How much do you know about cancer caused by viruses in obstetrics and gynecology?

How much do you know about cancer caused by viruses?

As we all know, cancer cells are derived from normal cell gene mutations. The human body will generate 330 billion new cells every day, including many cancer cells with gene mutations, which will be recognized and eliminated by the immune system.

Normally, the probability of gene mutation causing cancer is very low, but sometimes, the probability of cell gene mutation will rise abruptly, such as being infected with some viruses.

The virus is composed of genetic material (DNA or RNA) wrapped in the protein shell, so it has the ability to attack the host. Under the action of the virus, the process of cell "blackening" will be accelerated. They either directly destroy DNA, or change the immune system, or trigger chronic inflammation to accelerate cell division, leading to the occurrence of cancer.

Some viruses with strong causal relationship with cancer are considered to be important inducements of cancer. According to the data of the International Anti Cancer Alliance, 12 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer every year, and about 20% of these cases are attributed to viral or bacterial infections!

Which viruses can cause cancer?

※ The most common viruses are hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus can directly lead to the occurrence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and "hepatitis cirrhosis liver cancer" is a very "silky" road. According to the survey, about 70%~80% of liver cancer develops from hepatitis B.

China was once a "big country with hepatitis B", which has brought great challenges to public health. However, the good news is that the report released by the State Council Information Office in 2020 pointed out that the infection rate of hepatitis B among children under 5 years old dropped to below 1%. The hat of "hepatitis B big country" has been removed.

The other is HIV, namely AIDS virus.

HIV can lead to human immunodeficiency. Common complications include bacterial infection, anemia, etc. In addition, immunodeficiency can make the survival of cancer cells easier, which can lead to a variety of cancers. HIV prevention education has been carried out. At present, there are also some drugs that can minimize the damage of HIV to the human body, and even achieve the effect of clinical cure.

EB virus, also known as human herpesvirus type 4.

EBV mainly infects B cells and pharyngeal epithelial cells, and can induce nasopharyngeal carcinoma, gastric cancer and lymphoma. However, the destructive power of EB virus is far less than that of the above virus. 90% of adults will carry it, but it is basically in a "dormant" state at ordinary times. Only when the human immune system is low will it come out to destroy.

HPV, a very "single-minded" virus.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has gained a great reputation in recent years. For women, it is a virus that needs to be carefully guarded against. 99.7% of cervical cancer is closely related to the persistent infection of high-risk HPV, which can be said to be very "specific".

Unlike other viruses and cancers mentioned above, the occurrence of cervical cancer is almost directly related to HPV infection. Therefore, prevention of HPV infection has become the most direct, effective and convenient means to avoid cervical cancer.

Inoculate HPV vaccine and keep HPV out

HPV is the general name of a large class of viruses, which can be divided into hundreds. Not all HPVs can cause cancer. Only the persistent infection of high-risk HPV can cause cervical cancer.

High risk viruses are mainly HPV16/18, which is related to about 70% of cervical cancer. For Chinese women, HPV52/58, together with HPV16, are the three high-risk HPV most commonly infected by Chinese women.

Inoculate HPV vaccine to achieve long-term protection

Another benefit of HPV vaccination is that it provides long-term protection.

HPV is not as susceptible to mutation as COVID-19. Vaccination can maintain a long protective effect after their "appearance" is remembered by immune cells.

Long term follow-up after the HPV vaccine was launched shows that the protective effect of HPV vaccine can be maintained for at least ten years. The longest follow-up study so far is the first tetravalent HPV vaccine on the market, showing 14 years of effective protection. And the follow-up is still ongoing, and the final protection duration of HPV vaccine still needs to be verified in a longer term.

It's never too late to vaccinate against HPV

In China, there are two peaks of HPV infection in women, the first is between 17 and 24 years old, and the second is between 40 and 44 years old.

It is said that the earlier the HPV vaccine is vaccinated, the better. That is because the HPV vaccine can prevent HPV infection to the greatest extent before girls start having sex. However, the urgent need for HPV prevention among women who are mothers and have sex is no less than that of young girls. As long as the HPV vaccine is inoculated, the corresponding type of HPV can be prevented.

In the past, many women still had "26 year old anxiety". With the approval of new indications for the 9-valent HPV vaccine at the age of 9 to 45, even women over 26 years old have the same right of choice as women of other ages.