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Cancer ? - Cervical Smears -by: Fritz Frei Cancer - Cervical Smears - Women's Health All women at some point in their life will have to have a cervical smear as a part of a health checkup. But do you know exactly what a cervical smear is, and how it can affect, diagnose or treat women's ailments? Read on for more information about this common procedure. Women's Health: What is a Cervical Smear? A cervical smear is a test used on women to tell if there are any changes in the health of the cervix. This is helpful to diagnose the early stages of cancer. The cervix is located at the end of the uterus, and connects to the top of the vagina. There is a central canal that connects the vagina to the inside of the uterus, and it measures approximately 3cm square. Women's Health: Why Have a Cervical Smear? The main reason to have a cervical smear is to monitor the health of the cervix, and to lower the number of women who contract cervical cancer. The smear is targeted to detect early strains of potentially cancerous cells. If caught in time, women's health may not suffer terribly, and the growth of the cancer may not progress further. However, a cervical smear is just a screening process; it won't detect all forms of cancer, all of the time. Women's Health: Who Needs a Cervical Smear? Women who are sexually active, or who are 18 or older (whatever comes first) should take their health in their own hands and have regular cervical smears until the age of 70. A regular smear would be every three years for most women, depending on their health and the results of the last smear. Also, women who are not healthy should have annual smears, such as those with HIV. Women who have had a hysterectomy who have had abnormal pap smears in the past should get themselves checked every year by a health practitioner; there is still a risk of abnormal cell growth at the top of the vaginal canal. Women's Health: How is a Cervical Smear Done? A cervical smear is only taken when women are in good health, and are not bleeding. Any blood that appears during the testing can skew the results unnecessarily. The procedure is performed with women on their backs, and their legs held up in the air by a health practitioner or stirrups. A speculum is placed inside the vagina, so that the health practitioner can view women's cervix closely. Then a brush-like instrument is placed over the cervix, and cells are wiped onto the brush, and then placed onto a glass slide for diagnosis. Women's cervical smears can be done by a health practitioner, such as a doctor or nurse. The procedure usually only takes a couple of minutes, at the most, and isn't painful, although it may be a bit uncomfortable. Health-Service-Online Admin Fritz Frei info@cancer-info.info http://www.cancer-info.info Latest Cancer News:Cancer drug dramatically shrinks prostate tumors, study finds (Los Angeles Times) The survival rate more than doubles among most of the men with aggressive cancers. A second, wider test shows similar results. 'Spectacularly effective,' a researcher says. An experimental cancer drug shrank prostate tumors dramatically and more than doubled survival in 70% to 80% of patients with aggressive cancers, British researchers reported Tuesday. Symphony director's kidney cancer removed (CNN.com) BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- A growth on a kidney removed from conductor James Levine was malignant, but doctors say the cancer was caught early and no further treatment is needed, the Boston Symphony Orchestra said in a statement Tuesday. More Cancer Lymph Nodes Analyzed at Specialty Centers (HealthDay via Yahoo! News) TUESDAY, July 22 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with stomach or pancreatic cancer may have more lymph nodes examined for the spread of cancer if they're treated at designated comprehensive cancer centers or at hospitals that do a high number of cancer surgeries, says a U.S. study. Advance vs. prostate cancer (Denver Post) An experimental cancer drug shrank prostate tumors dramatically and more than doubled survival in 70 percent to 80 percent of patients with aggressive cancers, British researchers reported Tuesday. Drug combats untreatable prostate cancer (UPI) LONDON, July 22 (UPI) -- The Phase 1 clinical trial of the drug abiraterone revealed significant tumor shrinkage in men with advanced prostate cancer, researchers in Britain said. Cancer society bus coming to Naperville, Schaumburg (Daily Herald) The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is on tour, encouraging people to get involved in the political end of the fight against a disease that ranks among the top killers in the country. Prostate cancer drug hailed as breakthrough (The New Zealand Herald) A new prostate cancer drug showing stunning results in Britain could successfully treat hundreds of New Zealand men. Breast cancer survivor to speak at conference (The Press-Enterprise) RIVERSIDE - Nikia Hammonds-Blakely, who survived breast cancer at age 16, will speak about her struggle at the fourth annual Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference on Saturday at Cal Baptist University. Rise in breast cancer among Native women may be leveling (Anchorage Daily News) A mysterious 30-year-long increase in breast cancer rates among Alaska Native women may finally be leveling off -- after tripling between 1969 and 1998. A relaxing way to help fight breast cancer (Daily Herald) When Amy Tabisz was 18 years old her mother died of breast cancer. Celebs That Cancer Can't Hold Back - ABC News
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