Cervical Cancer -- Screening Works

Cervical Cancer – Screening Works
Cervical cancer is one of the most common reproductive cancers in females, but women can take steps to greatly reduce their risk of developing it.

“Many cervical cancer cases could be prevented, or at least caught early, if all women received proper screening for this disease,” says Robert Miller, M.D., oncologist at Wellspring Oncology in Pinellas Park, Florida. “Simply visiting your gynecologist once a year can greatly reduce a woman’s risk.”

Though cervical cancer was once the leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States, cases have dropped significantly over the past 50 years. This sharp decrease is largely due to the development of better medical screening for women.  Still, this year approximately 12,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cervical cancer. Nearly one-third of these women will not survive this disease.

Am I At Risk?
“Cervical cancer doesn’t discriminate,” says Miller. “All women of all ages are at risk for developing the disease. However, there are certain factors that can increase a woman’s risk.”

The most common cause of cervical cancer is the. This virus is passed from one person to another through sexual contact and can infect the cervix. However, for most women, HPV will go away on its own without ever causing cervical cancer. Only a very small number of women infected with HPV will develop cancer of the cervix.

While HPV is the primary cause of cervical cancer, it is not the only factor that can increase a woman’s risk. Other known risk factors for cervical cancer include:
Smoking
Human papilloma virus, or HPV
Extended use of birth control pills
Giving birth to three or more children
Multiple sexual partners or sexual activity at a young age
HIV or other immune system disorders
Irregular screening history

The best ways to reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer is through regular pap tests to screen for precancerous cervical cells and by following-up with your doctor, should the test come back abnormal.

WellSpring Oncology  Doctors Robert Miller, Zucel Solc and Frank Franzese, at

6600 Sixty Sixth Street North

in Pinellas Park, Florida. For more information, contact WellSpring Oncology at (727) 343-0600 or visit them online at http://www.wellspringoncology.org/.