Cancer Awareness: January!

After having a month with no cancer to call its own, we are able to move into January, and a new year. January’s cancer is cervical cancer, one that the spotlight is on lately because of the push of the Gardasil vaccine. It is a real miracle in this day and age to be able to say a simple vaccine (or series of three, in this case) can do something so wonderful such as preventing cancer. Gardasil is given to young girls starting at age 9, and prevents HPV. HPV is one of the main causes of cervical cancer. You’d think that most moms would be jumping at the opportunity to protect their daughters, but the sad reality is that a lot of moms are fooled by the media’s claims of danger surrounding this vaccine. If by posting this I can get even one mom to change their mind and vaccinate their daughters, I’ve done something. Both of MY own daughters were vaccinated the first opportunity I had following their 9th birthday. They are still alive, and did not suffer any adverse effects. Please, if you have a teenage daughter that has not been vaccinated, make an appointment. It is especially important to vaccinate them before the chance of them becoming sexually active!

Cervical cancer is a malignancy arising from cells of the cervix. It is represented by the teal and white multicolored ribbon. One main symptom is vaginal bleeding. Other symptoms include pain during intercourse and vaginal discharge. (However, like other gynecological cancers, symptoms often don’t start until later stages.) Having a yearly pap smear with your OB/GYN is the best way to catch this cancer early, sometimes even when it is in a pre-cancer state. As I mentioned previously, HPV (Human papillomavirus) is the cause of over 90% of cervical cancer! The vaccine protects against the strains that cause over 70% percent of the cases of cervical cancer. Remember though, that even if you get the vaccine, you still need your yearly pap smear! Other risk factors can include: smoking, and having HIV (human immunodeficiency virus.) Most cases are found in women younger than 50. About 12,000 new cases are diagnosed in the US each year, and about 4,000 women will die. Death rates have dropped drastically due to pap smears finding cancer early! (It declined over 70% since 1955.)

I’d like to make one more comment, in general. Considering how drastically the death rates have dropped in cervical cancer due to pap smears being introduced, imagine how death rates for other cancers (like ovarian) could be dropped by finding a reliable test that can be done at the OB/GYN yearly? Let that be a challenge to researchers!

As always, know your bodies!