Cervical cancer is usually caused by HPV (human papilloma virus) and women can get naturopathic treatments like acupuncture, supplements, healthy diet along with conventional medical therapy. HPV is spread skin to skin through sex and the infection causes changes in the cervix. HPV can also invade other areas of the body like the throat, anus, vagina, and vulva. HPV is a very common virus and the majority of people will have it once in their lives. It is estimated that 70% of the population carry the virus and some don't know it and are spreading it along. There are about 40 strains of HPV and at least a dozen are high risk HPV strains that can cause cancer. About 70% of the cervical cancers are caused by HPV type 16 and 18 which can now be detected with the Cervista HPV 16/18 DNA test approved by the FDA. Most people clear the virus in 1-2 years naturally with no treatment, but if you smoke, have a weakened immune system, take immuno-suppressive drugs, are pregnant, take long term oral contraceptives, and have chronic inflammation, you are at increased risk of developing cervical cancer with a high risk HPV strain in your body. The most reliable way to prevent HPV is avoid any skin to skin contact with another person and limit your number of sexual partners. Even condoms does not offer 100% effective protection where skin is exposed. There has been some research showing Carrageenan, a red algae based lubricant is a potent inhibitor of HPV. You can get Carrageenan lubricant by Dreambrands. It works by preventing the binding of HPV to cells because it resembles heparan sulfate, an HPV cell attachment factor. HPV and early cervical dysplasia can be detected with a pap smear so that is why it is very important to get your pap smear yearly so you can get the life saving treatments early before they become invasive cancer.
Cervical cancer is a silent cancer as some women have no symptoms. Currently there is no medical treatment to rid the body of HPV, but 80% of infections are cleared by the body's immune system, and 20% develop into chronic HPV infection which can cause cervical cancer. There is only surgical treatment options like cryosurgery, LEEP, conization to remove cervical lesions. There is also the HPV vaccine called Gardisil that protects against only 4 HPV strains (6, 11, 16, 18) which doesn't offer full protection from the 40 types of sexually transmitted HPV strains but it's better than nothing. There are about 13 high-risk HPV strains (16,18,31,33,35,39,45,51,52,56,58,59,68) that can cause cervical lesions and if left untreated become invasive cervical cancer. It is important to get the HPV vaccine before you're sexually active to prevent HPV. Vaccination programs in the US have been targeting girls and young women 9-26 years of age to get the vaccine. However vaccination rates are still low in this country and HPV is becoming an epidemic. I wish there was more national attention and research for treatments and prevention of cervical cancer that has caused so many cancer and deaths in young women. Please spread the word to every woman you know and love to get their yearly pap smear.
For anyone who is fighting cervical cancer or any type of cancer, have you read the book "Anticancer: A New Way of Life" by Dr. David Servan-Schreiber? The book is very enlightening as it talks about this doctor's own struggle with brain cancer. He was diagnosed at age 31 and relapsed and did his own research on what foods to eat, cutting out sugar, exercise, stress relief techniques in addition to conventional treatment of radiation, chemo and surgery. Most oncologist don't tell you how to change your lifestyle and diet after surgery. They just tell you to continue doing what you're doing which may not be enough to prevent cancer relapse. You can watch his interviews on his website http://www.anticancerbook.com. In the book he talks about eating more fresh fruits/vegetables like broccoli, kale tomatoes, raspberries, cauliflower, tumeric, leeks, garlic to slow the growth of cancer or prevent it and eating less processed sugar as that feeds cancer growth. He also talks about how our responses to stress (feeling helpless, hopeless) promotes cancer. If you have cervical cancer, try to eat more vegetables/fruits in your diet as many of them have cancer fighting properties. I also try to get at least 20 minutes of exercise a day as it is shown to decrease the spread of some cancers. Visit our Kblossoms Etsy store to support cervical cancer awareness www.kblossoms.etsy.com