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Ladies, if you’re behind in getting your Pap smear, you need
to schedule an appointment ASAP. Cervical cancer is no joke, and can become
fatal if left untreated. The good news is that cervical cancer is 100%
treatable if detected early.
Did you know that at one point in history, cervical cancer
was one of the leading causes of death for American women? Thanks to the Pap
test, the cervical cancer fatality rate has decreased by more than 50%.
Womenshealth.gov
recommends women ages 21-29 get a Pap test done every three years. Women ages
30-64 only need to get one done every five years. It’s a simple enough procedure
that takes about 15 minutes or so, and it’s well worth it because it can save
your life.
Now, according to the National Cancer
Institute, the average age of women diagnosed with cervical cancer is 49.
It takes about 10-15 years for the pre-cancerous cells to develop into
full-blown cancer, which is why it’s so important to get tested while you’re
young.
Should you get an abnormal Pap smear result, keep in mind
that it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have cancer. There are a variety of
different reasons why you can get an abnormal test result. However, if you do
get an abnormal result, your doctor will likely want you to come in for a
colposcopy.
A colposcopy is a procedure in which your OBGYN examines
your cervix underneath a microscope. Should your doctor see any abnormal
tissue, she/he will take what’s known as a biopsy. A biopsy is a small sample
of tissue that is removed from the cervix. The biopsy will then be sent to the
lab where the tissue sample can be examined in more detail.
- Pain during or after sex
- Unusual vaginal discharge (a change in color or texture)
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding (such as after sex, after menopause, or between periods)
If you have any of the above symptoms, please call your
doctor immediately. And please help get the word out by sharing this post.
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