Pathophysiology of Cervical Cancer

What risk factors can you identify in Sarah's case?

The growth of abnormal cell in the lining of the cervix is known as cervical cancer. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the main factors of cervical cancer. Combination of HPV and other cofactor like smoking, hormonal contraceptive and week immune system can increase HPV infection increasing the risk of cervical cancer (world health organisation (WHO), 2013). Most cervical cancer start in the transformation zone where two cells squamous and glandular meet (craft et al.

, 2018). Cervical cancer develops slow, progressive changes in from healthy cervical epithelial cells to abnormal precancerous changes over time in the cervix called cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) (Craft et al., 2018). This can be noticed on Sarah's case. If untreated, they may develop into cancer after some years.

Moreover, HPV virus is the main risk factor for developing cervical cancer in Sarah's case. HPV mostly occurs in a high percent to people having multiple sexual partner like Sarah's case. she has five sexual partners causing more chances to contact with a person carrying HPV virus (National Care Institute, n.

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d).

What are the latest guidelines for cervical screening in Australia?

Why has screening changed from two to five years? Provide scientific rationale for the new guidelines. In 2017, Pap test was replaced by National cervical screening programme which detects the HPV which is found in 99% of cervical cancers (Craft et al., 2018). The cervical test is simple and quick test done by taking a small sample of cells accumulated from the cervix by small soft brush.

Then put in a container of liquid and sending to laboratory for examination. The cervical screening test is said to be more effective and accurate than the pap test because latter only test for changes in cervix whereas cervical screening test HPV which lead to cell changes in the cervix. 2 This allows to detect early changes in cervical and expected to protect 30% more women to prevent cervical cancer. This helps health provider to monitor and intervene if there are any changes in the cervix of the cells (Department of health n.d). The new guidelines for aged below 25; Cervical cancer is rare and difficult to detect in young women through either pap or cervical screen. So, it is recommended to test after 25 years. For women from 25-75 years, the first cervical screening needs to be done after two years of pap test, if report is normal then further test only need to be done after 5 years (cancer council n.d). This is the safer and gives long-term protection against cervical cancer than pap test. It is also expected to reduce cervical cancer by almost one third and decrease the mortality rate in Australian women.

References

Cancer council. (n.d). Understanding your Pap smear/ Cervical Screening Test results. B., & Sneyd, M. J. (2018). HPV screening, invasive cervical cancer and screening policy in Australia. Journal of the American Society of Cytopathology, 7(6), 292299. J., Gordon, C., Huether, S., McCance, K., & Brashers, V. (2018).

Understanding Pathophysiology ANZ (3rd ed.). Australia: Elsevier Australia. Department of Health. (n.d.). National cervical screening program. D. (2018).

Human papillomavirus testing as part of the renewed National Cervical Screening Program. Australian Journal Of General Practice, 47(7), 412-414. Cancer Institute. (n.d). cervical cancer- Health Professional version. Health Organization. (2013). WHO guidance note: comprehensive cervical cancer prevention and control: a healthier future for girls and women. zation/hpv/learn/comprehensi ve_cervical_cancer_who_2013.pdf