Screenings Can Prevent Cancer
By George Nianiatus, senior writer
Communications Department
Preventing cervical cancer in women can be attained by making sure they undergo regular Pap smears and pelvic exams.
Two physicians at Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC), Kenneth B. Goodrich, M.D., and Evad S. Al-Hattab, M.D., are urging area women to get yearly screenings and exams so they can avoid getting what is considered to be one of the most preventable forms of cancer. Additionally, when detected early, cervical cancer is almost 100 percent curable.
January is National Cervical Cancer Screening Month, designed to raise awareness and emphasize the need for women to educate themselves about the disease and understand it’s preventable.
Dr. Goodrich, an obstetrics/gynecologist specialist at the hospital’s OB/Gyn Suzzalo Medical Arts Building, says it’s imperative for women undergo Pap smears that detect cervical cancer and conditions leading to it.
“Most cervical cancer is caused by HPV (human papillomavirus),” says Dr. Goodrich. “HPV causes genital warts and abnormal changes on the cervix” which can lead to cervical cancer, he explains.
The two medical experts agree that infection from certain strains of HPV is one of the strongest risk factors for cervical cancer.
Dr. Al-Hattab, medical director of Oncology/Hematology at BRMC’s Cancer Care Center, a clinical network member of Roswell Park Cancer Institute, says that women can have HPV or cervical cancer without any symptoms. “That’s why Pap smear testing is so important. It detects changes in the cervix.”
Also, women who are sexually active - no matter how young they are - should have regular Pap smears, notes Dr. Goodrich. Additionally, women who are past menopause or have had a hysterectomy still need to have regular Pap tests, states Dr. Goodrich.
Increased risk factors leading to cervical cancer include women having early sex, smoking and having multiple sexual partners, the physicians say.
“In the event cervical cancer is diagnosed, treatment can range from surgery, or chemotherapy and radiation therapy to shrink the tumor or tumors,” Dr. Al-Hattab says.
However, latter stages of this cancer that spread outside the cervix are almost incurable, the oncologist says.
“We want to stress women having Pap smears every year as part of their pelvic exam,” Dr. Goodrich states.
If HPV is detected in a woman, for instance, Dr. Goodrich says she should have her sexual partner checked as well to prevent her re-infection or further development in her of new cervical changes and abnormalities.
To prevent the spread of HPV, “More also needs to be done with men on having them checked,” Dr. Goodrich emphasizes.
HPV treatment for women frequently involves the vaccine Gardasil. The vaccine is currently given in three doses to young women ages 9 to 26 to help prevent cervical, vaginal and other cancers attributed to HPV.
According to the National Cervical Cancer Coalition, studies that have identified risk factors associated with cervical cancer have shown it is closely linked to:
— Failure to receive a regular Pap test screening;
— HPV infection; and
— Immunosuppressive disorders such as HIV/AIDS.
For more information about cervical cancer or other health questions, go to the Medline Plus section at BRMC’s Web site at www.brmc.com.
Communications Department
Preventing cervical cancer in women can be attained by making sure they undergo regular Pap smears and pelvic exams.
Two physicians at Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC), Kenneth B. Goodrich, M.D., and Evad S. Al-Hattab, M.D., are urging area women to get yearly screenings and exams so they can avoid getting what is considered to be one of the most preventable forms of cancer. Additionally, when detected early, cervical cancer is almost 100 percent curable.
January is National Cervical Cancer Screening Month, designed to raise awareness and emphasize the need for women to educate themselves about the disease and understand it’s preventable.
Dr. Goodrich, an obstetrics/gynecologist specialist at the hospital’s OB/Gyn Suzzalo Medical Arts Building, says it’s imperative for women undergo Pap smears that detect cervical cancer and conditions leading to it.“Most cervical cancer is caused by HPV (human papillomavirus),” says Dr. Goodrich. “HPV causes genital warts and abnormal changes on the cervix” which can lead to cervical cancer, he explains.
The two medical experts agree that infection from certain strains of HPV is one of the strongest risk factors for cervical cancer.
Dr. Al-Hattab, medical director of Oncology/Hematology at BRMC’s Cancer Care Center, a clinical network member of Roswell Park Cancer Institute, says that women can have HPV or cervical cancer without any symptoms. “That’s why Pap smear testing is so important. It detects changes in the cervix.”Also, women who are sexually active - no matter how young they are - should have regular Pap smears, notes Dr. Goodrich. Additionally, women who are past menopause or have had a hysterectomy still need to have regular Pap tests, states Dr. Goodrich.
Increased risk factors leading to cervical cancer include women having early sex, smoking and having multiple sexual partners, the physicians say.
“In the event cervical cancer is diagnosed, treatment can range from surgery, or chemotherapy and radiation therapy to shrink the tumor or tumors,” Dr. Al-Hattab says.
However, latter stages of this cancer that spread outside the cervix are almost incurable, the oncologist says.
“We want to stress women having Pap smears every year as part of their pelvic exam,” Dr. Goodrich states.
If HPV is detected in a woman, for instance, Dr. Goodrich says she should have her sexual partner checked as well to prevent her re-infection or further development in her of new cervical changes and abnormalities.
To prevent the spread of HPV, “More also needs to be done with men on having them checked,” Dr. Goodrich emphasizes.
HPV treatment for women frequently involves the vaccine Gardasil. The vaccine is currently given in three doses to young women ages 9 to 26 to help prevent cervical, vaginal and other cancers attributed to HPV.
According to the National Cervical Cancer Coalition, studies that have identified risk factors associated with cervical cancer have shown it is closely linked to:
— Failure to receive a regular Pap test screening;
— HPV infection; and
— Immunosuppressive disorders such as HIV/AIDS.
For more information about cervical cancer or other health questions, go to the Medline Plus section at BRMC’s Web site at www.brmc.com.
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