Gynecologic Cancer and the Well Woman
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“The best protection any woman can have… is courage”
- Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Discomfort nudges you like an eager child while you shift awkwardly on the paper sheet in the exam chair. You eye the stirrups wondering how much longer your doctor will be, dreading the timely ritual of a wellness check.
Though the frequency of a wellness check varies by a woman’s age, we can all agree that despite their taxing nature, wellness checks are vitally important to our overall health, especially when it comes to gynecological cancers.
Gynecologic cancer is defined by the American Association for Cancer Research as encompassing all cancers of the female reproductive system. This includes: cervical, ovarian, fallopian tube, uteruan, vulvar and vaginal cancers. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 89,000 women are diagnosed with these cancers in the United States each year and over 29,000 deaths occur as a result.
Campbell County Health offers incredible Women’s Health Services for every chapter of a woman's life. With the Women’s Panel screening available, you receive lab tests and health screenings without a physician order. These screenings along with a Pap test for cervical cancer screenings are essential for preventing and treating gynecologic cancers.
Here’s how often you should get cervical cancer screenings by age:
Women ages 21 through 29 should have a Pap test every 3 years. HPV testing is not recommended for this age group.
Women ages 30 through 65 should be screened with either a Pap test every 3 years or the HPV test every 5 years.
If you or your sexual partner has other new partners, you should have a Pap test every 3 years.
Women who have been treated for precancer (cervical dysplasia) should continue to have Pap tests for 20 years after treatment or until age 65, whichever is longer.
If you have had your uterus and cervix removed (total hysterectomy) and you have not been diagnosed with cervical cancer you may not need to have Pap tests (MedlinePlus).
You find yourself sighing with relief as your physician snaps off their gloves and gives you a comforting smile. The dread is gone and you feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that you’ve taken steps toward protecting your health and in turn, protecting the ones you love by taking care of yourself. After all, the world needs our women. The world needs you– healthy, courageous, beautiful you. So let the dread and discomfort wash over you and contact us at Campbell County Health for your women’s wellness check
For more information on Women’s Health Services, click here. To learn more, or book your health and wellness screening, click here. Walk-ins welcome!
References
CDC. (2022). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/
Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. (n.d.). American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.aacr.org/patients-caregivers/awareness-months/gynecologic-cancer-awareness-month/#:~:text=September%20is%20Gynecologic%20Cancer%20Awareness%20Month.&text=Infection%20of%20the%20cervix%20with
MedlinePlus. (2015). Health screenings for women ages 18 to 39: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Medlineplus.gov. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007462.htm
Women’s Health. (n.d.). Campbell County Health. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.cchwyo.org/services/womens-health-services/