Women's Health Screening Series: Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer

Let's continue our series by discussing a major public health problem here and abroad: cervical cancer. The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus that connects the uterus and vagina.  A common cause of cervical cancer is human papillomavirus (HPV) which is actually a type of sexually transmitted disease.
 
WHO should get screened for cervical cancer?

•  All women with a cervix should get screened for cervical cancer no matter your race or ethnicity!

WHAT does cervical cancer screening entail?

•  Well...let's just say it involves stirrups lol. No one likes to get a pap smear. No one. However, it is very important that women do not run away from this test. During a Pap smear, your doctor scrapes some cells off your cervix and sends them to a lab for analysis. If anything unusual comes back from the lab, your doctor will let you know. (I always tell my patients to relax and scootch down to the edge of the examining table, that usually makes things go a lot faster :-)

 
WHEN should women get screened for cervical cancer?

•  The United States Preventive Task Force recommends screening for cervical cancer in women ages 21 to 65 years with a Pap smear every 3 years.
•  Women ages 30 to 65, who want to lengthen the screening interval, should be screened with a combination of Pap smear and HPV testing every 5 years.
• If you have an immune deficiency, such as HIV, have a history of a high-grade precancerous cervical lesion, cervical cancer, or were exposed to diethylstilbestrol while your mother was pregnant with you, these recommendations do not necessarily apply to you and you should ask your doctor for specific recommendations.
  

WHERE can women get screened for cervical cancer?

• Primary care doctor
• OB/GYN
• The CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) provides breast and cervical cancer screenings and diagnostic services to low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women across the United States. For more info click here.

 

 
WHY should women get screened for cervical cancer?

• Cervical cancer used to be the #1 cause of cancer death for women in the United States. However, in the past 40 years, the number of cases of cervical cancer and the number of deaths from cervical cancer have decreased significantly because of PAP SMEARS!
• Here is the most recent information from the CDC. In 2009:
• 12,357 women in the United States were diagnosed with cervical cancer.
• 3,909 women in the United States died from cervical cancer.

HOW can I prevent myself from getting cervical cancer?

• The most important thing you can do to help prevent cervical cancer is to have regular screening tests.
• Two HPV vaccines are available to protect females against the types of HPV that cause most cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. Both vaccines are recommended for females 11 to 26 years of age (but can be given to girls as young as 9). It is important to note that even women who are vaccinated against HPV need to have regular Pap tests to screen for cervical cancer.
• Men can also get HPV leading to genital warts, penile cancer, anal cancer and cancers of the head and neck. The CDC recommends the HPV vaccine for men 11 to 26. It is important to note that gay and bisexual men are at a higher risk for HPV.
  
• Don't smoke. If you are going to have sex, use condoms and limit your number of sexual partners.

 

 

Decrease your risk of getting cervical cancer! Don't be afraid of needles and pap smears!!!