Cervical cancer possible to prevent
Whitney Phillips and Rachel Tanner
Issue date: 3/16/10 Section: DSC News
Cervical cancer claims the lives of about 4,000 women in the United States each year, and because of this, it's important for females to understand the warning signs and preventative measures that can be taken.
The recent cervical cancer-related death of Adi Thelen, a Dixie State College assistant professor of communication, has brought about the discussion of cervical cancer as it pertains to the women of DSC.
According to www.helppreventcervicalcancer.com, cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in women in their 20s and 30s. The cancer is usually caused by HPV, which is a sexually transmitted viral infection. Any girl or woman who becomes infected with HPV can potentially develop cervical cancer.
Mary Record, senior medical assistant at Dr. Chad Lunt and Dr. Tracy Kvarfordt's office, 515 S. 300 East, said: "Any woman is susceptible to [cervical cancer]. It can start early, so we start doing pap smears as soon as [women] become sexually active because HPV is transmitted so readily."
Record said HPV doesn't always cause cervical cancer, but it is the major cause.
"The way they detect it is by Pap smear," she said. "It's now a fluid Pap test that is much more sensitive and can catch [cervical cancer] really early."
If women catch the virus early, the cancer will be more treatable.
"[Cervical cancer] can be prevented just by doing their Pap smears as soon as they become sexually active," Record said. "They never have to have it. They need to start having their yearly Pap smear."
Women won't always have symptoms if they have cervical cancer, but they could have an abnormal Pap smear, which is why it's important for women to have them yearly. Record said if women do have an abnormal Pap smear, they just need to follow through with treatment, and they'll most likely become cancer free.
Grant Carter, medical director of women's and children's services at Dixie Regional Medical Center, 544 S. 400 East, said abnormal pap smears for women usually consist of inflammation or abnormal cells.
The recent cervical cancer-related death of Adi Thelen, a Dixie State College assistant professor of communication, has brought about the discussion of cervical cancer as it pertains to the women of DSC.
According to www.helppreventcervicalcancer.com, cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in women in their 20s and 30s. The cancer is usually caused by HPV, which is a sexually transmitted viral infection. Any girl or woman who becomes infected with HPV can potentially develop cervical cancer.
Mary Record, senior medical assistant at Dr. Chad Lunt and Dr. Tracy Kvarfordt's office, 515 S. 300 East, said: "Any woman is susceptible to [cervical cancer]. It can start early, so we start doing pap smears as soon as [women] become sexually active because HPV is transmitted so readily."
Record said HPV doesn't always cause cervical cancer, but it is the major cause.
"The way they detect it is by Pap smear," she said. "It's now a fluid Pap test that is much more sensitive and can catch [cervical cancer] really early."
If women catch the virus early, the cancer will be more treatable.
"[Cervical cancer] can be prevented just by doing their Pap smears as soon as they become sexually active," Record said. "They never have to have it. They need to start having their yearly Pap smear."
Women won't always have symptoms if they have cervical cancer, but they could have an abnormal Pap smear, which is why it's important for women to have them yearly. Record said if women do have an abnormal Pap smear, they just need to follow through with treatment, and they'll most likely become cancer free.
Grant Carter, medical director of women's and children's services at Dixie Regional Medical Center, 544 S. 400 East, said abnormal pap smears for women usually consist of inflammation or abnormal cells.
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stdslove
posted 3/17/10 @ 1:19 AM MST
I hate HPV....... I must say I am cute.
But I got HPV 6 months ago, my boyfriend left me. I had to date singles living with HPV on Positivefish.com =. (Continued…)
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