All articles tagged with #papsmear
A BuzzFeed Health piece explores how a viral discussion on social media about pap smears—sparked by a post calling a speculum a “torture device”—shows Gen Z debating discomfort and procedure versus Millennials and medical experts stressing the importance of routine cervical cancer screening; the article highlights both fears around the procedure and the medical consensus on its necessity.
During Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, it's been reported that advanced stage cervical cancer cases are increasing, potentially due to pandemic-related healthcare disruptions and changes in pap smear guidelines. Regular screenings are crucial as early stages often show no symptoms. Cervical cancer, largely caused by the HPV virus, can be prevented with effective vaccines, as evidenced by the decline in cases in Australia where vaccine uptake is high. The CDC notes about 13,000 new cases and 4,000 deaths from cervical cancer annually in the U.S.
Cleveland Clinic doctors have reported an increase in advanced stage cervical cancer cases, attributing the rise to pandemic-related delays in routine checkups and changes in pap smear screening guidelines, which now recommend less frequent tests. The early stages of cervical cancer often present no symptoms, making regular screenings crucial for detection. Dr. Robert DeBernardo emphasized that cervical cancer is preventable and linked to the HPV virus, against which there are highly effective vaccines available.