The Importance of a Cervical Cancer Screening

We all know it’s crucial to look out for our health by going through regular check-ups. But did you know that includes cervical cancer screening?

Professionals use it to detect cancer-causing cells in your body, specifically the cervix. Although you can’t infect people with cervical cancer, it can damage your health and body. That’s why experts recommend regular screening.

Besides that, there are many more reasons why you should consider cervical cancer screening for your usual check-up. We’ll discuss each of those points here! Let’s start.

Detect Cervical Cancer Sooner

The first and primary reason for the screening is to determine whether you have cervical cancer. Due to the nature of the illness, the severity and impact vary on how quickly you detect it.

Statistics show that cervical cancer has a 5-year relative survival rate of 92% when diagnosed during the early stages. While that’s good, it drops to a rate of 59% if you get diagnosed after it spreads.

That’s enough to give you a scale of how crucial the screening is. It allows doctors to detect the illness before it starts to grow. And it was so, keeping you within the range of high recovery.

Of course, the situation may still vary from person to person. Some people take the treatment well, while others might require more done.

Nonetheless, experts say getting tested and diagnosed sooner is always best. Moreover, it would be best to consider incorporating it into your primary care list.

Identify Cervical Cancer Causes

Besides detecting cervical cancer, the screening also identifies possible direct causes.

In most, if not all, cases, cervical cancer stems from HPV or human papillomavirus. It refers to the most common infection spread through sexual transmission.

While they tend to go away without treatment, there’s a chance for them to stay in your body longer. If that’s the case, it could lead to cancer.

When you have HPV, it can develop depending on how you care for your body. For example, smoking is one reason that causes your body to have difficulty getting rid of the virus.

Another one is if you get an HPV vaccination. You’ll likely have more protection against it but remember that it’s still good to have cervical cancer screening when the opportunity arises.

Improve Treatment and Recovery

Experts recommend including cervical cancer screening as part of your women’s healthcare list because of the pros. One of them is earlier treatment and recovery.

Treating cancer is never easy, but it can show more improvement if you have it treated during an early stage. It also increases your chances of recovery since the cancer cells are underdeveloped.

Think of it this way: when you detect those cancer cells sooner, you catch them before they go to different parts of your body. That makes it easier for doctors to treat it because it’s not spread across other organs.

Reassure Your Health Status

Cervical cancer screening should be part of your routine check-up to ensure your health.

Some women might reconsider screening because they’re not sexually active. But, you can contract HPV without engaging in intercourse.

How often you should get screened and which tests to bring depends on age. Usually, experts recommend a Pap test every three years from age 21 to 29 and a Pap stretches every three years from age 30 to 65. HPV testing every five years from age 30 to 65, and both tests every five years from age 30 to 65

Considering your health or condition, you can approach your women’s health doctor to get their recommendation. You can check this clinic for more general questions about cervical cancer screening.

Monitor Your Condition

Cancer screening is one way to keep track of your condition. It’s a way to confirm whether the abnormalities you feel mean something, if any.

The symptoms of cervical cancer include the following:

• Longer menstrual bleeding
• Heavier menstrual bleeding
• Pain during intercourse
• Bleeding after intercourse
• Pain in the pelvic area
• Change in vaginal discharge
• Bleeding after menopause

If you experience these signs, it implies you might have cervical cancer. But it could also mean a different illness.

Cervical cancer screening will give you a clear answer to that. At the same time, it helps you monitor the progress to see if it worsens or improves.

Limitations of Cervical Cancer Screening

Despite the pros of cervical cancer screening, it still has a few limitations. It’s one of the reasons why you should get routine cancer screening or at least more than a single test.

Remember that no test is ever 100% accurate, so it’s essential to remember these potent results.

False Positive

When you get a false positive, the results show a precancer or cancer in your cervix. But in reality, it’s not present.

False Negative

If your clinic returns with a false negative, it shows that you have no cancer when you do. It could cause delays in your treatment or cause you to overlook it.

Overdiagnosis

There are instances when the test results show more than what you want.

It could find abnormalities that lead to more tests and overdiagnosis. Sometimes, it leads to several unnecessary follow-ups and treatments.

More Tests

On the other hand, a single test might bring back unsatisfactory results. In that case, you might need to return a few more times to get more tests until they get a precise result.

This is another reason that may cause a delay in your treatment if it takes too long.

Keep Track of Your Health with Cervical Cancer Screening

Your health is more than just how you feel on the outside, but also in parts you usually don’t see or think about. Routine cervical cancer screening helps you detect any abnormalities to prevent severe illness.

On top of that, it allows you to get treatment as soon as possible! And so, it protects you and your body from significant health damage.

Keep browsing our blog if you want to learn more!