Dr. Kim Addresses Cervical Cancer

Watseka, Illinois - January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. It is a time that Dr. Kim, OB/GYN and women's health expert, is reminding women of the importance of annual exams to screen for Cervical Cancer.

"Fifty years ago Cervical Cancer was the leading cause of cancer deaths in women," said Dr. Kim. "Today, because of the Pap test and the HPV vaccine, Cervical Cancer has become the most preventable cancer in women," he said. Despite this fact, over 13,000 women in the United States will develop the disease and approximately 4,000 women will die from it. According to Dr. Kim, many of these cases will go undetected-until it is too late because many women do not have their annual exams, which includes a Pap test and pelvic exam.

The HPV virus is a common cause for Cervical Cancer. The HPV virus is a sexually transmitted virus that usually goes away by itself. Often people infected with the HPV virus never even know they have it. HPV is one of a family of viruses that causes common warts, genital warts and plantar warts in addition to Cervical Cancer.

In most women, the body's immune system destroys the HPV infection and the cells in the cervix return to normal. However, some HPV infections do not go away and may remain present in the cervical cells for years. Long-standing infections can lead to changes in the cells that can progress to cancer.

In the early stages of cervical cancer, there are few symptoms. Symptoms that do warrant a follow-up with your health provider include:
An unusual amount of vaginal discharge which may be bloody or foul smelling.
Bleeding between periods or after sexual intercourse.
Heavy blood flow during the menstrual period or flow that lasts longer than usual.
Pain during intercourse.
Pelvic pain unrelated to intercourse.

The Pap test can discover changes in the cervix before it can become cancerous. The chance of being cured is much higher when the cancer is found in its early stages before it has spread. All women should start having an annual Pap test by age 21.

"All females should consider getting the HPV vaccination. The three shot vaccine can begin in girls as young as age eleven and should be received before age twenty-six," recommends Dr. Kim. If a female is over the age of 26, and still tests negative for HPV infection, they can still receive the vaccine. HPV vaccine can prevent cervical cancer, and other HPV illnesses and cancers.

To schedule your Pap test with Dr. Kim please call the Iroquois Women's Health Clinic located at 624 South Fifth Street, Watseka at 815.432.0740.