Cervical Cancer Screening: A Life-Saving Necessity
Published on:
December 29, 2023
As a woman, it’s important to prioritize your health and well-being. One essential part of this is getting regular cervical cancer screenings. Cervical cancer screenings are not only necessary for early detection, but they also can save your life—literally. Here’s what you need to know about the importance of cervical cancer screenings:
Why You Need to Get Screened?
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers out there—so long as you get screened regularly. The American Cancer Society recommends that women aged 21-29 get a pap test every three years, and those aged 30-65 should get both a pap test and an HPV test every five years. Getting tested on this schedule can help detect any precancerous cells before they turn into full-blown cancer and provide you with the opportunity to get the treatment you need in time.
What Happens During a Screening?
Getting screened for cervical cancer is easy and painless! During screening, your doctor will swab your cervix or collect cells from it(often called a “pap test”) in order to look for any abnormal cell changes that could be precursors to cervical cancer. If these are detected, further testing will be done to determine if anything further needs to be done right away or if any treatments need to be scheduled. All of these tests are non-invasive and quick—the entire process usually takes no more than 30 minutes so you can get back to living your life with peace of mind!
Taking Control of Your Health
Cervical cancer screenings aren’t just necessary; they’re empowering too. Knowing that you are taking proactive steps towards ensuring your health is incredibly important, both mentally and physically. It sends the message that you care about yourself enough to take ownership of your body and health—which is something every woman should do!
Cervical cancer screenings may not be something we like to talk about – but they’re an essential part of staying healthy as a woman. Early detection can make all the difference when it comes to successfully treating this type of cancer – so don’t take any risks! Talk with your doctor about when you should start getting screened for cervical cancer and make sure you stay up-to-date with these tests throughout your life. Your health depends on it!
To keep screenings organized – your results can be uploaded to jonda, which let’s you store and track your health securely in one place. This way, you will always have your screenings available when you need them, because taking charge of your own health information is one of the most important things you can do for your health.
References:
1. Basic information about cervical cancer | CDC. Accessed December 29, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/basic_info/index.htm.
2. What should I know about cervical cancer screening? | CDC. Accessed December 29, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/basic_info/screening.htm.