having multiple sexual partners over a lifetime, and age. As you get older, there’s a greater risk for HPV.

Once someone becomes sexually active, using condoms can decrease the risk of exposure to and infection by HPV.

If a precancerous growth is found in the cervix, it can be removed. After that, your risk of cervical cancer goes almost back to baseline.

When cancer is found, treatment typically involves removing the cervix. Some people also need radiation and chemotherapy. Unfortunately, this might make it impossible for some patients to bear children.

Some of the most common symptoms of head and neck cancer are a lump on the neck or excessive throat clearing. This type of cancer occurs in different parts of the mouth and throat. It’s not going to be on your cheek or gums. So, that makes it harder to see.

There’s currently no formalized way to screen for head and neck cancer. There’s a lot of research going on to try to find a way to screen for it. But nothing at this point is leading to clinical guidelines of care.

The way head and neck cancer is typically detected is by a patient feeling a lump on their neck or by a doctor or dentist detecting it during a visit.

Head and neck cancer occurs predominately in males — three to five men for every one woman. And cases of HPV-positive head and neck cancer — which is cancer caused by HPV infection — are increasing.

Those who have HPV-positive head and neck cancer tend to be younger than those who have HPV-negative head and neck cancer. The HPV-negative cancers tend to be caused by smoking and drinking rather than an HPV infection. However, most head and neck cancers in the United States are HPV-positive.

Surgical excision of the cancer, radiation and chemotherapy are typically used to treat it. HPV-positive head and neck cancer isn’t as lethal as HPV-negative, but it can adversely impact oral health. For example, swallowing and talking can become more difficult.