Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is cancer that starts in the cervix, the narrow opening into the uterus from the vagina. The normal "ectocervix" (the portion of the uterus extending into the vagina) is a healthy pink color and is covered with flat, thin cells called squamous cells. The "endocervix" or cervical canal is made up of another kind of cell called columnar cells. The area where these cells meet is called the "transformation zone" (T-zone) and is the most likely location for abnormal or precancerous cells to develop.
Most cervical cancers (80 to 90 percent) are squamous cell cancers. Adenocarcinoma is the second most common type of cervical cancer, accounting for the remaining 10 to 20 percent of cases. Adenocarcinoma develops from the glands that produce mucus in the endocervix. While less common than squamous cell carcinoma, the incidence of adenocarcinoma is on the rise, particularly in younger women.
Cervical cancer affects approximately 13,000 women in the United States each year, and more than 4,000 of women will die. Cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer for women worldwide, but because it develops over time, it is also one of the most preventable types of cancer. Deaths from cervical cancer in the United States continue to decline by approximately 2 percent a year. This decline is primarily due to the widespread use of the Pap test to detect cervical abnormalities and allow for early treatment. Most women who have abnormal cervical cell changes that progress to cervical cancer have never had a Pap test or have not had one in the previous three to five years.
Cancer of the cervix tends to occur during midlife. Half of the women diagnosed with the disease are between 35 and 55 years of age. It rarely affects women under age 20, and approximately 20 percent of diagnoses are made in women older than 65. For this reason, it is important for women to continue cervical cancer screening until at least the age of 70. Some women need to continue screening longer, so ask your health care provider what’s best for you.
Causes of Cervical Cancer
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is found in about 99% of cervical cancers. There are over 100 different types of HPV, the majority of which are considered low-risk and do not cause cervical cancer. High-risk HPV types may cause cervical cell abnormalities or cancer. More than 70 percent of cervical cancer cases can be attributed to two types of the virus, HPV-16 and HPV-18, often referred to as high-risk HPV Types.
HPV is estimated to be the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. In fact, by age 50 approximately 80% of women have been infected with some type of HPV. The majority of women infected with the HPV virus do NOT develop cervical cancer. For most women the HPV infection does not last long; 90% of HPV infections resolve on their own within 2 years. A small number of women do not clear the HPV virus and are considered to have “persistent infection. A woman with a persistent HPV infection is at greater risk of developing cervical cell abnormalities and cancer than a woman whose infection resolves on its own. Certain types of this virus are able to transform normal cervical cells into abnormal ones. In a small number of cases and usually over a long period of time (from several years to several decades), some of these abnormal cells may then develop into cervical cancer.
RESEARCH participants needed
Examining the Life Experiences of African American Women with Cervical Cancer
The purpose of this study is to examine the life experiences of African American women diagnosed with cervical cancer, and assist with describing the unique life experiences of African American women, in order to identify any contributing factors to the development of cervical cancer.
ELIGIBILITY: Must be an African American woman between the ages or 25-40, with a current or previous diagnosis of cervical cancer.
BENEFITS: Discussion of life experiences may help to relieve any emotional discomfort. Participants may have the opportunity to share insight from their life experiences and educate other women from similar backgrounds. The study may also be able to promote strategies to reduce the mortality rates of cervical cancer in African American women.
COMPENSATION: All participants will receive a $20 visa gift card for their participation in the study.
LOCATION: The study will take place at a private location that will be disclosed to eligible participants.
If anyone is interested in participating in the study, please contact Sonya Willis at (602) 475-1477, or email sonyawillis84@gmail.com. Note: this research project is one of the requirements for completion of the researcher’s doctoral degree in psychology, and is under the guidance of Gregory Shrader, Ph.D., Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Shrader at (602)-216-3162.
