Cervical Cancer Screening Saves Lives

Cervical cancer is diagnosed in new patients about 12,000 times in the US each year. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in women and occurs in women throughout the world. It is believed to be commonly caused by certain strains of human Papilloma virus that invade the cervix and cause DNA changes within the cells of the lining of the cervix. Not all strains of HPV cause

cervical cancer but there are many that do.

Most doctors believe that screening for cervical cancer via a Pap test is the best way to determine whether or not there are abnormal, precancerous cells in the cervix. The finding of these cells can mean that cervical cancer is in the woman’s future and means that something must be done to get rid of these precancerous cells before they turn into cancer. This can be done by freezing the cervix or by doing a conization procedure that rids the body of endocervical cells. These can prevent cancerous changes from occurring in the cells.

Another screening test involves screening for HPV itself. It can tell which women are at risk for cervical cancer and can mean that these are women who get screened more often. In general, women are screened for a Pap test at the age of 21 years and every three years thereafter as long as they continue to have normal Pap tests. Abnormal Pap tests are retested every 6-12 months until the test normalizes or until treatment for precancerous changes is performed. For patients over 65, it is fine to stop having Pap tests as long as previous Pap tests have been normal. Speak to your doctor as to when you should have regular Pap tests and when it is okay to stop.

Sometimes a colposcopy is required. This is a microscopic evaluation of the Pap test with biopsies taken to the laboratory for more careful evaluation of suspicious areas. It is usually gynecologists who have cplposcopy equipment and they use a special dye to show up suspicious areas of the cervix.

As HPV is such a common disease of sexually active people, doctors can offer a vaccine containing several killed strains of the HPV virus. Doctors chose those human Papillomaviruses that are the most likely to cause cervical cancer but not all strains of human Papillomavirus are covered so you still need to practice safe sex. The vaccine is called Gardasil and it is very effective in covering for the main causes of HPV-induced cervical cancer. You still need to have regular Pap tests even though you were immunized against HPV with Gardasil.