Vitamin D for Cervical Cancer Prevention

Cervical cancer is a relatively common condition in women. The cervix is part of a woman's reproductive system and connects the uterus to the vagina. In having yearly check-ups and examinations, you can hopefully detect pre-cancerous cells early on. If you do develop pain, you should see your doctor immediately.

Symptoms

• Some of the symptoms of cervical cancer include abnormal vaginal bleeding, increased vaginal discharge and pelvic pain. If a normal examination detects cancer, you may undergo a colposcopy (an exam where the doctor can look at the cervix) or you may have a biopsy where tissue is removed for further testing.

Cancer Treatments

• As with most cancer treatments, the options include radiation therapy, chemotherapy or surgery or a combination of all of those. If the cancer is advanced, you may need surgery to remove the tumor or, if necessary, a hysterectomy to remove your entire uterus. Radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be used to kill any cancerous cells remaining after surgery.

Cervical Cancer Prevention

• While cervical cancer may not be totally preventable, there are ways to reduce your risk. The best prevention method is to have a regular pap smear and follow-up if you have any irregular pap smears. A pap smear is a test used to examine cells taken from the cervix. A regular test is recommended for women 18 years and older.

  Another easy way to limit your risk of cervical cancer is to limit the amount of sexual partners you have and to use a condom when having sexual intercourse. In practicing safe sex, you limit your risk of contract HPV (or the Human Papillomavirus). HPV is a group of viruses that can lead to various types of cancer.

Vitamin D

• Vitamin D is an essential element for your overall health. Vitamin D is used to maintain normal blood levels, aid in the absorption of calcium and to help form and maintain strong bones. In recent studies, it has been determined that vitamin D can also protect you from osteoporosis, high blood pressure and cancer.

  At this time, the use of vitamin D for cancer prevention is being studied, suggesting that there may be a relationship between cancer and vitamin D. However, it remains unclear whether a regular supplement will actually prevent cancer or whether a vitamin D deficiency raises your risk of developing some forms of cancer.

  In the testing that is being reported, it has been shown that normal cervical cells and cervical cancer cells can synthesize a form of vitamin D, which may help control the growth of cancerous tissues.

  Another important part of Vitamin D is that it prevents the formation of new blood vessels, which can lead to further development of cancerous tumors. This prevention method is still being researched, as it is unclear whether too much Vitamin D can cause other complications.