Get vaccinated against cervical cancer
Cervical tumors are the third cause of death by cancer in women between 15 and 44 years, behind those of breast and lung, as assured by the head of section of Brachytherapy Cruces University Hospital and head of service of Radiation Oncology of the Hospital Quiron Bizkaia, Francisco Casquero.
This expert has pronounced like this on the occasion of the celebration of the 'II Course of Gynecological Tumors', of which he is also director, and which has been organized by the Spanish School of Radiotherapeutic Oncology (EEOR).
"The incidence of cervical tumors in Spain is low compared to other European countries, representing the fifteenth cause of cancer death in women of any age but the third among those between 15 and 44 years, behind those of breast and lung, "he added.
This type of tumor affects women living in developing countries 83 percent of the time. In contrast, the endometrium is the malignant tumor of the female genital tract more frequent in the western world and the second in mortality after the ovarian.
Experts believe that the best way to prevent this type of tumors is the precaution in sexual relations, as well as vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) because cervical tumors are typical of sexually active women.
In fact, as the expert has commented, three out of four are caused by HPV types 16 and 18. Therefore, in his opinion, avoid risky sex and vaccinate are the two most effective preventive measures in these cases.
"Fortunately, in both cervical and endometrial cancers, the cure rates are quite positive, however, depending on how developed the disease is, in the early stages, survival is 95 percent. the cases and those that are in stages III reaches 50 percent ", explained Casquero.
Around 20 percent of all cases of cervical cancer, those in the early stages, are treated with radical surgery. "The rest of the tumors are treated with external radiotherapy and brachytherapy, which is often combined with concomitant chemotherapy," he said.
