No woman should die of cervical cancer as it’s now completely preventable by following these recommendations, specialists say.
Cervical cancer strikes an estimated 13, 170 women in the United States alone each year. Amazingly, between 1975 and 2015, rates of this cancer dropped by more than 50% and this was due to many factors. One of the changes that had the greatest impact on numbers was an increase in the rate at which women were screened for this cancer.
What can you do to help avoid developing cervical cancer?
First of all, consider getting vaccinated. HPV or human papillomavirus is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases out there, and while not every case leads to cervical cancer, having HPV is one of its causes. You can prevent this easily, through a vaccine.
FYI, if you haven’t already had the HPV vaccine, you can receive it up to the age of 45.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all boys and girls get the HPV vaccine when they are 11 or 12 years old, as it’s during these preteen years, (up until the age of 14), that the body had the strongest immune response to the vaccine. After that, multiple doses of the vaccine are needed for the same effect. But it’s still effective, and it’s worth getting, in order to protect yourself.
In addition to this, if you’re a female, make sure you go for regular pap tests. While these might not be the most comfortable thing in the world, a pap test can detect cell changes in your cervix. These could indicate the presence of HPV. In this way, any potential problems can be caught early on and addressed.
How often should you go? Ask your doctor to find out what’s the best schedule for you.
Cervical cancer is entirely preventable. For more on this topic, visit the National Cervical Cancer Coalition online.
