Cervical Cancer: the silent invader we can outsmart

(Kaieteur News) – Cervical cancer was one of the most common causes of cancer death for women worldwide. Today, however, it is one of the most preventable cancers. We have the tools to stop it before it even starts. To understand how, we need to look at two key factors: a virus called HPV and the choices we make in our intimate lives.

Think of HPV as the “common cold” of the sexual world—but with a dangerous twist. It is the most common sexually transmitted infection globally. In fact, almost 80% of sexually active people will contract at least one type of HPV at some point in their lives.

Here is the reassuring news: In most cases, your immune system clears the virus within two years without you ever knowing you had it. However, there is a catch. There are over 100 strains of HPV. While most are harmless (causing things like skin warts), about 14 “high-risk” strains can cause cancer.