A link has already been established to show that women who smoke have an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. The link between second-hand smoke and cervical cancer has been studied for years, but recently, new studies have looked deeper. A new study suggests that second-hand smoke may damage cervical tissue, in turn, increasing the risk of developing cervical cancer.
Second-hand smoke has not been proven to directly cause cervical cancer. Instead, studies show it increases the risk of cervical cell and tissue damage. When a doctor performs a Pap smear, this is the type of damage they are looking for. The results of the study do not prove, however, that cervical abnormalities result directly from second-hand smoke.
Dr. Kristy K. Ward of University of California San Diego reported to Reuters, "The results, which came from a study of 4,400 women undergoing Pap tests, do show that women who report exposure to second-hand smoke are more likely to have an abnormal Pap test than women who do not report exposure to second-hand smoke."
It is important to point out that not all women who have had an abnormal Pap smear will develop cervical cancer. In fact, most will not. However, abnormal Pap results do require the patient to undergo further testing to ensure the abnormal results are benign. This additional testing can be costly, and sometimes painful, especially in cases where surgery or other invasive procedures are necessary.
Data has shown that "women who lived with smokers had a 40 percent greater risk of developing cervical cancer," says Anthony Alberg, PhD, MPH, as reported on WebMD.
We know that second-hand smoke can have a negative impact on the immune system. This makes the immune system more vulnerable to infections, such as HPV. We also know that HPV, or human papillomavirus, has been shown to cause cervical cancer when left untreated. Tobacco smoke contains carcinogens that can cause gene mutation or DNA damage. This can prevent cells from being able to repair themselves. While second-hand smoke does not directly cause HPV, it is related to immunity. The bodies immunity has an impact on how cervical tumors progress.
2007 is the most recent year in which data available in the United States, and during that year, 12,280 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 4,021 women died from this cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If cervical cancer is caught in its earliest stage, 96 to 99 percent of women survive. In stages 1B through stage II, the survival rate ranges from 65 to 90 percent.
In the United States, smoking bans have swept the nation. This will help in protecting women from the dangers of second-hand smoke. However, women also have to be aware of sharing living spaces with smokers and other environments in which they are exposed.
