Download The summary of preventive examinations

The summary of preventive
examinations- cervical cancer
Agnieszka Wrzesińska,
MD
Project entitled „Equal in health – prevention and early detection of cancers as well as health promotion in the Poviat of
Kwidzyn” co-financed by Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 and State budget within the Programme PL13 Reducing
social inequalities in health
Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer - statistics
• Cervical cancer is the SECOND, after breast cancer,
most common cancer in the world which affects women.
• 500 thousand of women are affected by this dangerous
disease every year, 270 thousand of them die. 60
thousand are affected in Europe and 30 thousand
die...
• Over 3600 NEW CASES each year in Poland, 1800
women DIE.
• According to statistical data, INCIDENCE RATE AND
MORTALITY RATE from cervical cancer in POLAND
gives her one of the TOP rates among the countries of
the European Union.
Cervical cancer = statistics
Naked truth about cervical cancer
• Cervical cancer is a threat for every women,
irrespective of her age, social status or
lifestyle. This disease can ruin the chance for
maternity.
• Unfortunately, it often leads to death in
Poland.
• Still not enough women know that cervical
cancer might be prevented in a simple way –
through regular performance of cytological
examination!
Cervical cancer – silent killer
• Cervical cancer can develop for years hardly ever
giving any symptoms at the beginning.
• 60% of cervical cancer is identified very late in
Poland – in a second or even third stage of
advancement when the treatment could be less
effective.
• Women visit their doctor only when they observe
alarming symptoms which could be the evidence of
an advanced stage of cancer. If it concerns you,
please do not delay the visit at the gynaecologist's!
The possible symptoms of cervical
cancer:
• abnormal vaginal bleeding (bleeding between
regular periods, periodical bleeding which lasts
longer and is more profuse than usual, bleeding
after menopause),
• contact bleeding (after sexual intercourse,
shower or gynaecological examination),
• profuse vaginal discharge,
• pain during sexual intercourse,
• pain in lower abdomen,
Risk factors of the cancer
development
• chronic infection with human papillomavirus
(HPV type 16, 18),
• age between 45 and 55,
• many sexual partners,
• early beginning of sexual life (c.16 years old),
• many childbirths,
• vaginal inflammations found earlier, changes
indicated in pap smears,
• smoking cigarettes,
• longlasting hormonal contraception,
• diet low in antioxidants,
HPV (human papilloma virus)
HPV (human papillomavirus)
• There are over 100 types of the virus.
• HPV virus is usually sexually transmitted and also as
a result of having contact with the skin of your partner's
sexual organs.
• The majority of HPV infections gives no symptoms and
remit spontaneously but some of them might cause
cancer.
• Cancer is a result of oncogenic types.
• Types 16 and 18 are responsible for over 70% of
infections which lead to te development of abnormal
cells and as a consequence to the development of
cancer.
The most effective method of
cervical cancer prevention is the
combination of vaccinations
against HPV and the performance
of regular pap smear.
Cytological examination (pap smear)
• A pap test is a first and most important
diagnostic examination which allows to detect
not only an advanced stage of cancer but also
the preceeding stages which are often curable.
• It allows to define the condition of the cells of
endocervix and extocervix taken by a one-off
professional brush.
• It is the easiest and non-invasive way of
detecting cancerous changes within the
cervix.
Cytology saves your life!
• Cytology should be performed by every sexually
active women and every women who begins her
sexual life.
• It is advisable to have a pap smear done between 10
and 18 day of menstrual cycle, at least 2 days after
the period or 5 days before.
• According to statistics 60% of women who suffer
from cervical cancer have never pap smear done!
• Only 1/3 of women perform regular cytological
examination in Poland!
Cytology saves your life!
• It is advised to perform the examination once a
year (at least every 3 years).
• It allows to detect really minor precancerous
changes in the cervix and as a consequence the
treatment might be applied quickly and effectively.
• The crux of cytology is not only the detection of
cancer but also the assurance that everything in our
body is in order.
• All women between the age of 25-59 are
subjected to free-of-charge cytological
examination within National Health Fund once
every three years.
What if…?
• If there are any abnormalities in cytological
examination then the next stage is the biopsy
from the cervix area where we suspect the
appearance of cancerous change.
• The biopsy is taken by a colposcope – optical
device allowing the observation of the cervix and
the interior of the cervix in a great enlargement.
• Only the result of histopathological examination
allows to diagnose with a preinvasive cancer or
invasive and the beginning of an appropriate
treatment.
Therefore…
You do not have to die from
cervical cancer!
Do the pap smear!
„Equal in health”
• The following number of preventive
examinations has been performed till today
within the project „Equal in health –
prevention and early detection of cancers as
well as health promotion in the Poviat of
Kwidzyn” :
- Laboratory examination (morphology with
smear) – 2351,
- gynaecological consultation – 960,
- transvaginal ultrasound examination – 480,
- cytological examination – 2352,
- colposcopic examination– 66.
In the end…
Thank you for your
attention
Project entitled „Equal in health – prevention and early detection of cancers as well as health promotion in the Poviat of
Kwidzyn” co-financed by Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 and State budget within the Programme PL13 Reducing
social inequalities in health