By Dr. Aisha Harris
Is it time for your pap smear? Are you up to date with your cervical cancer screening. It’s
Cervical Health Awareness month and a great time to reflect on your cervical cancer risks
status. The good news is that cervical cancer used to be one of the most common cause of
cancer deaths in women, but luckily the increased use of of pap smears for screenings
significantly dropped the rate of deaths. Then HPV testing and vaccines decreased the rate of
cancer even more.
Cervical cancer screenings are recommend for women ages 21 years old to 65 years old. Years
ago pap smears were not a thing. Then, they became a yearly screening recommendation for
women. Now pap smears can be spaced out for low risk patients that have normal pap smear
screenings. But those who have some abnormal pap smear may have to return for another pap
smear within a year to follow up on the abnormal cells.
Abnormal cervical cancer cells are not ideal, but for the record, pre-cancerous abnormal cells are more common than invasive or aggressive cancerous cells on a pap smear. It is encouraged to follow up when there are abnormal cervical cells to check if they have cleared themselves on their own, or if they would benefit from removal either from cryotherapy or shaving procedures.
Treating pre-cancerous cells, cells that are abnormal but not cancer, is one of the best ways to
prevent cervical cancer from developing and the need for hysterectomy, radiation and/or
chemotherapy to treat the cervical cancer. So, if it has been a while since you had a pap smear
ask your doctor if you are due for your cervical cancer screening. If you recall someone saying
there were abnormal cells, check with your doctor to see what type of next steps or follow up
you may need.
Pap smears do not have to be feared or uncomfortable. There are many techniques and set
ups to make them more comfortable. Ask your doctor what is the best set up to help your pap
smear experience be more comfortable so a proper sample can be taken and you do not
experience significant discomfort. Creating a safe environment provides the best opportunity to
successfully complete a pap smear.
But let’s not forget to thank the researchers that helped find the connection between HPV and
cervical cancer risk. Researchers helped develop guidelines that space out pap smears which
increase compliance and completion, but also helped understand the effective treatment for
preventing pre-cancerous cells from progressing to cancer.
One thing good to know about cervical cancer screenings is that they are one of the best and
most effective screening tools we have for a cancer, any cancer. Less people are getting
cervical cancer and those rates will continue to decrease as we have more people vaccinated
against HPV and more people continuing to get abnormal cervical cancer cells treated early.
So, is it time for your pap? Has it been a while since your last pap smear? Are you someone
that needs to check if you are up to date with your cervical cancer screenings?
Check to see if you are due for a pap smear. If you are due for a pap smear make 2024 your
time get caught up on your cervical cancer screening status.
Dr. Aisha Harris, MD is a Flint native and board certified family medicine doctor at Harris Family Health in Flint. Harris Family Health is a membership based clinic that provides personalized and full primary care to adults and children. Learn more about Harris Family Health by visiting www.harrisfamilyhealth.com. Feel free to submit health questions to Dr. Harris via theflintcouriernews@gmail.com.
