Some women may not need to get a Pap test each year. And teens could skip the test until age 21.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued their newly revised, evidence-based cervical cancer screening guidelines on Friday. They’re published in the December issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

The new guidelines advise that most women under 30 years old should have a cervical screening (Pap test) once every two years rather than annually. Women age 30 and older may be re-screened once every three years provided that they’ve had three consecutive negative cervical cytology test results. According to ACOG, women …read more

While we can’t always prevent cancer, we can do things to help reduce the risk of developing it. Of course, we always hear: eat healthy foods, exercise, don’t smoke. But the message doesn’t seem to be getting through because people still eat junk or high fat foods, still don’t exercise and still smoke.
The Mayo Clinic published 10 tips to reduce cancer risk in their most recent issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource.
Here are the tips and below there’s more explanation:

Stop smoking
Limit alcohol intake – some alcohol is okay, too much is not
Follow recommended intake of fruits and vegetable (daily!)
Decrease the …read more

Whether you agree with the new HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines or not, one has to be fair about the news that comes out about it. Last week, it was widely reported that a 14-year-old British girl died after receiving the Cervarix vaccine. This vaccine is being given to young women and adolescent girls to reduce the risk of contracting some types of HPV, which are known to cause a significant number of cervical cancer cases.
Sadly, Natalie, the 14-year-old, became ill shortly after being vaccinated and she died not long after. Of course, it wasn’t hard not to blame the vaccine …read more

Since cervical cancer is caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), some researchers say that implementing national screening programs to detect HPV and vaccinating against it, may make cervical cancer a thing of the past.

In Berlin yesterday, Professor Jack Cuzick of Cancer Research UK told Europe’s largest cancer congress that HPV is “responsible for all cervix cancer.” He says that while the current vaccine only protects against two strains of the virus, soon there will be a vaccine that works against all nine strains. The more effective vaccine, combined with HPV testing, which is more sensitive than the Pap smear, could …read more

…dies of oral cancer. This is how the website Fight Oral Cancer begins its introduction.
Oral cancers, of the tongue, gums, lips or mouth, are in the rise around the world. And the sad fact is that most oral cancers are preventable. According to the American Cancer Society ,
Most oral cancers could be prevented if people did not use tobacco or drink heavily.
Quitting tobacco and limiting alcohol use sharply reduce any risk of developing oral cancer, even after many years of use. Many oral cancers may be found early by a combination of routine screening examinations by a …read more

Last month, I wrote a feature on the new human papillomavirus (HPV) tests: HPV HR and HPV 16/18.
The HPV tests were recently approved by the FDA, but what does that mean for you? Dr. Michael A. Gold has some answers for you.
Dr. Gold is Associate Professor and Division Director of Gynecologic Oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He sits on the board of the American Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology and is an active member of many professional societies. He also conducts research in cervical cancer and pre-cancererous abnormalities.
Are HPV tests recommended in addition to Pap smears for …read more

We’ll never know why certain things happen to people. We trust (at least I do) that there is a plan for it all, and that things happen for a reason. Sometimes when celebrities get saddled with disease it helps raise the issue for the rest of us. That certainly was the case for Jade Goody.

Jade was laid to rest today in England. She died March 22 at the very young age of 27 from cervical cancer. She was the subject of scrutiny and fascination for her often outrageous views. But in the last months …read more

One of the most hotly debated issues when it comes to children is if boys should be circumcised. Unless you do it for religious reasons, the issue can start an argument in no time at all. There are vehement arguments for both sides of the issue and the problem is, it doesn’t seem like anyone is right or wrong because both sides can find studies to back up their beliefs.
A new study out has weighed in on the benefits of circumcision – the potential that it can help prevent the spread of the human papillomavirus (HPV). A few forms of …read more

Jade Goody, a British reality TV star, has died from cervical cancer. She was only 27.

Goody rose to fame as the sometimes impetuous gal from Big Brother, a reality show that films a house full of contestants as they try and live together. She joined the cast in 2002, and quickly gained popularity for her loud and sometimes abrasive ways.

She was evicted from the Big Brother house after an altercation with Shilpa Shetty, a Bollywood Actress. Later, she was invited by the Indian Tourism Office to come to India and even be on their version of Big …read more

Good Morning fabulous people! If you’ve ever checked out my blog So Sioux Me, you know that I have a special place in my heart for girls.
I posted an article this morning about my disappointment that a vaccine to prevent HPV (human papilloma virus) which causes cervical cancer has morphed into an argument about whether girls should have sex.
The issue of whether states will require girls to be vaccinated against HPV upon entering public schools is one most states are currently debating or will debate shortly.
Many are saying it should be the parents’ right to choose whether their child should be vaccinated.
My position …read more