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Showing posts from tagged with: cervical cancer screenings

What you need to know about treating cervical cancer.

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What you need to know about treating cervical cancer. cervical cancer Now ranking 14th, cervical cancer was once one of the most common cancers affecting U.S. women. This rate has declined sharply with the introduction of the Pap test, a screening procedure that can find changes in the cervix before the cancer develops. The test can also help to find cervical cancer at an early stage. Several risk factors increase a woman’s chance of developing cervical cancer. The most important risk factor is infection caused by HPV, or human papillomavirus. Other risk factors include smoking, immunosuppression, chlamydia infection and being overweight. Treatment of cervical cancer depends on:

  • Stage of the cancer
  • Size and shape of the tumor
  • A woman’s age and general health
  • A woman’s desire to have children
There is a common myth among women that they must have a hysterectomy to treat cervical cancer. The truth is that while early cervical cancer is sometimes treated with a hysterectomy — it’s not the only option. Some women with early cervical cancer can avoid a hysterectomy with procedures such as a cone biopsy, which removes only the cancerous tissue and a small margin of surrounding healthy tissue, or a radical trachelectomy, which removes the cervix but not the uterus. Radiation and chemotherapy are used to treat more advanced disease and may be options for women with early stage disease who cannot or do not want to have surgery. Another misconception is that a woman loses the ability to bear children as a result of cervical cancer treatment. In cases of stage IA2 or stage IB cervical cancer, a radical trachelectomy may allow some women to be treated and still have children. After trachelectomy, some women are able to carry a pregnancy to term and deliver a healthy baby by cesarean section. The risk of a cancer recurrence after this procedure is low. Women should ask their doctors whether they are candidates for this procedure and consult with a gynecologic oncologist who is skilled in performing this procedure. Have questions about cervical cancer treatments? Talk to your doctor.

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Women’s Health: Cervical Cancer Screenings

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Women’s Health: Cervical Cancer Screenings Have you been screened for cervical cancer? No matter what your age, you should consult with your doctor on whether you are due for a cervical cancer screening. Women’s Health- Cervical Cancer Screenings   Two Types of Cervical Cancer Screenings Two screening tests can help prevent cervical cancer or find it early:

  • The Pap test (or Pap smear) looks for pre-cancers, cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately.
  • The HPV test looks for the virus (human papillomavirus) that can cause these cell changes.
Both tests can be done at UFMC Pueblo. During the Pap test, the doctor will use a plastic or metal instrument, called a speculum, to widen your vagina. This helps the doctor examine the vagina and the cervix, and collect a few cells and mucus from the cervix and the area around it. The cells are sent to a laboratory.
  • If you are getting a Pap test, the cells will be checked to see if they look normal. 
  • If you are getting an HPV test, the cells will be tested for HPV.
  When to Get Screened
  • If you are 21 to 29 years old, You should start getting Pap tests at age 21. If your Pap test result is normal, your doctor may tell you that you can wait three years until your next Pap test.
 
  • If you are 30 to 65 years old, talk to your doctor about which testing option is right for you:
    • A Pap test only. If your result is normal, your doctor may tell you that you can wait three years until your next Pap test.
    • An HPV test only. This is called primary HPV testing. If your result is normal, your doctor may tell you that you can wait five years until your next screening test.
    • An HPV test along with the Pap test. This is called co-testing. If both of your results are normal, your doctor may tell you that you can wait five years until your next screening test.
 
  • If you are older than 65, your doctor may tell you that you don’t need to be screened anymore if,
    • You have had normal screening test results for several years, or
    • You have had your cervix removed as part of a total hysterectomy for non-cancerous conditions, like fibroids.
  Due for your cervical cancer screening? Call us today to make your appointment.  

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