Cervical cancer is one of the few forms of cancer that can be prevented. With regular pap smear screening, the pre-cancerous state of the cervix can be found and treated before it has time to turn into full blown cancer.
Jason Rearick / The Citizen
Technologist Theresa Hlywa loads a pap smear into the ThinPrep machine which spreads a small layer of cells across a microscope slide for identification of abnormalities in the Cytology Lab at Auburn Memorial Hospital.
Technologist Theresa Hlywa loads a pap smear into the ThinPrep machine which spreads a small layer of cells across a microscope slide for identification of abnormalities in the Cytology Lab at Auburn Memorial Hospital.
According to pathologist Dr. John Riccio, lab director of the Auburn Memorial Hospital, the cervix is one of the few organs in the body that can be monitored regularly, therefore, making the incidence of cervical cancer rare, with regular pap smear screening.
“Full blown cervical cancer is actually an unusual occurrence,” he said. “Pre-cancerous conditions within the cervix can be found and treated before the actual cancer has time to develop.”
Cervical cancer is a condition in which the cancerous cells are found within the cervix. If left untreated, cervical cancer can lead to infertility and death. Yet, in the past 50 years, the pap smear testing in women has helped to reduce the numbers of deaths caused by cervical cancer by 70 percent.
Even so, according to Valerie White, senior public health educator, there continues to be a rise in the incidences of pre-cancerous cervical conditions.
According to the New York State Department of Health Cancer Services Program, Cayuga County holds the highest incidence of pre-cancerous cervical conditions among all counties within the state, with a majority of these women being 18 to 25.
Researchers believe that the cervical conditions are being caused by a rise of common sexually transmitted diseases, more specifically, the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a group of viruses that infect the skin and cause wart-like growths.
“The HPV lesions can be so small that they can't be seen with the naked eye. HPV can also live in the skin without causing any warts or other skin changes, White said. ”For these reasons, many people with HPV often do not know they have it, and they spread it to others through unprotected sexual intercourse.“
While not all strains of the HPV virus are linked to cervical cancer, Riccio said that it is hard to tell which of the strains are high risk, and therefore, must be tested further.
Recent advances in pap smear testing has made the process much easier on the doctor and the patient.
“Unlike the old days, there have been major innovations in the pap smear testing over the past 10 years or so,” Riccio said. “The samples are not collected on a slide anymore, but rather in a tube.”
The samples taken from the tube can be put in a monolayer for testing of the cells.
“This monolayer allows us to test the cells better through closer inspection of individual cells,” Riccio said. “Unlike the old slides, if a problem is detected, the patient does not have to be called back into the office and go through the pap smear all over again. The samples that we have can be sent for specific cell testing.”
According to White, a woman should begin an annual pap smear exam by age 18, or sooner if the woman is having sexual intercourse. Yearly exams should be continued until age 29, thereafter continued every 2 to 3 years until about 70 years old.
“January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month,” she said. “All women should know that there are steps they can take to eliminate their risk of this disease. Young women can reduce their risk of cervical cancer by not having sex with anyone, or by having only one monogamous sexual partner who is uninfected.”
White said “Using condoms properly and consistently may also provide some protection, but HPV can be passed from simple skin-to-skin contact.”
Avoiding cigarettes is important in reducing the risk, but the most effective prevention is early detection.
“The very best way to prevent cervical cancer is by early detection through regular pelvic exams and pap smears,” White said. “Pap tests save lives by showing changes in the cervical tissues and allowing the treatment of abnormal cells before they start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and surrounding areas.”
“Full blown cervical cancer is actually an unusual occurrence,” he said. “Pre-cancerous conditions within the cervix can be found and treated before the actual cancer has time to develop.”
Cervical cancer is a condition in which the cancerous cells are found within the cervix. If left untreated, cervical cancer can lead to infertility and death. Yet, in the past 50 years, the pap smear testing in women has helped to reduce the numbers of deaths caused by cervical cancer by 70 percent.
Even so, according to Valerie White, senior public health educator, there continues to be a rise in the incidences of pre-cancerous cervical conditions.
According to the New York State Department of Health Cancer Services Program, Cayuga County holds the highest incidence of pre-cancerous cervical conditions among all counties within the state, with a majority of these women being 18 to 25.
Researchers believe that the cervical conditions are being caused by a rise of common sexually transmitted diseases, more specifically, the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a group of viruses that infect the skin and cause wart-like growths.
“The HPV lesions can be so small that they can't be seen with the naked eye. HPV can also live in the skin without causing any warts or other skin changes, White said. ”For these reasons, many people with HPV often do not know they have it, and they spread it to others through unprotected sexual intercourse.“
While not all strains of the HPV virus are linked to cervical cancer, Riccio said that it is hard to tell which of the strains are high risk, and therefore, must be tested further.
Recent advances in pap smear testing has made the process much easier on the doctor and the patient.
“Unlike the old days, there have been major innovations in the pap smear testing over the past 10 years or so,” Riccio said. “The samples are not collected on a slide anymore, but rather in a tube.”
The samples taken from the tube can be put in a monolayer for testing of the cells.
“This monolayer allows us to test the cells better through closer inspection of individual cells,” Riccio said. “Unlike the old slides, if a problem is detected, the patient does not have to be called back into the office and go through the pap smear all over again. The samples that we have can be sent for specific cell testing.”
According to White, a woman should begin an annual pap smear exam by age 18, or sooner if the woman is having sexual intercourse. Yearly exams should be continued until age 29, thereafter continued every 2 to 3 years until about 70 years old.
“January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month,” she said. “All women should know that there are steps they can take to eliminate their risk of this disease. Young women can reduce their risk of cervical cancer by not having sex with anyone, or by having only one monogamous sexual partner who is uninfected.”
White said “Using condoms properly and consistently may also provide some protection, but HPV can be passed from simple skin-to-skin contact.”
Avoiding cigarettes is important in reducing the risk, but the most effective prevention is early detection.
“The very best way to prevent cervical cancer is by early detection through regular pelvic exams and pap smears,” White said. “Pap tests save lives by showing changes in the cervical tissues and allowing the treatment of abnormal cells before they start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and surrounding areas.”
The Citizens' Say
There are No comments posted.