GYNAECOLOGY

Cancer screening for women

Screening tests are a vital part of your healthcare. They can often catch cancer in its earliest stages, long before any actual symptoms may be noticed.

There are particular cancer screening tests that are important for women. Those are Pap smear and Mammogram. Each is highly effective and recommended for all females.

Pap Smear

A Pap smear is a highly effective test that screens for cervical cancer in women. The test involves the collecting of cells from the Cervix to be examined under a microscope. It is not a diagnostic test, however. That means that if any abnormalities are discovered, more testing like colposcopy guided biopsy will be needed to make a final diagnosis.

A regular pelvic exam is necessary for all women. A pelvic exam is one of the first steps in diagnosing several conditions such as Gynaecologic Cancers . A pelvic exam is often accompanied by the Pap smear.

All sexually active women aged 24 years to 49 years should undergo Pap smear testing once in 3 years and women aged 50 to 64 years once in 5 years.

Mammogram

Women who are over 40 or at high risk for developing Breast Cancer need to have a regular mammogram. A screening mammogram is able to detect breast abnormalities that could signal breast cancer. Aside from regular mammograms, women of all ages should perform monthly Breast self-exams to check for abnormalities.

A mammogram is a screening tool that uses a special x-ray to examine breast tissue to see if any abnormal growths or tissue are present. Every woman should have mammogram once in 3 years from the age of 40 to 65 years.

What is HPV?

HPV(Human Papilloma Virus) is the name given to a very common group of viruses.

There are many types of HPV, some of which are called "high risk" because they're linked to the development of cancers, such as cervical cancer, vaginal cancer,vulval cancer ,anal cancer, cancer of the penis and some cancers of the head and neck. . Other types can cause conditions like warts or verrucas.

Nearly all cervical cancers (99.7%) are caused by infection with a high-risk type of HPV. HPV infections do not usually cause any symptoms, and most people will not know they're infected.

HPV is very common and can be caught through any kind of sexual contact with another person who already has it.Most people will get an HPV infection at some point in their lives, and their bodies will get rid of it naturally without treatment.

But some women infected with a high-risk type of HPV will not be able to clear it.Over time, this can cause abnormal tissue growth as well as other changes in the cells of their cervix, which can lead to cervical cancer if not treated.

HPV Vaccine (to prevent cervical cancer)

The HPV vaccine helps protect against cervical cancer. HPV vaccination is usually given to women between 15 to 45 years. It is given in 3doses (0, 1, 6 months) for full protection.

Vaccinating women indirectly helps protect men from these types of cancer and genital warts because vaccinated women will not pass HPV on to them.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

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