Cervical Cancer Awareness
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. We at Tide are here to educate you about the risks and symptoms of Cervical Cancer, as well as the importance of routine screening. Cancer has affected a significant number of people’s lives in some way and there is a constant push to find a cure. In 2020 there were 1,806,590 reported new cancer cases in the United States alone. From that total, 13,800 were reported cases of cervical and uterine cancer, of which 4,290 cases were fatal.
What you Need to Know About Cervical Cancer
All women are at risk for Cervical Cancer and it most often occurs in those over the age of 30. Currently, cervical cancer affects about 1 in 125 American women. Cervical Cancer starts in the cell lining of the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus, also referred to as the womb. Just as there are many different cancers, there are different types of cervical cancer as well.
According to the American Cancer Society, The three most common types of cervical cancer are squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.
- Most (up to 9 out of 10) cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. These cancers develop from cells in the exocervix. Squamous cell carcinomas most often begin in the transformation zone (where the exocervix joins the endocervix).
- Most of the other cervical cancers are adenocarcinomas. Adenocarcinomas are cancers that develop from glandular cells. Cervical adenocarcinoma develops from the mucus-producing gland cells of the endocervix.
- Less commonly, cervical cancers have features of both squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. These are called adenosquamous carcinomasor mixed carcinomas
What are the Causes and Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer?
Recent research has seen a great deal of progress in identifying the causes and risk factors of Cervical Cancer. As research advances in identifying these common factors it is also helping women everywhere to detect it early, leading to greater survival and recovery rates.
The most common causes and risk factors for Cervical Cancer are:
- Genetics: Like many different types of cancers, can be caused by genetic DNA mutations that can turn on oncogenes or turn off tumor suppressor genes.
- Human papillomaviruses (HPV) – A common virus that can be sexually transmitted from one person to another. there are many different types of HPV and some types can cause cervical cancer because the virus has two proteins known as E6 and E7 that can switch off tumor suppressor genes and allow overgrowth of the cells lining in the cervix, which can potentially lead to cancer.
- HIV – the virus that causes AIDS) or another condition that makes it hard for your body to fight off health problems.
- Smoking.
- Long-term use of some contraceptives including birth control pills (five or more years).
- Giving birth to three or more children.
- Multiple sexual partners or high-risk sexual behavior.
What can you do to reduce the risk of Cervical Cancer?
The most important thing you can do to reduce the risk of cervical cancer is to have regular screenings, which include PAP and HPV tests. Women, approximately ages 25-65 years old should be regularly screened every three years. Women should talk to their Primary Care Physician (PCP) or Gynecologist for more information about how the tests are performed and how to schedule an appointment. For those who may not have a PCP or Gynocologist, womenshealth.gov has great resources on how to get tested, including:
- If you have insurance, check with your insurance provider to find out what’s included in your plan.
- If you don’t have insurance, find a program near you that offers free or low-cost Pap and HPV tests.
- If you have Medicare, find out how often Medicare covers Pap and HPV tests and pelvic exams.
- If you have Medicaid, the benefits covered are different in each state, but certain benefits must be covered. Check with your state’s Medicaid program to find out what’s covered.
How Tide Labs Can Help in Preventing Cervical Cancer
Tide Laboratories offers Advanced Diagnostic Testing, including a Women’s Health Panel, for Physicians, Clinicians, and Health Care Facilities. We enable healthcare providers to perform an accurate overall women’s health screening for the prevention and detection of HPV, and STI’s. Our goal is to provide clear, accurate diagnostic reports, empowering clinicians to make the most informed treatment decisions for their patients.
Tide provides a Women’s health STI and HPV panel to OB/GYN clinicians that will best benefit the patient with accurate and quick results.
The benefits of Tide Lab’s molecular testing Women’s Health panel:
- Expedited patient results
- Can be performed along with PAP Smear
- Identifies pathogens that are difficult to culture
- Yields greater than 95% analytical sensitivity and specificity
- The simplicity of a single sample collection
- Direct access to experienced scientific staff
- Personal customer service experience
What Pathogens does our Women’s Health STI and HPV Panels Test For?
Tide Laboratories provides OB/GYN clinicians with the latest in molecular diagnostic testing, allowing for fast, accurate and comprehensive screenings across a broad spectrum of pathogens and genetically influenced conditions.
The following Pathogens Detected are:
[row][column size=”col-md-6″] Pathogens:- Atopobium vaginae
- BVAB2
- Candida albicans
- Candida glabrata
- Candida parapsilosis
- Candida tropicalis
- Escherichia coli
- Enterococcus faecalis
- Gardnerella vaginalis
- Lactobacillus crispatus
- Lactobacillus iners
- Lactobacillus jensenii
- Mycoplasma hominis
- Megasphaera 1 & 2
- Streptococcus agalactiae
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Ureaplasma urealyticum
- Chlamydia trachomatis
- Gardnerella vaginalis
- Haemophilus ducreyi
- Herpes simplex 1
- Herpes simplex 2
- Mycoplasma genitalium
- Mycoplasma hominis
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae
- Treponema pallidum
- Trichomonas vaginalis
- Ureaplasma urealyticum
- Endogenous Control
It is so important to bring awareness to those at risk and normalize the importance of regular health screenings and proper education on the risk factors and causes of Cervical Cancer. Tide is proud to be a part of the prevention and early detection of Cervical Cancer with our Women’s Health STI and HPV Panel and to bring awareness to others about Cervical Cancer, not just for the month of January but all year-round.
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