Healthy Living explores the importance of Pap Smears
The experts advise that women should undertake pap smear tests as part of their regular medical checks. The procedure is uncomplicated and is critical in detecting cancerous activities. Healthy Living this week looks at the importance of the pap smear test.
The experts advise that women should undertake pap smear tests as part of their regular medical checks. The procedure is uncomplicated and is critical in preventing cervical cancer. Healthy Living this week looks at the importance of a test.
For many, the thought of undergoing medical procedures makes them cringe. But understanding the importance of surgery can ease even the greatest fear. The pap smear is a particular test that women often dread.
Many women tend to cringe at the thought of the procedure. But the pap smear is considered one of the top ten medical tests every woman should have; it takes about one minute and can save your life. It detects abnormal changes in cervical cells that may lead to cervical cancer.
Dr Alba Mendez-Sosa, Gynecologist/Obstetrician, Oncologist
“In cervical cancer we say that all time we can do something. We can do something with the purpose of sure sometimes we do with the purpose of palliative care. But cervical cancer is a condition that can be prevented generally with a simple test that is the pap smear. “
Dr Alba Mendez Sosa is the President of Belize Cancer Society. In her practice as a gynecologist and oncologist she has seen firsthand the detrimental effects of delaying the pap smears.
Dr Alba Mendez-Sosa
“More women continue die from cervical cancer. Unfortunately women continue be shame of this test and most for them start to look for assistance in the advance stage.”
The procedure was developed in the 1930’and is now the most successful cancer screening technique used worldwide.
“Generally take a sample from the endocervix and ectocervix and that is part of the lower part of our uterus. Fix t in a slide and after we have the obligation to fill the form and full the information with the patient and send to the laboratory in the best condition.”
The results of the pap smear will not prove that you don’t have cervical cancer but it can detect the majority of cervical cancer and precancerous abnormalities.
Dr Alba Mendez-Sosa
“The more early that we start our sexual active life the more chances of developing cervical cancer. More sexual partners that we have in our life this are a risk factor. If our husbands have previous wife that die from cervical cancer this is a risk factor too. The most important is the human papilloma virus this is the agent that produce destruction of the cervix in more than ninety-five percent of the cases. And this is the cause of cervical cancer. We can’t assume it’s the only risk factors because we have next risk factor like smoke cigarette, like other sexual transmitted disease, like herpes, Chlamydia and of course the patient that have HIV positive they have more predisposition or patient that use steroids.”
The detection of the Human Papillomavirus or H.P.V. is critical as Dr Mendez Sosa points out, it’s not always easy to know that you’re infected or who is infected.
Dr Alba Mendez-Sosa
“Cervix is in a part of our body that normally we can’t see. This no give signs this no give symptoms. Sometimes it presents vaginal discharge, repetitive vaginal discharge that was treated with a different type of treatment and coming back generally that is something we need take in consideration. One situation that tells you this is the H.P.V. that we don’t have. We can’t say at this point that the human papilloma virus is only cervical. This can produce cancer in another tissue, anal cancer, larynx cancer and that is something that may take in consideration. Generally male can catch the infection from infected women and have the capacity for keep the virus and transmit to another woman.”
In fact, Dr Mendez Sosa said that close to eighty percent of the general population at the age of fifty have come in contact with the H.P.V. virus at least one. This underscores the importance of screening tests like the pap smear.
Dr Alba Mendez-Sosa
“In Belize, we don’t have the proper statistics that will tell us what will be the proper follow up that we require. We recommend that get a pap smear at least one or two years after the start of the sexual active life.
All times we recommend that the pap smear do continuously every three years because what we no catch in the first year catch in the second year and more or less ninety-nine catch in the third year of follow up”
This is why women who have regular pap smears are much less likely to develop cervical cancer than those who don’t.
Dr Alba Mendez-Sosa
“Pap smear is not expensive and right now offered in all of the health center, offer at Belize family life, offer at the private institution and at the cancer center. At this point it’s not one excuse to not take a pap smear.”
No one can predict who will develop cervical cancer but a pap smear is a tried-and-true means of early detection that can allow for effective treatment. It’s one case where it’s a wise idea to err on the side of caution.
