New Recommendations - What's the Price?

Guest comment by Sam L., SBI Health Education intern

As you may know from local newspapers and national news reporters, there have been recommendations on biannual Pap smear testing and the limiting of mammogram testing. The biannual Pap smear testing has been advised through the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). They recommended that women have a Pap smear test every two years instead of annually. Women have been advised that they should have annual check-ups with their gynecologists by their primary gynecologists and physicians. MSNBC suggests that the government is trying to cut health costs by making this adjustment. The New York Times said, “Dr. Iglesia (ACOG) said that the argument for changing Pap screening is more compelling than that for cutting back on mammography…because there is more potential for harm from the overuse of Pap test.” She also suggests that young women are more prone to abnormalities that clear up on their own.

Women should have the right to have annual testing, not just to know whether or not they may have cervical cancer, but also to know their “status.” Pap smears have become a part of an annual check-up when visiting the gynecologist’s office. It also provides as a screening tool for women who may contract HPV. Certain strands of HPV may cause cervical cancer.

The new recommendations regarding mammogram screenings issued through the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) suggested that women ages 40-49 do not need mammograms. Their reasoning for the cut-back is that they believe that out of 1,900 women between the ages of 40 to 49, only statistically one would have breast cancer. It would only save one life. However, many oncologists believe that their primary reason for their job is to save that one life. Mammograms may provide them the information they need to save that life. They disagree with the USPSTF recommendations, and this reaction is apparent. According to CNN, Dr. Therese Bevers discussed her feelings and reactions on the new recommendations for mammograms. She said, “You have to screen more women. It’s the value we put on zero women dying.” Their ultimate purpose for their jobs is to save that “one” life.

Women should have the right to have annual testing, whether it is a Pap smear or a mammogram, at any age. Women should be able to prevent the spread of cancer throughout their body at any point of time, and they should be able to know their status at any point in time in their life. There should not be an age limit on the amount of services that are given.

Issue on new guidelines for Pap smears:
http://www.acog.org/from_home/publications/press_releases/nr11-20-09.cfm

Issue on new mammogram recommendations:
http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspsbrca.htm

HPV Transmission

It is estimated that 80% of women will get HPV at some point in their lifetime.

HPV is easily spread. Any type of genital contact with someone who has human papillomavirus (HPV) can put you at risk — intercourse isn’t necessary. And since there are often no signs or symptoms, many people don’t even know they have HPV. That means HPV transmission can happen without anyone knowing it.

There are about 6 million new cases of genital HPV in the United States each year.*

*Number represents more than 30 genital HPV types, not just HPV Types 6, 11, 16, and 18.

For more information about how you can prevent HPV transmission:
http://www.gardasil.com/hpv/pap-test/HPV-protection/index.html

The link between HPV and Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix (the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina). Unlike other cancers, cervical cancer is not passed down through family genes. It’s caused by certain types of a virus, human papillomavirus (HPV).

When a woman becomes infected with certain types of HPV, and the virus doesn’t go away on its own, abnormal cells can develop in the lining of the cervix. If these cells are not found early and treated, precancers and then cancer can develop.

While half of all women diagnosed with cervical cancer are between 35 and 55 years old, many of these women were probably exposed to cancer-causing HPV types in their teens or 20s.

For more information about Cervical Cancer:
http://www.gardasil.com/hpv/human-papillomavirus/cervical-cancer/

Learn more about Gardasil, the HPV vaccine:
http://www.gardasil.com/