Issue Date: January 20, 2008
Cervical cancer
Ladies, make sure that Pap smears are part of your strategy to stay healthy.
We hear a lot about preventive medicine and how it can help us live longer, healthier lives. Well, when it comes to prevention that makes a difference, few things compare to the success we have had with battling cervical cancer.
When life is hectic, we often don't take time to do the things we should to keep ourselves healthy.
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Cervical cancer is a type of tumor that occurs in a portion of a woman's uterus. It has received attention recently because of the development of a vaccination (now commercially available) designed to reduce a woman's chance of becoming infected with the human papillomavirus, a known cause of cervical cancer. Controversy has accompanied the advent of the vaccination: More than 30 types of HPV are sexually transmitted, so although proponents of the vaccination tout the need for universal immunization of all teenage girls, opponents argue that parents should be the final decision makers about whether their daughters receive the shot.
But that's an argument for another time. Today, I want to talk about the success we've had with another great tool in the battle against cervical cancer -- the Pap test.
Increased Pap testing has resulted in a decrease in cervical cancer deaths in the United States.
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Because most cervical cancers start out as precancerous cells, tests capable of identifying these cells alert the doctor to the potential for a problem. That's where the Pap test comes in. First developed in the early 20th century by George Papanicolaou (hence the name "Pap" test), this is a method by which a doctor collects a sample of cells from a woman's cervix. Then the cell samples are analyzed via microscope for cellular abnormalities. There are degrees of abnormal, ranging from mild changes requiring nothing more than repeat testing to more serious abnormalities needing further evaluation and treatment.
Pap testing has become more widespread in the United States in the past few decades, and, as a result, we've seen a reduction in the number of deaths from the disease. According to the American Cancer Society, in countries where Pap testing isn't performed, death rates from cervical cancer are higher. Even in the United States, most women diagnosed with cervical cancer hadn't had a Pap smear in the previous five-year period. Recommendations vary as to how often the test should be performed (based on factors such as age), your doctor can create a testing schedule that's appropriate for your situation.
As life gets more hectic, we often don't take the time to do the things we should to keep ourselves healthy. Undergoing routine Pap testing should be part of a woman's strategy to keep herself healthy and strong.
Tedd Mitchell, M.D., is the president of Dallas' Cooper Clinic.
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