Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Awareness

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Awareness

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of more than 200 virus-related sexually transmitted infections. It is spread through skin to skin contact and passed to another individual through sexual contact and can affect your genitals, mouth or throat. India has more than 10 million cases per year. There are many types of HPV and it can lead to different types of risk. The lower risk HPV types lead to warts around your genitals, mouth or anus while the high-risk HPVs can cause cancer.

There are about 14 types of high-risk HPV in which HPV16 and HPV18 cause HPV-related cancer. With the increasing risk of low and high, HPV infection is still quite common among people. Adults who are most sexually active get immediate HPV once they become sexually active, in the very initial stage. Our immune system has great control over HPV infections so it can’t always lead to cancer.

In this article, we will cover the cause, risk, prevention and types of HPV. Since there’s a larger stigma towards HPV and there’s less information for everyone to stay informed about, here’s our little guide to help you understand HPV a lot better.

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What are the cancers caused by HPV?

High-risk HPV infections that are long-lasting leads to the cause of cancer to our bodies in areas where HPV infects cells such as cervix, mouth, oropharynx, tongue, anus, vagina, vulva, penis and rectum. HPV attacks the squamous cells of the mentioned organs in the inner lining surface. Hence the HPV-cancer is mostly the squamous cell carcinoma cancer.

HPV-related cancers are the following:

Oropharyngeal Cancer: It is a type of cancer that forms in the tissue of oropharynx. The amount of oropharyngeal cancer is about 70% as it is one of the most common types of HPV-related cancers. It seems to be increasing every year. It affects the back of the throat (pharynx), back of the tongue, soft palate, part of the throat and tonsils. One of the major symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer can be seen as a growing lump in the neck and sore throat.

Cervical Cancer: It is a type of cancer that happens in the cervix cells - the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Mostly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV. It is either squamous cell carcinomas or adenocarcinomas. It is one of the most preventable types of cancer if it is detected early. Regular screening can help prevent it at a great extent

Anal Cancer: About 90% of anal cancers are caused by HPV-infection. There's an abnormal cell growth in the anal area or the anal canal. It's significant signs and symptoms include bleeding or a lump around the anus. Anal cancer can also be successfully treated if detected earlier.

Vagina Cancer: - About 75% of Vaginal cancer is caused by HPV infection. Though it is very rare and affects about 1% of women. Signs and symptoms of vaginal cancer are watery vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, and painful urination. If it is detected earlier then there's a higher rate of successful treatment.

Penile Cancer: It is a type of cancer that is located on the glands or the foreskin of the penis and can also be found on the shaft of the penis. The major signs and symptoms of penile cancer is a visible lump, mass or a growing ulcer on the penis. It is quite rare and affects men over the age of 50. It can be treated if it is detected in the early stage.

Vulvar Cancer: It is a type of cancer that affects the outer surface of the vagina and mostly affects the older age groups of females. It forms a lump or a sore on the vulva that leads to constant itchiness and bleeding. If it is detected earlier, there's a success rate that it will be treated.

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What are the symptoms of HPV-infection?

HPV-infection doesn't result in any major symptoms. The high-risk HPV often results in cancer and it doesn't cause symptoms. However, with time, the symptoms come over to the surface and can be easily felt or seen. These symptoms are mostly for lower-risk HPV infections: HPV-related infection includes:

1. Warts: Warts appear as a raised bump on the skin, a small, fleshy shaped bump over the skin and spread by skin-to-skin contact. HPV warts are mostly genital warts. It mostly affects the vulva and cervix in women and penis and scrotum in men.

Other types of HPV-related warts are Plantar warts, common warts and flat warts.

2. Cancer: High-risk HPV-infection often leads to cancer. The cancers are mostly cervix, vagina, penis, anus, vulva, oropharynx, tongue, tonsils and others. Some of these cancer types do exhibit individual cancer while others don't in the initial stage.

What is the cause of HPV-infection?

HPV is a virus that leads to thousands of types of infections and cancer due to skin-to-skin contact via sexual activity. Some of the HPV infections are mild and mere infections that can be easily treated such as warts that occur on the areas of hand, feet or genitals. While other HPV-infection can lead to the chances of cancer. It can affect those who are sexually active and it doesn't showcase any symptoms. HPV-infection can be transmitted to an infant during birth that can lead to genial or repository system infection. However, there's a significant difference between a wart causing HPV-infection and cancer-causing infection.

How does HPV infection cause Cancer?

Cancer-causing HPV infection infects the cells or the organ. It changes the way the cells exited in the organ and how they communicated with each other, causing abnormal growth. The infected cells are usually controlled by our immune system. If the infected cells continue to grow, it eventually leads to the formation of precancerous cells which later develop malignant if not treated in the earlier stage.

According to the researchers, it's been stated that it takes about two decades or even more, for HPV-infected cervical cells to develop into cancer. However, various risk factors can increase the chances of getting cancer pretty early. Those risk factors include giving birth to several children, consumption of oral contraceptives and smoking cigarettes.

HPV Treatment

HPV-infections are of many kinds and each one exhibits their symptoms. The HPV virus can lead to genital wart and cancer. However, there's no treatment available for the virus but the symptoms can be cured. Here are some of the most common treatment process of the popular symptoms known:

1. Warts

Genital warts caused by HPV infection often resolve on its own without any treatment. If there is no cure from Warts anytime soon, then there are various medications that are advised to apply on the skin. Over the counter (OTC) salicylic acid is one of the most commonly known treatment forms for common warts. Here are some of the medication and surgical procedures if needed in several conditions:

Medications

• Podofilox (Condylox)
• Trichloroacetic acid
• Imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara)
• Podophyllin

Surgical Procedure

• Laser therapy
• Cryotherapy
• Electrocautery
• Interferon injection

The right type of treatment for warts depends on the condition and area on the body it has occurred. You must seek medical help before selecting any process to intake or done on your body.

Precancerous Cervical cell Changes: Women who suffer through the precancerous state of cervical cell changes are treated with a procedure called Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). The process involves the use of a heated wire loop by an electric current to remove the cells and tissue from the cervix. It is considered quite safe and effective for removing the precancerous cells from the cervix that can turn malignant with time.

Cancer - People with HPV-related cancer receive similar treatment for any type of cancer. The one that is treated differently from other cancers is HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer for those whose Oropharyngeal cancer is not caused by HPV-infection.

Other Precancerous Changes: Precancerous vaginal, penile, vulvar, anal lesion, genital warts and benign respiratory tract changes are treated with topical medicines, surgical procedure, cryosurgery and LEEP.

HPV Vaccines

Vaccines for HPV infection are needed to protect or guard yourself against getting infected with the Human Papillomaviruses. Here are the most common vaccines available for HPV infection.

• Gardasil: Prevents infection with HPV type 6 and 11 that results in about 90% of genital warts.
• Gardasil 9: Prevents from HPV type 6,11, 16, and 18. In addition to other five additional cancers causing HPV types such as 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58 that result in about 10 to 20% of cervical cancers.
• Cervarix: Prevent from HPV types 16 and 19.

All of these three vaccines work towards the prevention of HPV type 16 and 18, two of the highest-risk HPVs resulting in about 70% of cervical cancers and other HPV-related cancers.

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