Last week, we talked about cervical cancer, which is an important cancer in women. Through screening and prevention strategies, the rates of cervical cancer have declined dramatically over the last 50 years. Today, we will talk about some of the important screening and prevention strategies, which all women should understand.
I discussed the link between Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and cervical cancer last week, but it is an important point to review. More than 90% of cervical cancers are caused by infection with high-risk types of HPV. The link between HPV and cervical cancer was discovered in the early 1980s. This knowledge paved the way for more screening tests as well as the creation of HPV vaccines. Since this link was found, HPV was also shown to cause vaginal, vulvar, penile, anal, and some mouth and throat cancers as well. This was such an important discovery that the doctor/researcher who made the discovery, Harald zur Hausen, MD, DSc, received the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine for “his discovery of human papillomaviruses causing cervical cancer.”
- HPV vaccine – One of the best preventive measures is the HPV vaccine, which protects against the types of HPV that most often cause cervical cancer. The CDC recommends the HPV vaccine for all preteens at age 11 or 12, but it can also be given to teens and young adults up to age 26. Even if you are older, it’s worth discussing vaccination with your healthcare provider.
- HPV test – Testing for the high-risk types of HPV. Recently updated cervical cancer screening guidelines designate primary high-risk HPV testing as the preferred screening test for women aged 30-65 at average risk. This test can be collected by a patient or by a clinician. It can also be done at the same time as a Pap test.
- Pap tests – Regular Pap tests can find precancerous changes in the cervix so they can be treated before turning into cancer. The updated guidelines recommend Pap testing for average-risk women ages 21-29.