Smear tests: the facts

Smear tests: the facts that every woman should know

By Dr Ellie Cannon Read the original article here

 It is a routine medical procedure that most women hate having - a smear test to check for cervical cancer.

With Big Brother celebrity Jade Goody the most high-profile case of a young woman suffering from the disease, it is clear that ignoring either the warning signs or test results can have dramatic consequences for women aged 25 to 75.

Q: Will my daughter need smear tests if she’s had the new HPV vaccine? Read more

Pap Test for Older Women

As an older woman, this page can provide you with answers to commonly asked questions from older women about Pap tests, HPV, and the Medicare benefit for Pap test screening.

If it has been a number of years since your last Pap test, or if you have never had a Pap test at all, this information can help put you more at ease during your appointment with your doctor or clinician.
What is a Pap test?
A Pap test finds problems that can be treated before they turn into cervical cancer. A Pap test also can find cancer early. If cervical cancer is found early, it’s easier to cure.
Could I have cervical cancer and not know it?
YES–often cervical cancer does not cause pain or other symptoms.
Read more

Girl Meets Doctor

This post is about Ovarian cancer but it tells a story about how important it is to find a “good” doctor To see the original post please visit the blog Journey To The Highlands

When I walked into the Gynocologic Oncology clinic at Magee Women’s Hospital this morning the first person I saw was a woman wearing a scarf to conceal her lack of hair. That made my stomach tighten a little but I pushed on in. After I checked in and filled out the registration paperwork I took a seat in the waiting room. It was very strange to be there. I half expected Ashton Kutcher to jump out and tell me I had been Punk’d. No such luck, though. Ashton never showed his cute little face. My name was finally called and I followed a nice nurse even further into this little adventure of mine. After taking my vitals she showed me to an office where I waited to meet one Dr. Thomas Krivak.You know how you get a feeling about people when you first meet them? Good or bad, there is always a gut feeling. Well, I got a good one. He is very down to earth and relaxed and when we talked it was more like just having a conversation not ‘my first consultation with the cancer surgeon’. Read more

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