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For Immediate Release Four Corners Health Department, serving Butler, Polk, Seward, and York Counties Contact Vicki L. Duey, 402-362-2621 or toll free 877-337-3573 Date: January 19, 2012
Learn How to Prevent Cervical Cancer January – a new year, a new start for many. Make sure that this also includes taking care of your health and getting regular screenings whenever possible. Screenings are tests done to help find possible health problems, including certain types of cancers. Early detection is the key in treating and curing many diseases, including cancers. January is recognized as the month to be aware of cervical cancer prevention in women. Cervical cancer is the easiest female cancer to prevent through regular screening tests and follow up. All women are at risk for cervical cancer and it occurs most often in women over age 30. Each year, approximately 12,000 women in the United States get cervical cancer. The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus. The uterus (womb) is where a baby grows when a woman is pregnant. The cervix connects the upper part of the uterus to the vagina (the birth canal). The main cause of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV) – a common virus that is passed from one person to another person during sexual activity. However, there are other causes of cervical cancer therefore Pap tests are important for all women over the age of 21 years. Cervical cancer is highly preventable in most Western cultures because there are screening tests and a vaccine to prevent HPV infection. When cervical cancer is found early, it is highly treatable and associated with long survival rates and a good quality of life. Two screening tests can help prevent or find cervical cancer early. These are: The Pap test (or pap smear) looks for pre-cancers, cell changes on the cervix that could become cervical cancer if not treated. The HPV test looks for the virus, human papillomavirus, that can cause these cell changes. (used to screen women aged 30 years and older, or women of any age who have unclear Pap test results). You should start getting regular Pap tests at age 21, or within three years of the first time you have sex – whichever happens first. The only type of cancer the Pap test screens for is cervical cancer. It does not screen for ovarian, uterine, vaginal or vulvar cancers. So even if you have a Pap test regularly, if you notice any signs or symptoms that are unusual for you, you need to see your doctor to find out why you’re having them.
It is important for you to continue getting a Pap test regularly- even if you think you are too old to have a child, or are not having sex anymore. If you are older than 65 and have had normal Pap test results for several years, or if you have had your cervix removed during an operation called a hysterectomy, your doctor may tell you it is okay to stop getting regular Pap tests.
If you are getting the HPV test in addition to the Pap test, the cells collected during the Pap test will be tested for HPV at the laboratory. Talk with your doctor, nurse, or other health care professional about whether the HPV test is right for you.
In addition to HPV, other things can increase your risk of cervical cancer. They include:
Early on, cervical cancer may not cause any signs or symptoms. Advanced cervical cancer may cause bleeding or discharge from the vagina that is not normal. If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor. They may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know for sure is to see your doctor.
If you do not have health insurance and cannot afford regular screenings to help prevent cervical cancer, you may be able to get a free or reduced cost Pap test and exam through the Every Woman Matters Program. For more information regarding this program or to find out if you qualify, please contact Val Tvrdy, RN, at Four Corners Health Department – 1-877-337-3573 or locally at 402-362-2621. You may also send questions to the Four Corners Health Department at: questions@fourcorners.ne.gov.
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