Essay on Cervical Cancer: Prevention Through Early Screening and HPV Testing

Introduction

Cervical cancer is among the deadly gynecological health problem among women. In a bid to control the rising prevalence and distribution of the disease, women are encouraged to be screened to identify the disease at the early stages. The health organizations have recommended cytology and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing as the methods for cervical cancer screening. Cytology, also known as a pap smear, is effective for women between the age of 21 to 65 years (Ashtarian et al., 2017). These women are required to go through the test once every three years. The pap smear test is done at the health center facilities by a professional medical practitioner. The procedure involves the collection of cells from the cervix and the vagina. The physician uses a piece of cotton to scrape the cells from the surface of the vagina and the cervix (Ashtarian et al., 2017). The specimen is tested in a medical lab to identify the presence of cancer-causing pathogens.

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HPV testing, on the other hand, is recommended for women that want to extend the screening intervals. This test is done to women between the age of 30 and 65 years and is carried out once every five years (Castle et al., 2018). HPV disease is commonly associated with cervix cancer; thus, testing for it provides information about cancer. The HPV test is carried like the pap smear. The specimen collected for a pap smear test is used to check for any presence of the HPV disease.

Challenges of Adhering to the Latest Guidelines for the Pap Smear Test

In the past, the pap smear test was done annually, unlike today, when the women go for the test once in 3 years. The women and health care facilities have been facing challenges to adhere to the current guidelines for the test. Lack of communication between the health care practitioners and the patients is a significant challenge to the adherence of guidelines (Moshkovich et al., 2015). Communication between the two parties plays a crucial role in monitoring the testing schedule of women. Most women are bound to forget about the test when they stay for a longer time without having it. As a result, there is a likelihood that they would miss going for the test in the corresponding years.

Another challenge is inadequate education and training among women on the dangers of the yearly pap smear test. Lack of knowledge on the importance of the test results in the non-adherence issues to the present guidelines on the test. Additionally, the length of the test interval leads to the failure of the women to adhere to the current principles on the test (Moshkovich et al., 2015). Some women are not willing to wait for the three years to have the test. Therefore, they choose to stick to the old yearly pap smear test. Uncertainty on the signs of cervix cancer is also a notable challenge to the implementation of the new guidelines (Moshkovich et al., 2015). Women have inadequate knowledge of the signs of the illness. Therefore, in case of any suspicion, they go for the test, thus posing a challenge to the guidelines. An increase in the distribution of the disease is another factor that contributes to non-adherence to the current guidelines. As a result, the women undergo the test frequently to ensure they are safe from contracting the disease.

The Necessity of Yearly Pelvic Exam

A pelvic exam is a testing procedure that allows the gynecologist to evaluate the reproductive organs of a woman. Women are encouraged to take the pelvic exam once a year to monitor the conditions of their reproductive system (Bibbins-Domingo, 2017). A woman must have the annual pelvic examination even when they have a pap smear test is conducted or is not due. The test has several benefits other than screening for cervical cancer. Therefore, all women are advised to visit a gynecologist once a year for general well-woman care.

Screening for sexually transmitted infection (STI) is among the benefits of the pelvic exam to women. Through the test, the physicians assess the reproductive organs to identify any sign of an STI (Bibbins-Domingo, 2017). In case there are found symptoms of the infections, the woman is put under medication to prevent further spread of the disease. Additionally, the screening helps the physicians to detect infections such as ovarian tumors. Early diagnosis of the tumors enables the gynecologists to develop a treatment plan for the infection (Bibbins-Domingo, 2017). As a result, they prevent further growth of the tumors that would otherwise lead to detrimental effects on the woman's reproductive health.

The pelvic exam also helps the gynecologists to determine the effective contraception method for the particular woman. Different women have distinct reactions to the various contraception methods. Therefore, thorough the examination, the physician studies the woman's organs and prescribes the best method for their case (Bibbins-Domingo, 2017). Furthermore, the exam enables the physicians to determine the fertility levels of an individual. Consequently, they offer relevant advice during preconception counseling. Primarily, the pelvic exam in a woman plays a significant role in evaluating and maintaining the reproductive health of women.

Breast Cancer Screening

Breast cancer is among the deadly terminal illness worldwide. In the recent past, breast cancer among women has increased in distribution and prevalence. Therefore, women are encouraged to for screening to determine the presence of the disease in their breasts. Mammography is a breast cancer screening technique that involves the use of X-rays to locate and diagnose the cancerous tumors in the breasts (Alexander et al., 2017). Through this technique, the physicians determine the sizes and the types of tumors present upon which they prescribe the medication to their patients.

The current mammography guidelines require the women between the ages of 40 to 44 years to start the mammogram screening upon their wish. The women between the age of 45-54 should go through the screening annually. This recommendation to this specific group is prompted by their high probability of contracting the disease. Women at the age of 55 and above are at minimal risk of getting the tumors. Therefore, they should take mammogram tests once every two years (Alexander, 2017). Women with dense breasts are also encouraged to annually go through the mammograms to ensure their safety from the tumors. Such women are at a high risk of mistaking the breast tumors for the density of their breasts. Therefore, they are encouraged to take breast cancer screening to increase the chances of surety. During the mammography test, the gynecologists are encouraged to combine the process with the clinical breast exam to increase the effectiveness of the method (Alexander, 2017). Primarily, mammography guidelines are developed depending on the likelihood of a particular group of women contracting the disease.

References

Alexander, I., Johnson-Mallard, V., Fogel, C., & Woods, N. (2017). Women's health care in advanced practice nursing (2nd edition). New York, NY: Springer. Retrieved from https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Alexander%2C+I.%2C+Johnson-Mallard%2C+V.%2C+Fogel%2C+C.%2C+%26+Woods%2C+N.+%282017%29.+Women%E2%80%99s+health+care+in+advanced+practice+nursing+&btnG=

Ashtarian, H., Mirzabeigi, E., & Khezeli., M. (2017). Knowledge about cervical cancer and pap smear and the factors influencing the pap test screening among women. International Journal of Community Based Nursing and Midwifery. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5385241/

Bibbins-Domingo, K. (2017). Screening for gynecologic conditions with pelvic examination. Clinical Review and Education. Retrieved from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2608228

Castle, P., Feldman, S., & Perkins, R. (2018). The next generation of cervical cancer screening: should guidelines focus on best practices for the future or current screening capacity? Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease. 22(2), 91-96. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc5895142/

Moshkovish, O., Lebrun-Harris, L., Makaroff, L., Chidambaran, P., Chung, M., Sripipatana, A., & Lin, S. (2015). Challenges and opportunities to improve cervical cancer screening rates in Us health centers through patient-centered medical home transformation. Advances in Preventive Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.hindawi.com/journals/apm/2015/182073/