January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month!

According to American Cancer Society 12,710 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer in 2011 and 4,290 women will die from cervical cancer in 2011.  According to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, New Jersey Cancer Registry approximately 90 women between 2002 and 2007 were diagnosed with cervical cancer and 37 women died of cervical cancer in Atlantic County.  Cervical cancer was once the most common cause of cancer death, but after 1955 and the advance of the Pap, that number has gone down substantially.

The cervix is the lower part of the uterus which connects the body of the uterus to the vagina. Cervical cancer begins in the lining of the cervix and generally does not form suddenly. Cells begin to change from normal to pre-cancer and then cancer. This can take a number of years, although sometimes it happens more quickly. These changes are referred to by several terms, including dysplasia. Sometimes these changes may go away without treatment, but more often they need to be treated to prevent them from changing into true cancers.

Cervical Cancer Risk Factors

Certain risk factors increase a person’s chance of getting the disease. This does not mean the person will get the disease nor does it mean people without specific risk factors will not get the disease. It only means there is an increased chance.

• HPV (Human Papillomavirus) – a sexually transmitted disease
• Smoking
• HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) – a sexually transmitted disease
• Chlamydia – a sexually transmitted disease
• Diet low in fruit and vegetables
• Birth control pills
• Having many full term pregnancies
• Young age at first full term pregnancy
• Poverty
• DES (diethylstilbestrol) -a hormone miscarriage drug used between 1940 and 1971
• Family History

Cervical Cancer Screening Recommendations

Most cervical cancers can be prevented by avoiding the risk factors and having a routine Pap test (a painless sample of mucus and cells scraped from the cervix). Young women can delay having sex until they are older and protect themselves against sexually transmitted disease by engaging in fewer partners. (Condoms do not protect against HPV, but do help protect against other sexually transmitted diseases.) Women can also quit smoking or never smoke to begin with to decrease risk.  American Cancer Society recommends all women should begin having the Pap test within three years after they begin having sex (vaginal intercourse), but no later than age 21 years of age.  Conventional Pap test should be performed every year, but liquid Pap tests can be done every two years.  A pelvic exam still needs to be completed every year even if your Pap tests are not.  A pelvic exam should not be confused with a Pap test.  Patients should talk with their doctors about important cancer screenings and should be going to their gynecologist annually as long as there are not problems or symptoms.  Any abnormal symptoms should be reported to your doctor right away.

Increasing the Accuracy of your Pap Test:

• Do not schedule an appointment during your menstrual period.
• Do not douche 48 hours before the test.
• Do not have sexual intercourse 48 hours before the test.
• Do not use tampons, birth control foams, jellies, or other vaginal creams or vaginal medications 48 hours before the test.

Information gathered 10-21-04. Revised statistics and information on 12-29-11.

References:

• American Cancer Society,  12/29/11.
• New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, New Jersey Cancer Registry, 12/29/11

Below are a variety of websites which feature cervical information.  Topics such as early detection, treatment, patient support and living with cancer are generally discussed.

American Cancer Society

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Cancer Institute

Gynecologic Cancer Foundation

National Cervical Cancer Coalition

The information listed in the websites above are not endorsed by the Atlantic County Healthy Living Coalition, rather they are informative websites.  All cervical issues should be referred and discussed with your physician.