Cervical cancer (cancer of the cervix) is the second most common cancer in women. The cervix is the narrow part of the uterus through which babies are born. Cervical cells can go through many types of changes, most of which are harmless and not related to cancer. These changes can be caused by a number of factors, including HPV infection.
Lately, medications like Gardisil have boomed in popularity for providing vaccines against certain cancer causing strains of HPV. It is important to know, however, that HPVs (human papillomaviruses) are a group of more than 100 related viruses, many of which can be passed from one person to another through sexual contact. About 15 types of the 100 types of HPV can cause cervical cancer. Elders should be aware of this, as reduced immune systems increase susceptibility to all illness.
