Helpful Tool to Screen for Cervical Cancer
- Actress Pam Grier, 76, recently launched a new streaming channel on Roku. This comes more than 30 years after initially being told she only had 18 months to live amid a stage 4 cervical cancer diagnosis in 1988.
- Cervical cancer begins in the cells lining the cervix, the lower part of the womb (uterus). It usually develops slowly, however, before cancer presents itself. Vaginal bleeding or pelvic pain are common symptoms.
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an at-home cervical cancer test called the Teal Wand. A study leading to its approval saw a 96% accuracy rate.
- More than 70% of cases of cervical cancer are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). More than 90% of HPV-related cancers, including cervical cancer, are preventable in people who get the HPV vaccine that is recommended for all preteens (both girls and boys) 11 to 12 years old.
- The human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a group of more than 200 related viruses, some of which are spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex, according to the National Cancer Institute. It can cause a handful of cancers, including cervical and throat cancers.
- HPV-related throat cancers are generally very responsive to a combination of radiation and chemotherapy treatments.
- The HPV vaccine, like Gardasil 9, offers protection against “nine HPV types” and creates an immune response to HPV 16, the primary cause of 92% of head and neck cancers.
Now 76, the legendary star of Foxy Brown and Coffy is launching her own streaming channel on Roku, showcasing her groundbreaking film legacy while shining a light on the disease that affects thousands of women each year.
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Cervical cancer begins in the cells lining the cervix, the lower part of the womb (uterus). It usually develops slowly, however, before cancer presents itself. Vaginal bleeding or pelvic pain are common symptoms. Women concerned about their cervical cancer risk may be wondering what they can do to mitigate their risk. A new cervical cancer screening test called the Teal Wand was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).The Teal Wand is available for women aged 25 to 65 at average risk for cervical cancer. It works by collecting a sample on the swab provided in the kit and mailing the completed test to the lab.
The FDA approval followed the SELF-CERV study, which “confirmed that self-collected samples using the Teal Wand have the same performance as clinician-collected samples, proven to detect cervical precancer 96% of the time.”
As for Pam Grier, she is still traveling the country, attending conventions, and living comfortably 37 years after being told she only had 18 months to live following her diagnosis in 1988.
More than a decade after infiltrating Hollywood, once the 1980s rolled around, Grier was forced to deal with a setback when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. This type of cancer begins in the cells lining the cervix, the lower part of the womb (uterus). Treatment options for cervical cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Before her diagnosis, Grier was considered to be highly health conscious, running roughly “six miles a day, not eating meat and not abusing her body,” the Guardian reports.
However, a routine pap smear for cervical cancer discovered that she had “abnormal cells,” and the next day, her doctor told her that she only had “18 months to live.”
“They could operate or start treatment for another six weeks, as I’d already had surgery and my body had gone through so much trauma. I was told to start preparing for treatment and to organize my will. I coped from minute to minute. I went home to ponder this two-inch thick folder they give you,” Grier said.
She described her treatment as a “full-time job,” which included chemotherapy.
“In 1988, the C-word meant: ‘Oh my God, you’re going to die. There is no hope. ‘You learn who your friends are when you have cancer.”
Thankfully, Grier’s treatment worked, and she was able to reach remission.
Resources on human papillomavirus (HPV)
- ‘Controversial’ HPV Vaccine Shown to be Highly Effective in Wiping Out Cervical Cancer
- ‘People Need to Know That HPV Can Cause These Cancers’: Survivor Pushes for HPV Vaccine Education
- Breaking: HPV Vaccine Not Recommended For Adults Over 26, Per New American Cancer Society Guidelines
- Busting the Myths About the HPV Vaccine
- Cancer Doctor Explains Why Her Young Kids Are Getting the HPV Vaccine
Navigating a Cervical Cancer Diagnosis
Cervical cancer forms in the cells of the cervix, the lower, narrow end of the uterus (womb), which connects the uterus to the vagina, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
“Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time. Before cancer appears in the cervix, the cells of the cervix go through changes known as dysplasia, in which abnormal cells begin to appear in the cervical tissue,” the NCI explains.
“Over time, if not destroyed or removed, the abnormal cells may become cancer cells and start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and surrounding areas.”
While symptoms tend to be difficult to detect during cervical cancer’s early stages, some signs can still indicate something is amiss and needs a closer look.
The NCI explains that symptoms of early-stage cervical cancer may include:
- vaginal bleeding after sex
- vaginal bleeding after menopause
- vaginal bleeding between periods or periods that are heavier or longer than normal
- vaginal discharge that is watery and has a strong odor or that contains blood
- pelvic pain or pain during sex
Tools to Help Cervical Cancer Prevention
As noted, a pap smear is an option to detect cervical cancer early. During the test, a doctor will collect a sample of cells from your cervix (using a small brush or spatula). The cells are then examined under a microscope for abnormalities, including cancer and changes that could indicate pre-cancer.
The added value of pap smears is that symptoms of cervical cancer might show up until the disease is at stage 3 or 4 and more challenging to treat. This critical procedure helps doctors catch signs of the disease early. Furthermore, pap smears can lead to broader and more effective treatment options.
One of the leading causes of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV).
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is “a group of more than 200 related viruses, some of which are spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex,” the National Cancer Institute says. HPV infection is linked to multiple cancers, and the majority of sexually active people will get the disease at some point in their lives.
A study presented during last year’s American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2023 annual meeting found that public awareness of the link between HPV and cervical cancer was on the decline.
“The important thing to know about HPV is that there are many different strains, and only a couple of them tend to be more cancer-inducing,” Dr. Allen Ho, a head and neck surgeon at Cedars-Sinai, told SurvivorNet.
“Probably less than 1% of the population who get infected happen to have the cancer-causing virus that somehow their immune system fails to clear, and over 15 to 20 years [it] develops from a viral infection into a tumor, and cancer,” Dr. Ho added.
Protecting Against HPV
The HPV vaccine is recommended to protect against HPV and, therefore, HPV-related cancers.
Gardasil 9 is an HPV vaccine that offers protection against “nine HPV types: the two low-risk HPV types that cause most genital warts, plus seven high-risk HPV types that cause most HPV-related cancer,” according to the National Cancer Institute.
The vaccine creates an immune response to HPV 16, the primary cause of 92% of head and neck cancers. Once children are vaccinated, they cannot be infected with that strain. For parents, the HPV vaccine enables them to protect their children from developing cancer in the future.
“The key with the vaccine is that you receive it before you have sexual encounters,” says Dr. Geiger. “So that’s why these vaccines are approved for young children … ages 9, 10, 11 years old, up to age 26.”
The HPV vaccine is recommended for all male and female preteens 11 to 12 years old in two doses given between six and 12 months, according to the CDC.
The series of shots can also start as young as nine.
The CDC also notes that teens and young adults through age 26 who didn’t start or finish the HPV vaccine series also need the vaccine.
Additionally, people with weakened immune systems or teens and young adults between 15 and 26 who started the series should get three doses instead of two.
Although adults up to 45 can still receive the vaccine, it’s not recommended for everyone older than 26. Still, a person older than 26 could choose to get vaccinated after talking to their doctor about possible benefits, even despite it being less effective in this age range, as more people have already been exposed to HPV by this point.
WATCH: Should children get the HPV Vaccine?
Vaccine hesitancy can impede people from getting the vaccine. The concern may come from parents who may feel the vaccine paves the way for early sexual activity. For this reason, some health practitioners educate the public differently about the vaccine.
“I think rebranding the vaccine as a cancer vaccine, rather than an STD vaccine, is critically important,” says Dr. Ted Teknos, a head and neck cancer surgeon and scientific director of University Hospital’s Seidman Cancer Center.
Dr. Teknos believes concerted efforts to “change the mindset around the vaccine” can make a difference.
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