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PAPSMEARS

Do You Understand Your Body?

What Is A Papsmear.


WHY ARE PAPSMEARS NECESSARY

A Papsmear is one of the most important examinations that a woman should have regularly. It is a test that can prevent invasive cancer of the mouth of the womb. Unfortunately, like most medical tests, 100% accuracy can not be claimed but if a woman present herself regularly for testing ( preferibly anually) the likelyhood of her develping invasive cancer of the womb is very slight.

It is a life saving procedure!!!!!

Another important point is that there are different types of womb cancer :

1.) Cancer of the cervix ( mouth of the womb)(cervical cancer)

(the scientific name is cervical carcinoma)

2.) Cancer of the body of the womb ( corpus cancer) ( endometrial cancer)

The scientific name is endometrial carcinoma.

3.) Rare types for example muscle cancers known scientificaly as sarcomas.

It is important to understand that the papsmeer is only reliable in the diagnosis of cancer of the mouth of the womb, but the latter is the most common type of womb cancer.


Why Does A Papsmear Helps to Prevent Cancer?

WHY ARE PAPSMEARS NECESSARY

Cancer does not start overnight. There is gradual change in the tissue until it eventually becomes cancer.

The basic building blocks of our bodies are cells. They come in different forms and shapes. Think of them as bricks, tiles etc. used in the construction of buildings but with a major difference. Cells are alive and can replaced damaged and dying cells. Some cells are constantly deviding to form new cells to replace the older cells. This process of deviding is usually well controlled and only enough new cells are produced to replace the old ones. This process is normally well controlled and only enough to replace the old ones are produced. The is normally a balance between old dying cell and new cells.

In invasive cancer however certain cells start deviding at a fast and uncontrolled rate. It produces new completely abnormal tissue . This new tissue invades and destroy the surrounding normal tissue.

As stated before the cells that will became cancerous do not change overnight. There is a gradually change in the effected cells until they eventually became cancerous. It is posible to diagnose these abnormalities early (before they cause cancer) in some parts of the body. One place where it is posible, is at the mouth of the womb (cervix) . The cervix is a very common place for these abnormalities to develope.

Papsmears are done to diagnosed these changes before cancer develops. Go to abnormal papsmears..Here the different stages of abnormalities are discussed .

When doing a papsmear cells are scraped from the surface of the mouth of the womb and put on a glass slide. The cells is than send to laboratory to be examined.The presence of precancerous (before cancer) changes can than be diagnosed. Appropriate measures can than be taken to prevent the developepment of cancer if such abnormal cells are diagnosed.

We advise that a papsmear should be taken every twelve months. Where medical insurers or state sponsored organations are involved they usually advise a papsmear once every 36 months. This is due to limited buggets.

Our viewpoint is that every one is responsible for their own health. It is your duty to get the best basic care you can affort. You have only one life . If you can affort it , pay for your yearly examinations. By proper planning more people should be able to affort better medical care. (Refer to "Who is responsible for your health?"

A Graphic Presentation of the Basic Elements of Papsmears.

IMAGE
The drawing above illustrates the superficial cells scraped from the cervix during a papsmear. The cells are flat with a very small nucleus. This represent a normal papsmeer.

IMAGE
This illustrates the superficial cells scraped from the cervix during a papsmear. There is abnormal cells with large nuclei and this should be investigate futher. For more information about abnormal smears go to abnormal papsmears..

To enlarge the normal cells Click Here

To enlarge the abnormal cells Click Here

It is very important to remember the following statement. If abnormal cells were discored in your papsmeer , it doesn't mean you have invasive cancer. It only means that there is an abnormality present that might later develop into invasive cancer. Your doctor will investigate or refer you for further investigations.

For more information about abnormal smears go to abnormal papsmears..


On the next page infertility will be discussed.

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LAST UPDATE : 16 December 2003

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