Speaker 1:
Alright guys, welcome back. We are switching gears to health topics. Cervical cancer is the 4th most common cancer among women globally. An estimated 604,000 new cases arise each year and over 300,000 deaths are caused by the illness. We spoke with Chief Medical Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Dr. Derek Robinson, for more on this.
Speaker 1:
Now January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and more attention needs to be drawn to cervical cancer, especially because it’s preventable. Is that right?
Speaker 2:
That’s right. Cervical cancer is very common. The good news is that we have effective prevention and screening methods for cervical cancer. And what cervical cancer is, is an abnormal growth of cells that occur on the cervix. The cervix is the bottom part of the uterus, which is visible in the vagina during a vaginal exam. It’s primarily caused by the human papilloma virus, or HPV. It’s the most common cause of cervical cancer and actually, it’s the number 1 sexually transmitted infection that we have. Now, cervical cancer globally is the 4th leading cause of cancer in women. Screening typically begins at age 21 and extends to age 65. And certainly, women should consult with their gynecologist regarding the right type of screening that’s appropriate for their type of risk profile. But it’s important to note that 4,000 women a year in the United States die from cervical cancer. What we want to deliver to your audience today is that no woman should die from cervical cancer.
Speaker 1:
That’s a huge number. So who is most affected?
Speaker 2:
So cervical cancer’s most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 35 and 44, but the average age of diagnosis is at the age of 50. It’s important to note that the cancer starts before those ages, before that diagnosis. So again, that’s the reason why screening is very important and prevention is important. Now, some women as they age may become less concerned about the risk of cervical cancer. It’s important to note that 20% of cervical cancer diagnoses are made at the age of 65 or greater. So be sure you continue to have those conversations with your gynecologist, even as you age gracefully.
Speaker 1:
And you know Dr. Robinson had one point – there was a push to get children as young as 13 vaccinated for HPV. Why should they be vaccinated?
Speaker 2:
Well, that is still an important priority. HPV vaccination prevents cervical cancer and as we’ve said today, it saves lives. The goal is to get our young people vaccinated against HPV before they become sexually active. The HPV virus is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. We know in Illinois, about 55% of males between the ages of 13 and 17 have been vaccinated against HPV and about 60% of females. The US Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2030 goal is 80%. So we’ve got some work to do, but it is work worthwhile doing. We can save a generation of young people from risk of cervical cancer, as well as some other conditions caused by HPV like genital warts.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, yeah, Definitely. What factors can increase a woman’s risk of cervical cancer?
Speaker 2:
There are a couple of things that can increase your risk factor. 1. Early sexual activity before the age of 18. Multiple sexual partners. A weakened immune system either due to medications or infections like HIV. There are also women who may be children of mothers who were treated with DES, which is a special estrogen hormone that was used between 1940 and 1971 for prevention of pregnancy complications. It’s no long used today but those women who were born to mothers who have received DES may have higher risks for certain types of cervical cancer. So those are some of the things that can increase your risk for cervical cancer.
Speaker 1:
Now, Dr. Robinson, my next question is kind of 2-in-1; what are the symptoms of cervical cancer and what should one do if they are experiencing those symptoms?
Speaker 2:
I think the important “take home” message here is that the symptoms of early cervical cancer are generally no symptoms at all. By the time you’re having symptoms of cervical cancer, such as different types of vaginal bleeding or abnormal vaginal pain, we’re talking about a cervical cancer that’s more advanced in its stage. So waiting on symptoms is not going to be an effective prevention strategy here. We want to ensure that women are getting appropriately screened and that our young people are getting vaccinated for HPV at an early age. Certainly, if you have any complaints or concerns about your gynecological health or any symptoms, I encourage you to reach out to your gynecologist or a physician to get those questions answered.
Speaker 1:
Some good information there, guys. And if you need to dive in a little further, you can head over to the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois website. We have that information available to you. Dr. Derek Robinson, Chief Medical Officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, thank you so much for coming on the show.
