Black To Life… For A Healthier You
January 21, 2014 by Las Vegas Black Image Magazine
Filed under Health, Highlights
Cervical cancer: Saving lives with screening, early detection
BY DR. ANNETTE MAYES
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, a time for one of two important reminders: that our yearly pap smear test is overdue, or we are right on target with our health care. Hopefully, you are celebrating the latter.
Cervical cancer is a leading cause of death in women. It is not hereditary; it is developed over time due to an infection that leads, if left untreated, to cancer in the lining of the cervix. With routine visits to your OB-GYN for scheduled pap smears and screenings, cervical cancer can often be avoided. With early detection, it is among the most treatable cancers.
Unfortunately, not all women take advantage of cervical cancer screenings, and about half of the diagnoses in the United States are in women never screened for the disease. Some of the symptoms associated with cervical cancer include: abnormal vaginal bleeding, such as bleeding after sex; bleeding after menopause; bleeding and spotting between periods and having longer or heavier periods than usual; bleeding after douching or a pelvic exam; unusual vaginal discharge; and pain during intercourse.
If you are experiencing any of those symptoms, please contact the Las Vegas All Women’s Care offices at (702) 522-9640, or visit us at 700 Shadow Lane No. 165 (1st floor) in Las Vegas.