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Cervical Cancer Facts

Cervical Cancer Facts

Cervical Cancer is the Second Leading Cause of Death in Women
The words cervical cancer are enough to strike fear and terror in the hearts of women across the globe. No woman wants to hear their doctor tell them they have cancer, whether cervical or other. Unfortunately doctors diagnose more than 10,000 new cases of cervical cancer every year, with roughly 4,000 women dying of this disease every year.

Over the last 50 years the number of women diagnosed with cervical cancer has decreased, yet cervical cancer remains the second most common cause of death from cancer among women in developing countries. In these countries women diagnosed with cervical cancer have at best a 50 percent mortality rate.

Most women who develop cervical cancer don’t get regular screenings for this disease. Despite evidence suggesting that screening may prevent invasive forms of cervical cancer, many women still aren’t getting the treatment they need to prevent this exhaustive condition.

Cervical Cancer Screening
Combined Screening Methods for Cervical cancer is perhaps the best solution for testing women at risk for cervical cancer. In April of 2003 the FDA approved a combine test of HPV and The Pap smear to screen for cervical cancer. This combined test provides the most accurate results and may be the primary screening test for women 30 and over.

• Important Facts about Cervical Cancer Screening
• Screening Measures to Prevent Cervical Cancer
• Preparing to have Cervical Cancer Screening
• Traditional Pap Screening
• Thin Prep Pap Cervical Cancer Screening
• HPV Testing for Cervical Cancer Screening

New Guidelines for Pap Smears
The American Cancer Society has recommended the following guidelines for the early detection of cervical cancer. The modified guidelines for the use of the Pap Smear for early detection of cervical cancer are as follows:

• Pap Smear testing should be performed no later than three years after your first sexual intercourse, but no later than age 21. It is believed that pap smears performed earlier may lead to inappropriate follow-up and intervention.
• After you have had your initial Pap Smear, testing is recommended every year if the traditional pap smear is used and every 2 years if the new Thin Prep Pap Smear is used.

Comment:
The new HPV DNA testing for cervical cancer is not yet approved by the FDA and is not currently considered in the recommendations. Recommendations for older women and women who have undergone total hysterectomies and when they should stop screening is also not mentioned.

These guidelines set worth by the American Cancer Society should be used as only a guide because the screening for cervical cancer is a rapidly changing and evolving issue.

• Cervical Cancer Vaccine by Glaxo
• Cervical Cancer Vaccine by Merck and Co.
• Pap Smear After a Hysterectomy
• Abnormal Pap Smear
• The Annual Pap Smear is it Necessary
• Self Administered Pap Smear