Cervical cancer is a major concern for both cervical and vaginal health.
Medical professionals advise screenings and learning more about cervical cancer as crucial part of public health. To recognize this, medical professionals recognize January as Cervical Health Awareness Month. With over 14,000 people in America diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer every year, both treatment and early diagnoses are a pressing matter. Learning more about cervical cancer as a public health matter and an ongoing research endeavor is essential to Cervical Health Awareness Month. This January, Alliance Orthopedics joins other companies and organizations to highlight this lesser-known type of cancer and ways that it can be prevented and/or addressed.
Various symptoms could be signs of cervical cancer, including harsh menstrual bleeding, bleeding that occurs between or after periods, and persistent pain in your pelvis or back. If any of these symptoms arise, you should contact your primary physician – even if these symptoms are not signs of cancer, they may be signals for other conditions that could be addressed. When they however are signs of cancer, being quick to seek further treatment is a major priority. The quicker you are diagnosed, the higher your chances to recover and respond during earlier stages of cancer.
There are various methods of treatment for cervical cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation are two of the most common treatments. If circumstances allow, surgery can be used to remove the cancer cells as well. Different medical professionals become involved in the process by forming treatment plans for this condition, from gynecologists to radiation oncologists. Maintaining communication with each specialist on your team is vital to maximizing your recovery options and giving you the best chances of getting better.
Even if a person does not have cervical cancer, that doesn’t mean they should refrain from taking care of their cervical region, since other medical problems can also arise. For one, regular pap smear tests can be very important in checking for abnormalities in your cervix. Furthermore, modern pap smear tests also check for HPV and similar diseases, so they have a practical use as well. If a pap smear test comes back abnormally, follow up on it as soon as possible to minimize risks. In addition, protected sex and getting vaccinated for HPV are additional ways to practice cervical health and care.
Alongside the efforts of Cervical Health Awareness Month, The American Cancer Society, a volunteer organization meant to inform about and destroy cancer, has a Cancer Action Network for specific projects and promoting awareness. As part of this, one of the CAN’s goals is to push for political action to aid in their crusade against cancer. In regards to cervical cancer, the ACS CAN has pushed for Congress to increase funding for breast and cervical cancer research that can lead to life-saving medical breakthroughs. The ACS also looks at this issue from an international level; out of the 265,000 women that get cervical cancer each year, 90% of deaths occur in lower and middle-income countries.
Cervical Health Awareness Month is an important reminder that screening and awareness are vital to a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, being aware of the political and social efforts to improve cervical health worldwide is just as important.
Sources:
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. (n.d.). Breast and cervical cancer. American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://www.fightcancer.org/what-we-do/breast-and-cervical-cancer?_ga=2.169326945.1338676049.1639529092-369904778.1639529090.
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. (n.d.). Global Cervical Cancer. American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://www.fightcancer.org/what-we-do/global-cervical-cancer?_ga=2.169326945.1338676049.1639529092-369904778.1639529090.
American Sexual Health Association. (n.d.). Cervical Health Awareness Month. National Cervical Cancer Association. Retrieved December 8, 2021, from https://www.nccc-online.org/cervical-health-awareness-month/.
American Society of Clinical Oncology. (2021, February 26). Cervical Cancer: Symptoms and Signs. Cancer.Net. Retrieved December 12, 2021, from https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/cervical-cancer/symptoms-and-signs.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, January 12). How Is Cervical Cancer Diagnosed and Treated? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/basic_info/diagnosis_treatment.htm.
RMANY. (2019, January 14). Ways to Keep your Cervix Healthy. Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York. Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://www.rmany.com/blog/ways-to-keep-your-cervix-healthy.