January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and doctors say new screening options could help save lives. According to the CDC, about 13,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. But with early detection, that number could be reduced.
“Unlike many cancers, cervical cancer has a very long pre-cancerous phase, which is why screening is so helpful,” said Dr. Robert DeBernardo, gynecologic oncologist at Cleveland Clinic.
Traditional screening typically includes a pap smear, which can be uncomfortable for some patients. However, the FDA recently approved an at-home cervical cancer screening test that checks for HPV, the human papillomavirus, which causes nearly all cervical cancer cases.
If the test comes back negative, patients may not need a pap smear. However, Dr. DeBernardo cautions the test is not for everyone.
“This test is only for women at no elevated risk,” he said. “Anyone with abnormal pap results in the past, immune system suppression, or certain medical conditions should still see a gynecologist regularly.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has now updated its cervical cancer screening guidelines to include the at-home test as an option for eligible patients.
Doctors say increasing access to screening, whether at home or in a clinic, is key to catching cervical cancer early.
