Seemingly by the second, science is coming to a better understanding of how specific genes affect your overall health, not to mention your driving skills. The very same can be said for a far more serious problem: Improved tracking of the genetic changes that may signal the unfortunate progression of cervical cancer to a treatment-resistant state, according to a recent study.
Past research has demonstrated that cervical cancer cells undergo numerous genetic changes but never traced how these alterations affect its progression to a lethal phase. Norwegian scientists discovered these genetic changes -- sets of biological processes and known trademarks of cancer linked to the loss or gain of specific genes along with genes linked to radiotherapy and chemotherapy resistance -- after examining and treating more than 140 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Although the more widely common use of the Pap test has significantly reduced the number of American women diagnosed with cervical cancer over the past half-century, this brand of cancer remains a very deadly one, based on figures compiled by the National Cancer Institute. More than a third of the 11,000 women who were diagnosed with cervical cancer died from it in 2005 (the most recent year cancer stats are available), representing 2.5 percent of the total number of cancer deaths among American women. The news is far worse on the worldwide stage, however, as cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer among women and accounts for some 300,000 deaths every year.
Although there is much debate about the latest guidelines issued by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and whether women are being "overscreened" for cervical cancer and breast cancer, the most important message at the heart of Cervical Health Awareness Month is to be screened. If you have questions, EmpowHER and the National Cervical Cancer Coalition are good places to find answers.
EmpowHER January 4, 2010
ScienceDaily November 15, 2009
PLoS Genetics November 2009 Free Full Text Article