Expressing the importance of screening tests in the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mine Dağgez said that HPV vaccines promise over 90 percent protection when administered correctly to girls and boys between the ages of 9 and 14.
Cervical cancer stands out as a type of cancer caused by high-risk strains of the HPV virus and is preventable when detected at an early stage. Biruni University Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist and Gynecological Oncology Subspecialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mine Dağgez made statements about the critical role of screening tests and HPV vaccines. Assoc. Prof. Dağgez emphasized the vital importance of safe sexuality, a strong immune system, a healthy life away from smoking and screening tests performed without neglect in order to be protected from HPV.
“If the results are normal, a test should be performed every 5 years”
Stating that cervical cancer is a preventable cancer with a screening test, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dağgez said, “Today, screening tests for cervical cancer are performed as smears every three years after the age of 21 and smears and HPV tests every five years after the age of 30. Since smear alone is a test with low sensitivity, it is recommended to combine it with an HPV test if possible. If the results are normal, it is sufficient to perform these tests every five years. As a very common misapplication, smear tests are performed at unnecessary intervals such as every 6 months or once a year, but HPV tests are not performed. The correct screening interval is to perform these two tests in combination every five years if the tests come back normal.”
Emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dağgez said, “It is possible to detect cervical cancer precursor lesions in patients who do not neglect their regular screening and to treat them with much smaller interventions before they progress to cancer. If a high-risk HPV type (such as 16, 18, 45) or a high-grade cell deterioration is detected in the smear test, detailed examination of this area with a procedure called colposcopy and appropriate tissue sampling should be performed by experienced hands.”
“It promises a protection of over 90 percent”
Stating that preventive HPV vaccines have been applied all over the world and in our country for many years, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dağgez said, “Today, a treatment or a therapeutic vaccine has not yet been developed to clear the HPV virus detected in the person. The protective HPV vaccines in practice are administered to girls and boys between the ages of 9 and 14 and promise a protection of over 90 percent when administered in this way. Of course, the effectiveness of the vaccine may vary depending on the age of administration and individual health status. Although it is recommended that the vaccine be administered between the ages of 9 and 14 for the best protection, HPV vaccines are recommended to everyone, some of which have no age limit and some of which have not yet been approved until the age of 45.”
“HPV vaccines are recommended for all people in the appropriate group”
Clarifying the curiosities about HPV vaccines, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dağgez said, “HPV vaccines are recommended for all people in the appropriate group, whether they have sexual activity or not, even with a history of HPV positivity. If you ask why I should be vaccinated even though I am HPV virus positive, natural HPV infection cannot provide a permanent immunity in the body, so even if the person has the chance to clear this virus within a certain period of time, he will be re-infected with the same virus when exposed again. This is the main mechanism of why we recommend vaccination to patients with HPV positivity or to patients who are likely to have been exposed to it.”
“Three doses of vaccine are recommended for everyone aged 15 and over”
Stating that there are three types of vaccines available in the world today, Dağgez said, “These are double, quadruple and the newest vaccine, the nine vaccine. The nine vaccine has been available in our country for a while. Two doses, six months apart, are sufficient for all individuals between the ages of 9-14. For everyone aged 15 and over, three doses of vaccine are recommended.”
“Being HPV positive does not mean that a person has cancer”
Speaking about the cancer risk of people who are HPV positive, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dağgez said, “The fact that a person is HPV positive does not mean that he/she has cancer or will develop cancer in the future. The period between the entry of this virus into the person's body and the deterioration of cells and tissues and the progression of these deterioration to cancer in a certain process is a long process of 10-15 years. In other words, a person does not get cancer the moment he/she encounters the HPV virus. However, since it cannot be known when the person encountered the virus with this test, these people should have certain procedures and should not neglect their follow-up.”
“Smoking is strongly discouraged”
Stating that HPV infection, especially under the age of 30, has an extremely high chance of being cleared by the immune system of the person, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dağgez said, “Since the chance of clearance of the HPV virus gradually decreases in postmenopausal women, it is recommended to approach this group more carefully. In any case, even if the smear test taken in patients with positive detection of high-risk HPV types such as HPV 16, 18, 45 is normal, colposcopy and tissue sampling, which are advanced examination procedures, should be performed by experienced specialists. Since the main mechanism for clearing this virus from the body is the immune system, it is extremely important to support and keep the immune system strong. Smoking is definitely not recommended in this patient group.”
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