PINELLAS PARK – With so much doom and gloom in cancer news, it is a relief to know there are some types of cancer that can be prevented or stopped in their tracks before creating a dismal mortality statistic.
One of those is cervical cancer – a cancer that certainly affects too many women (approximately 11,300 in the United States), but can certainly be prevented or caught early enough to battle and cure.
January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and in an effort to continue fighting for the decline in death rates in the U.S. and spreading awareness on this disease, local oncologists share detection and prevention information for cervical cancer.
“If you’ve heard it once, you’ll hear it again – woman must have regular scheduled Pap tests done. Deaths in the U.S. have declined approximately 2 percent a year in thanks to early detection from Pap tests,” said Robert Miller, M.D. of WellSpring Oncology.
Progression of abnormal cervical cell changes to cervical cancer typically happen in woman who have not had a Pap test (or Pap smear) done in three to five years – or have never had one done. These screenings will detect changes in the cervix and determine if those changes require pre-cancer treatment. Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers today and if caught early enough, the 5-year survival rate is nearly 100 percent.
“Another test that is helpful is the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) test. This doesn’t indicate pre-cancerous or cancerous cells but it will determine if there is an HPV infection. All this can assist in determining the next steps towards detecting cervical cancer,” said Dr. Miller. HPV is found in approximately 99 percent of cervical cancers. Out of the 100 different types of HPV, the majority are considered low risk/non cervical cancer causing. High risk HPV types include HPV-16 and HPV-18, accounting for 70 percent of cervical cancers.
Woman ages 35 to 55 are more commonly diagnosed with nearly 20 percent of woman more than 65 years-old, showing the importance of continued screenings.
Knowing the signs
Although there are very few symptoms – some abnormal or irregular vaginal bleeding, discharge or pain during intercourse can present red flags. Here are some symptoms that present clear signs to see a physician:
- Abnormal bleeding: Between regular menstrual cycles, after sexual intercourse or after a pelvic exam
- Pelvic pain not related to menstrual cycle
- Heavy or unusual discharge
- Increased urinary frequency
- Pain during urination
Prevention
Regularly scheduled, yearly pap tests are recommended starting at age 21 or three years after becoming sexually active. Annual pap tests also are recommended for woman who have stopped having children, Woman in high-risk (low immune system or HIV infection) should receive annual Pap tests and woman who have undergone simple hysterectomies (the cervix was not removed).
Routine Pap tests are imperative to preventing the development of cervical cancer; however there are some other risk factors that contribute to the cause of cervical cancer including:
- Multiple sexual partners
- Multiple full-term pregnancies
- Sexual intercourse at an early age
- Chlamydia infection
- Cigarette smoking
- Prolonged use of oral contraceptives
- Weakened immune system or HIV infection
Prevent these risk factors by
- Delaying sex until one reaches an older age (having less partners and possibility of transmitting diseases from partners)
- Using condoms during sexual intercourse to prevent HPV
- Not smoking
- Getting the HPV vaccine
The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program offers free or low cost testing to woman without health insurance. See the Florida Department of Health Web site at: www.doh.state.fl.us/family/bcc/default.html.
About WellSpring Oncology
Doctors Robert Miller, Zucel Solc and Frank Franzese opened the doors of WellSpring Oncology in spring of 2008. WellSpring Oncology is located at 6600 Sixty Sixth St. N. in Pinellas Park. For more information, call WellSpring Oncology at 727-343-0600 or visit www.wellspringoncology.org.
