Health & Well-Being • January 2010 23
Cervical Cancer Screening
and Information
Cervical cancer is the second most A woman can have HPV for years • Hysterectomy and removal of
common cancer among women. and not know it. It stays in the body pelvic lymph nodes with or
In the United States alone, it is and can lead to cervical cancer without removal of both ovaries
estimated there were 11,270 new years after infection. There are often and fallopian tubes
cases of cervical cancer in 2009 no symptoms of HPV or cervical
• Radiation therapy, using high-dose
and 4,070 deaths from the disease. cancer, therefore PAPs are the single
X-rays or implants in the vaginal
The two groups of women with the best way to detect it. If there are
cavity to kill cancer cells
highest rates of cervical cancer are any symptoms, they may include
those from ages 35 to 39 and those unexplained bleeding or pain.
• Chemotherapy
from ages 60 to 64. Early detection is
Treatment
Regular pelvic examinations and
the key to treatment and survival.
PAP tests can save a woman's life
If cervical cancer is caught early, it
Understanding HPV
and prevent cervical cancer from
can usually be treated successfully.
developing. Women with any unusual
Cervical cancer is a cancer of the A woman may still be able to have
symptoms should not hesitate to
cervix, or the organ that connects the children even after the cancer is
speak with their doctor. (MS)
uterus to the vagina. It is almost always caught early enough. However, most
caused by the human papillomavirus treatments for cervical cancer make
(HPV), which up until recently was a woman unable to have children
a little-known virus. It has since afterward. Depending on the
become a household name. This is a stage of cancer treatments
sexually transmitted virus that affects may include:
the mucous membranes in humans.
• Cone biopsy to remove the
HPV is spread through sexual skin-
cancer
to-skin contact. Penetration is not
necessary to spread the virus. Men
• Simple hysterectomy to
and women can be affected by HPV,
remove the uterus and
and there are different strains. HPV
cervix
that causes genital warts won't
necessarily contribute to cervical
cancer.
PAP Tests
The only way to prevent HPV is
to abstain from sexual contact. In
recent years a vaccine has been
approved for the prevention of HPV.
Early detection of cervical cancer
is also essential. This is obtained
through a PAP test. The incidence
of cervical cancer has decreased
in developed countries around the
world because of an increase in the
use of screenings and appropriate
follow-up treatment.
The PAP test or PAP smear is named
after Dr. George Papanicolaou who
first developed the test. A sample of
cervical cells are taken and observed
under a microscope.
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