maurchclt
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Jul 4, 2014 16:53:27 GMT
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Post by maurchclt on Jan 24, 2017 18:05:11 GMT
For the last few years my dr. has told me that after the age of 65 a PAP was not necessary. Well my mother was diagnosed with uterine cancer at age 78 from a PAP, very unusual, but that's how it happened. My dr. loves me:) so he's continued to give me PAPs. Well last night on the news they had warnings about how more women were dying from cervical cancer. Then I found this article. It's lengthy, but worth the read if it even helps one person.
Cervical cancer is killing women at a higher rate than previously thought
Women’s risk of dying from cervical cancer may be much greater than medical professionals originally thought, according to a new study.
Researchers found that black women in the United States are dying from cervical cancer at a rate 77% higher than previously thought and white women are dying at a rate 47% higher, according to the study published in the journal Cancer on Monday.
The study, led by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers, marks a turn from how cervical cancer mortality rates have been calculated in the past.
To get a more accurate idea of who is getting cervical cancer, the researchers excluded women from the study who’ve had their cervixes removed through hysterectomies, and therefore have zero chance of developing cervical cancer.
"Since the goal of a screening program is to ultimately reduce mortality from cervical cancer, then you must have accurate estimates within the population targeted by those programs -- adult women with a cervix,” study leader Anne F. Rositch, an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the Bloomberg School said in a statement.
According to the American Cancer Society, in 2017, 12,820 new cases of cervical cancer will be diagnosed, and around 4,210 women will die from the disease.
Researchers found that many of the women dying from cervical cancer are over the age of 65. There isn't a great emphasis on screening for women over 65 because it was believed older women had less risk of developing cervical cancer — something Rositch said is dead wrong.
"These data tell us that as long as a woman retains her cervix, it is important that she continue to obtain recommended screening for cervical cancer since the risk of death from the disease remains significant well into older age," Rositch said in the statement.
A simple Pap smear can find cervical cancer in its early stages, or identify changes in the cervix before cancer develops. There are many resources for women including programs like SEE, TEST & TREAT® , which is sponsored by the College of American Pathologists and "provides exams, same day results and a follow up care plan," according to Dr. Crystal Moore, a member of the College of American Pathologists.
“No woman should die of cervical cancer," Moore said in a statement. "The information released today indicates that women of color experience cervical cancer at higher rates than Caucasian women, bringing to light the importance of increased education, outreach and support to ensure that HPV infections and precancerous cervical lesions are identified and treated early.
For the study, researchers analyzed data on cervical cancer mortality rates from theNational Center for Health Statistics and from the National Cancer Institute and then removed the women who reported a hysterectomy.
Rositch said while the research helps understand that black and older women are getting cervical cancer more, it doesn't explain why they are dying at higher rates.
"While trends over time show that the racial disparities gap has been closing somewhat, these data emphasize that it should remain a priority area," Rositch said. "Black women are dying of cervical cancer at twice the rate as white women in the United States, and we need to put in place measures to reverse the trend."
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Post by Zee on Jan 24, 2017 18:19:34 GMT
I saw that last night too, and it raised some questions for me. I'd like to also see the rates on Hispanic and Asian women, and to see if there is some geographical component (rural women with less access to care, poor women with less access to treatment) or if there are any cultural components at all such as older female minorities perhaps not wanting the routine screenings (not wanting a male physician, excessive modesty, that kind of thing, or feeling that once childbearing years are over no one needs to get invasive exams). That's why it would be interesting to see other ethnicities and hear the reasons for not getting screenings, if there is a reason. Another question is, are they dying at a higher rate WITH THE SAME treatment? Are they choosing, or receiving without choosing, less invasive or effective treatments? Are they, for whatever reason, dying from more virulent strains of cervical cancer and therefore even if the treatments are similar, the outcomes aren't (thinking about Henrietta Lacks and her immortal cells, for example)? We know HPV is a precursor to cervical cancer. When these elderly black women were young, were there different strains of the virus being passed around in a more racially segregated community than we might see today?
Really fascinating from a research perspective, and now that we know, hopefully more women will get tested and hopefully more lives saved.
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Post by peace on Jan 24, 2017 19:04:28 GMT
I JUST had this conversation with my gynecologist. She said they aren't supposed to do them after 65 but she has had 3 patients with cancer older than that quite recently so she is refusing to stop offering/recommending them.
I would be interested in the breakdown as well. Thanks for sharing this.
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Post by papersilly on Jan 24, 2017 19:13:25 GMT
i was told i don't need to get them as often as every year but i insist on every 2 years at the very least.
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Post by arielsmom on Jan 24, 2017 19:40:28 GMT
My doctor says if I am in a committed relationship with one person, I only need to have them every 2 to 3 years, which seems reasonable. However, I saw that study this morning and will be interested in finding out more info. I am a DES daughter, so have had additional screenings due to the issues/deformities I have from that drug exposure. I am at higher risk for Cervical cancers, and have had abnormal paps in the past, so wondering what the doc will say this year.
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Post by annabella on Jan 24, 2017 21:22:33 GMT
I just read this article that says that Erin Andrews had cervical cancer. One of the comments says it could come from having the HPV virus. So if women are not getting pap smears every year anymore, does that mean a lot of people will miss getting tested?
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maurchclt
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,623
Jul 4, 2014 16:53:27 GMT
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Post by maurchclt on Jan 24, 2017 22:53:20 GMT
My doctor says if I am in a committed relationship with one person, I only need to have them every 2 to 3 years, which seems reasonable. However, I saw that study this morning and will be interested in finding out more info. I am a DES daughter, so have had additional screenings due to the issues/deformities I have from that drug exposure. I am at higher risk for Cervical cancers, and have had abnormal paps in the past, so wondering what the doc will say this year. I get very proactive when it comes to my health. Like I said, my Dr didn't want to do a PAP, but based on family history I've insisted and he's done it. Now I've got science on my side. Show your Dr the article so you can discuss it together.
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maurchclt
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Posts: 3,623
Jul 4, 2014 16:53:27 GMT
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Post by maurchclt on Jan 24, 2017 22:54:31 GMT
i was told i don't need to get them as often as every year but i insist on every 2 years at the very least. And based on the article, I would have them done every year.
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Post by papersilly on Jan 24, 2017 23:00:09 GMT
i was told i don't need to get them as often as every year but i insist on every 2 years at the very least. And based on the article, I would have them done every year. and having read that article, it makes me want to go back to yearly. my health care provider's new guidelines is 5 years if there is no history or risk factors. 5 years? no way man. never that long.
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Post by terri on Jan 24, 2017 23:05:54 GMT
I have no history of cervical cancer in my family, and I recently found out I have pre-cancerous cervical cell growth. I hope this study changes the regularity and ages of testing.
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Post by AussieMeg on Jan 24, 2017 23:08:01 GMT
I read on this very board last year or the year before that in the US you are now getting pap smears every 5 years rather than every 2 years. They are now going to introduce the same testing schedule in Australia later this year. I don't understand why they would do it less frequently. When I was in my 20s I had a pap smear where they found abnormal cells and I had to have a colposcopy and then laser treatment to get rid of the abnormal cells. If I had got that pap smear 3 years later (so 5 years after my previous one instead of 2 years), those abnormal cells would have been 3 years further along to possibly cancer. ETA: I just googled and found this article that says "the Pap smear will be replaced with the more accurate Cervical Screening Test." I still wonder why the length of time between tests has been increased by 250%.
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Deleted
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May 20, 2024 15:36:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2017 0:05:00 GMT
I had surgery last year for a cervical pre cancer growth. Just went this afternoon for my annual exam. My doctor continues to stress that I need to come yearly.
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Post by annabella on Jan 25, 2017 1:34:55 GMT
I read on this very board last year or the year before that in the US you are now getting pap smears every 5 years rather than every 2 years It used to be every year, now it's every 3 years.
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Post by librarylady on Jan 25, 2017 2:44:09 GMT
My MIL quit having annual exams at some point after 60. At age 89 she was discovered to have vaginal cancer--too far advanced to do anything.
I told my gyn I wanted to continue and she readily agreed that one should have PAP smear and exam at least every 2 years until death.
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jan 25, 2017 3:55:17 GMT
I read on this very board last year or the year before that in the US you are now getting pap smears every 5 years rather than every 2 years It used to be every year, now it's every 3 years. I think it depends on your physician; my clinic was doing them every 3 but has now switched to a default of every 5 years.
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maurchclt
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Posts: 3,623
Jul 4, 2014 16:53:27 GMT
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Post by maurchclt on Jan 25, 2017 4:11:35 GMT
My MIL quit having annual exams at some point after 60. At age 89 she was discovered to have vaginal cancer--too far advanced to do anything. I told my gyn I wanted to continue and she readily agreed that one should have PAP smear and exam at least every 2 years until death. Just crazy, isn't it, I will have it done annually.
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Olan
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Jul 13, 2014 21:23:27 GMT
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Post by Olan on Mar 25, 2017 14:57:51 GMT
I saw that last night too, and it raised some questions for me. I'd like to also see the rates on Hispanic and Asian women, and to see if there is some geographical component (rural women with less access to care, poor women with less access to treatment) or if there are any cultural components at all such as older female minorities perhaps not wanting the routine screenings (not wanting a male physician, excessive modesty, that kind of thing, or feeling that once childbearing years are over no one needs to get invasive exams). That's why it would be interesting to see other ethnicities and hear the reasons for not getting screenings, if there is a reason. Another question is, are they dying at a higher rate WITH THE SAME treatment? Are they choosing, or receiving without choosing, less invasive or effective treatments? Are they, for whatever reason, dying from more virulent strains of cervical cancer and therefore even if the treatments are similar, the outcomes aren't (thinking about Henrietta Lacks and her immortal cells, for example)? We know HPV is a precursor to cervical cancer. When these elderly black women were young, were there different strains of the virus being passed around in a more racially segregated community than we might see today? Really fascinating from a research perspective, and now that we know, hopefully more women will get tested and hopefully more lives saved. Did you see this?
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Post by Zee on Mar 25, 2017 15:29:50 GMT
I saw that last night too, and it raised some questions for me. I'd like to also see the rates on Hispanic and Asian women, and to see if there is some geographical component (rural women with less access to care, poor women with less access to treatment) or if there are any cultural components at all such as older female minorities perhaps not wanting the routine screenings (not wanting a male physician, excessive modesty, that kind of thing, or feeling that once childbearing years are over no one needs to get invasive exams). That's why it would be interesting to see other ethnicities and hear the reasons for not getting screenings, if there is a reason. Another question is, are they dying at a higher rate WITH THE SAME treatment? Are they choosing, or receiving without choosing, less invasive or effective treatments? Are they, for whatever reason, dying from more virulent strains of cervical cancer and therefore even if the treatments are similar, the outcomes aren't (thinking about Henrietta Lacks and her immortal cells, for example)? We know HPV is a precursor to cervical cancer. When these elderly black women were young, were there different strains of the virus being passed around in a more racially segregated community than we might see today? Really fascinating from a research perspective, and now that we know, hopefully more women will get tested and hopefully more lives saved. Did you see this? Did I see what?
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Peal
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Jun 25, 2014 22:45:40 GMT
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Post by Peal on Mar 25, 2017 15:51:53 GMT
According to my Drs it's every 5 years if you've had no previous abnormal tests and test negative for HPV. Then you can go to every 5 years if you want. They have always been happy to do it more often if I wanted.
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Olan
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Post by Olan on Mar 25, 2017 15:55:15 GMT
I was quoting you but speaking to my sister.
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dantemia
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Jun 27, 2014 19:28:17 GMT
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Post by dantemia on Mar 25, 2017 16:16:59 GMT
My gyn told me the recommendation too about being in a committed relationship , previous negative tests, etc etc ... and then she told one of her patients that week met this criteria and came in for her annual pap and she test positive for HPV and her pap was abnormal... guess what, her husband had been sleeping around.
I go every year religiously and she recommends it.
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Post by pondrunner on Mar 25, 2017 16:22:31 GMT
I was quoting you but speaking to my sister. That wasn't exactly clear
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Olan
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Post by Olan on Mar 25, 2017 16:33:34 GMT
I was quoting you but speaking to my sister. That wasn't exactly clear Which is why I didn't hesitate in clearing that up. My sister and I discuss threads over the phone. My partner just goes on our home computer and clicks my screen name but I was talking to her too just for additional clarification.
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Post by hollymolly on Mar 25, 2017 16:47:50 GMT
My previous career was looking for cancerous and pre-cancerous cells on pap smears. Technology has improved since then, but I still base my recommendations on things I saw. I definitely found cancer on women over 65. More than once. I found cancer (vaginal, not cervical) on women with hysterectomies. I did not personally find cancer on someone who was HPV negative, because HPV testing was new by the time I left the career. I'm aware of cases, though. HPV is the leading cause, but not the only cause. I found pre-cancerous cells on paps every single day, and the range was all over the place.
Statistics match what I saw as far as frequency among specific risk populations, but just because you are not high risk doesn't mean you'll never get it. The best way to catch it early is still a pap smear. The best way to survive is still to catch it early.
5 years is not enough. The pap is a screening test. It is not foolproof. The reason to have them more frequently is not just to catch a new abnormality, it's also to catch an abnormality that was missed on the previous pap.
I had a hysterectomy 14 years ago. I still have a pap every other year. I will continue to do so until I'm in my 90's.
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Post by Zee on Mar 25, 2017 18:18:04 GMT
That wasn't exactly clear Which is why I didn't hesitate in clearing that up. My sister and I discuss threads over the phone. My partner just goes on our home computer and clicks my screen name but I was talking to her too just for additional clarification. Did you have a problem with my post?
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maurchclt
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,623
Jul 4, 2014 16:53:27 GMT
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Post by maurchclt on Mar 25, 2017 19:01:34 GMT
My previous career was looking for cancerous and pre-cancerous cells on pap smears. Technology has improved since then, but I still base my recommendations on things I saw. I definitely found cancer on women over 65. More than once. I found cancer (vaginal, not cervical) on women with hysterectomies. I did not personally find cancer on someone who was HPV negative, because HPV testing was new by the time I left the career. I'm aware of cases, though. HPV is the leading cause, but not the only cause. I found pre-cancerous cells on paps every single day, and the range was all over the place. Statistics match what I saw as far as frequency among specific risk populations, but just because you are not high risk doesn't mean you'll never get it. The best way to catch it early is still a pap smear. The best way to survive is still to catch it early. 5 years is not enough. The pap is a screening test. It is not foolproof. The reason to have them more frequently is not just to catch a new abnormality, it's also to catch an abnormality that was missed on the previous pap. I had a hysterectomy 14 years ago. I still have a pap every other year. I will continue to do so until I'm in my 90's. Thank you!! Your post is so important.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Mar 25, 2017 21:09:14 GMT
My doctor does HPV testing. If it is negative and you are in a committed relationship, they say you don't have to have the pap every year. I've been getting them yearly anyway.
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uksue
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Jun 25, 2014 22:33:20 GMT
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Post by uksue on Mar 25, 2017 21:14:18 GMT
I was diagnosed 2 yrs ago next week and had a radical hysterectomy . I was told then it was due to the HPV but no other info was given and I couldn't bear to research at the time ( had found out my ex had been seeing prostitutes for 3 yrs, so it was very raw for me.)
I am now paying for my daughter to have yrly screening as it isnt provided within our NHS.
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Post by lucyg on Mar 25, 2017 21:17:49 GMT
OMG. I am so overdue for a Pap smear. Calling on Monday. Thank you.
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Olan
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Jul 13, 2014 21:23:27 GMT
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Post by Olan on Mar 25, 2017 22:21:40 GMT
Which is why I didn't hesitate in clearing that up. My sister and I discuss threads over the phone. My partner just goes on our home computer and clicks my screen name but I was talking to her too just for additional clarification. Did you have a problem with my post? Did anyone have a problem with your post?
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