Cancer can be isolating, and it’s easy to see where friends and family members who haven’t personally dealt with cancer—and if they have, probably haven’t dealt with your specific cancer—aren’t able to fully relate and a patient can feel alone in some ways. The volunteer chapter leaders who work with ASHA’s National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) understand this well. Many chapter leaders are cervical cancer survivors or patients, while others are family members who lost a loved one to the disease.
In honor of Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, ASHA’s Fred Wyand asked NCCC chapter leaders to share their insights around what NCCC offers, coping with treatment and follow-up, and anything else they think women and families should know when it comes to dealing with cervical cancer. Fred shares their responses in this episode of ASHA’s Sex+Health podcast and underscores the need for support and the value in finding others who really understand and appreciate what a patient is going through.
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The American Cancer Society (ACS) released new recommendations for cervical cancer screening that focus on HPV testing and approve the use of self-collected samples. The recommendations also clarify the age at which screening should start and stop.
There’s a new way to screen for cervical cancer. With self-collection, you can take a sample of cells from your vagina. You still have to go to your provider’s office, but there’s no pelvic exam, stirrups, or speculum involved.
If you’re passionate about cervical health awareness, the resources here are for you. Advocacy around cervical health is especially relevant during national observances, including Cervical Health Awareness Month in January.
There are over 100 different types of human papillomavirus, or HPV. Some types of HPV can cause genital warts and other types can cause cancer, including cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis or anus, as well as cancer in the back of the throat.
The FDA just approved the Teal Wand, a self-collection device for HPV testing that does not require a speculum exam or even a trip to the doctor’s office. People can collect their own sample at home and send it to a lab for analysis.
In this episode of ASHA’s Sex+Health podcast, Ina Park, MD, talks about HPV—genital warts, cervical cancer vaccines, the stigma associated with warts “below the waistline,” talking to partners about HPV, and more.
Cervical cancer screening can be confusing. Dr. Warner Huh breaks it down and explains the options in this episode of the Sex+Health podcast.
The results of large-scale study of HPV suggest that one shot of the vaccine may be enough to protect young people from HPV and related issues like cervical cancer.
ASHA believes that all people have the right to the information and services that will help them to have optimum sexual health. We envision a time when stigma is no longer associated with sexual health and our nation is united in its belief that sexuality is a normal, healthy, and positive aspect of human life.
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