Almost all women are at risk for
cervical cancer.
Each year,
approximately 12,000 women in the United
States are diagnosed with cervical
cancer.
The majority of deaths from cervical
cancer in the U.S. are among women who
are screened infrequently or not at all.
VA encourages all women Veterans to
have regular screening tests which can
help to prevent cervical cancer or
detect it early.
“VA provides women Veterans with a full
range of reproductive health services
necessary for optimal health throughout
their lives.”
— Dr. Amanda Johnson, Senior Medical
Consultant, Reproductive Health, Women
Veterans Health Strategic Healthcare
Group
Two screening tests can help prevent
cervical cancer or detect it early:
- The Pap test (or Pap smear)
looks for precancerous changes on
the cervix that might become
cervical cancer if they are not
treated appropriately.
- The HPV test looks for the virus
(human
papillomavirus) that can cause
these cell changes.
Medical advances, such as the HPV
vaccine, have and will continue to,
dramatically reduce the incidence of
cervical cancer.
According to Dr. Amanda Johnson,
Senior Medical Consultant, Reproductive
Health,
Women Veterans Health Strategic
Healthcare Group, “Cervical cancer
is one of the most preventable cancers
through vaccination, regular screening
tests, and timely follow-up.”
January is National Cervical Cancer
Awareness Month and VA reminds all women
Veterans to see their physician for a
screening test at regular intervals.
Information on Cervical
Cancer Screenings from CDC
Women Veterans should have cervical
cancer screening at regular intervals.
The Pap test, which screens for
cervical cancer, is one of the most
reliable and effective cancer screening
tests available.
In addition to the Pap test—the main
test for cervical cancer—the HPV test
may also be used to screen women aged 30
years and older, or women of any age who
have unclear Pap test results.
If you are 30 years old or older and
your screening tests are normal, your
chance of getting cervical cancer in the
next few years is very low. For that
reason, your doctor may tell you that
you will not need another screening test
for up to three years. But you should
still go to the doctor regularly for a
check-up that may include a pelvic exam.
It is important for you to continue
getting a Pap test regularly—even if you
think you are too old to have a child,
or are not having sex anymore.
If you are older than 65 and have had
normal Pap test results for several
years, or if you have had your cervix
removed (during a hysterectomy), your
doctor may tell you it is okay to stop
getting regular Pap tests.
There are several ways to treat
cervical cancer. The treatment depends
on the type of cervical cancer and how
far it has spread. Treatments include
surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation.
VA Provides Safe and Sensitive
EnvironmentDr. Johnson
emphasizes the VA of the 21st century
has a modern and dedicated focus on
health care for women Veterans, adding
that, “The VA provides women Veterans
with a full range of reproductive health
services necessary for optimal health
throughout their lives.”
VA’s Women Veterans Health Care
addresses the health care needs of women
Veterans and works to ensure that
timely, equitable, high-quality,
comprehensive health care services are
provided in a sensitive and safe
environment at VA health facilities
nationwide.
Women Veterans Health Care works to
make certain that all eligible women
Veterans requesting VA care are assured
of:
- Comprehensive primary care by a
proficient and interested primary
care provider
- Privacy, safety, dignity, and
sensitivity to gender-specific needs
- The right care in the right
place and time
- State-of-the-art health care
equipment and technology
- High-quality preventive and
clinical care, equal to that
provided to male Veterans
For more detailed information on
cervical cancer, please see these
websites:
