What is Cancer? 

Cancer occurs when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Normal cells divide and grow in an orderly way. Cancer cells do not. Cancer cells keep growing and crowd out normal cells. There are many kinds of cancer. However, they all have this out-of-control cell growth in common.  www.cancer.org

What is Cancer of the Cervix?

The cervix is the lower part of the womb (uterus). The uterus has two parts. The upper part, called the body of the uterus, is where the baby grows. The cervix, in the lower part, connects the body of the uterus to the vagina, or birth canal.  www.digene.com

Cancer of the cervix (also called "cervical cancer") begins in the lining of the cervix. This cancer does not form suddenly. First, some cells begin to change from normal to pre-cancer and then to cancer. This can take a number of years, although sometimes it happens more quickly. These changes are referred to by several terms, including dysphasia. For some women, these changes may go away without any treatment. More often, they need to be treated to keep them from changing into true cancers.  www.cancer.org

How many women can get Cervical Cancer?

1.       Cervical cancer is highly preventable through early detection.  All national organizations dedicated to the prevention of cancer recommend early detection such as (pap smear) as a way to prevent cervical cancer.  www.webmd.com

2.       If detected during the early stages, it is practically 100% curable.  www.webmd.com

3.       The American Cancer Society predicts that there will be about 11,270 new cases of invasive cervical cancer in the US in 2009. www.cancer.org

4.       About 4,070 women will die from this disease. Some researchers think that non-invasive cervical cancer is about 4 times as common as the invasive type.  Pa ranked #4 with 500 women passing away from cervical cancer in 2009.  www.cancer.org

5.       For women between the ages of 20~39, cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death behind breast cancer.  www.cancer.org

6.       Cervical cancer was once one of the most common causes of cancer death for American women. However, since 1955, the number of deaths from cervical cancer has declined significantly. Then, between 1955 and 1992, the cervical cancer death rate declined by 74%. The main reason for this change was the increased use of the Pap test. www.cancer.org

What is a Pap test?

The Pap test is a routine screening test used to identify abnormal cell changes of the cervix and to screen for cervical cancer. Regular Pap test screening is the single most important tool in identifying and treating cervical cell changes before they progress to cervical cancer. If cervical cancer is suspected, your health professional will take a medical history and perform a physical exam, including a pelvic exam and a Pap test. Several follow-up tests may be needed for evaluation and treatment.  www.webmd.com

How important is the Pap test?

In many developing countries, cervical cancer is the major cause of cancer deaths in women. This is largely because they do not have access to Pap tests. Even in the United States, statistics show that between 60% and 80% of women with cervical cancer has not had a Pap test in the past 5 years. Many have never had the test at all. This is especially true of the elderly, African-Americans, and women with low incomes.  www.cancer.org

            Steps you can follow to make your Pap test more accurate:

    § Try not to schedule an appointment for a time during your menstrual period.

  § Do not douche for 48 hours before the test.

  § Do not have sex for 48 hours before the test.

  § Do not use tampons, birth control foams, jellies or other vaginal creams or medicines for 48 hours before the test.

1.       You should have your first Pap test within 3 years of the onset of sexual intercourse, or at age 18, no later than 21. Beginning at the age of 30, many women who have had 3 normal Pap test results in a row may be tested less often - every 2 to 3 years.

2.       Women who have had a total hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and cervix) may choose to stop having cervical cancer testing, unless the surgery was done as a treatment for cervical cancer or pre-cancer. Women who have had a hysterectomy without removal of the cervix (a supra-cervical hysterectomy) need to continue cervical cancer screening. They should continue to follow the guidelines above.

3.       Women 70 years of age or older who have had 3 or more normal Pap test results in a row and no abnormal Pap test results in the last 10 years may choose to stop having cervical cancer testing. Women with a history of cervical cancer, DES exposure before birth, HIV infection, or a weakened immune system should continue to have testing as long as they are in good health. www.cancer.org

What is HPV (Human Papillomavirus)?

HPV is a virus recognized as a risk factor for development of cervical cancer.  It is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, with experts estimating that over 20 million Americans are currently infected.  There are over 70 known types of HPV.  Thirteen of these types are called high-risk because they are cancer related.  In almost all cases, a healthy immune system will suppress or clear the virus, including the cancer-related types.  Most women with HPV will not develop cervical cancer.  However, if HPV infection remains over many years, there is a greater chance of developing cell changes that may lead to cervical cancer. www.cancer.org

Who should be tested for HPV?

The DNAwithPap test is approved by the FDA for routine screening of women aged 30 and over in combination with a Pap test.  Studies show that a negative HPV test and a normal Pap test result means that you most likely have a low risk of having or getting cervical disease or cancer before your next regular doctor visit. www.cancer.org

What if you have a normal Pap result, but a positive HPV test result?

A positive HPV result with a normal Pap result does not mean you will develop cervical cancer.  However, following current cervical cancer screening guidelines, your doctor will likely want to monitor you more frequently than a woman who is HPV negative.  Your doctor, in consultation with you, will determine the most appropriate follow-up for your situation. www.cancer.org

Can HPV infections be treated?

While there is currently no treatment available for the virus itself, treatments do exist for the problems HPV can cause, such as cervical cell changes or genital warts.  Your healthcare provider will discuss appropriate treatment options with you. www.cancer.org

What is Gardasil?

Gardasil is a vaccine, licensed for use in June 2006, by the FDA. It targets four strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) -- HPV-6, 11, 16, and 18. HPV-16 and HPV-18 account for about 70% of all cervical cancers. HPV-6 and -11 cause about 90% of genital warts. HPV is also linked to anal cancer. www.webmd.com

How does HPV spread?

Sexual activity spreads the virus, a very common one. It's one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the country, according to the CDC, with more than 20 million people currently infected and another 6.2 million contracting the virus each year.

About half of those with HPV are aged 15 to 24. Surveys suggest 3.7% of U.S. girls have sex by age 13, and 62.4% have had sex by the 12th grade. www.webmd.com

Who should get the vaccine?

Gardasil is approved by the FDA for girls and women ages 9 to 26. The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that the vaccine be given routinely to girls at age 11 to 18 years old, although doctors may choose to vaccinate girls as young as 9. The CDC also recommends the vaccine for women age 13 to 26 who did not receive the vaccine at an earlier age.  However, if a girl or woman is already infected with HPV, the vaccine will not prevent that strain of HPV from causing disease. It will protect against new infections with other strains of HPV included in the vaccine.  The vaccine is also being studied in women up to age 45, although that group may be targeted for the vaccine later.   www.digene.com

The vaccine is being studied in males, too. Men can get HPV infections and can pass the virus to their sex partners. HPV causes genital warts and is associated with rare cases of cancer of the penis. Particularly in gay men, HPV is linked to anal cancers. Merck is currently testing Gardisal in men, including gay men. www.webmd.com

What is the best way to talk to my daughter about this?

Emphasize that the primary goal is to help prevent cervical cancer. If you, as a parent, are worried this will give your child a false sense of security that she can't catch a sexually transmitted infection from sexual activity, you can also emphasize that the vaccine only protects against certain strains of HPV -- not against any of the many other types of sexually transmitted infections. www.webmd.com

Does Gardasil protect against all cervical cancers?

No. The vaccine does protect against the strains of HPV most likely to cause cancer. But it does not protect against all HPV strains. www.digene.com

However, recent reports suggest that the vaccine may give wider protection than originally thought. There is preliminary evidence it may offer some protection against other HPV strains, which cause 8% or 9% of cervical cancers. www.webmd.com

How effective is the new vaccine?

Studies have shown it is 100% effective in the prevention of cervical precancers and noninvasive cervical cancers caused by HPV-16 and 18 in those not already exposed to those strains, according to Merck & Co. Inc., which makes Gardasil. Merck is a WebMD sponsor. www.webmd.com

If someone is already sexually active, will this vaccine still work?

If a person has been infected with any of the four strains the vaccine protects against, the vaccine won't provide protection against that type. But it will prevent infection from the other three. www.webmd.com

How long is Gardasil effective?

Research suggests the vaccine lasts at least four years. Long-term results are not yet certain. The protection might last longer. www.webmd.com

Does the vaccine actually contain HPV or any live virus?

No. It has a virus-like particle, but not the actual virus. www.webmd.com

Is Gardasil safe?

Clinical trial data have found it is safe. www.webmd.com

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