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I need to get a cervical cancer screening. What can I expect? Can I do it myself? And what happened to the pap smear results?

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Cervical screening in Australia Changed over the past seven years. The test has modified, and ladies (and other people with cervical cancer) now have way more alternative and control. Here’s why – and what to expect should you’re between 25 and 74 and you could have to pass the test.

When and why did the test change?

In 2017, Australia became certainly one of the first two countries to use human papillomavirus (HPV) testing as a substitute of Pap tests.

HPV is the reason for virtually every kind of cervical cancer, so testing for the virus is a superb indicator of a person’s current and future risk of developing the disease.

This solution contrasts with the older technology of Pap smear testing, which involved examining cells every two years for changes resulting from HPV infection.

The screening change was supported by a very large group international AND Australian Data indicate that basic HPV testing is more accurate than cytology.

Women and other people with cervixes who don’t have any HPV detected by a test have a very low risk of developing cervical cancer in the next five years or more. This was the basis for extending the screening interval when HPV screening was introduced.

Australia now recommends five years of HPV screening starting at age 25 until age 74 for those eligible, no matter whether or not they have been vaccinated against HPV. Many other countries are following suit by moving to HPV screening.

All established screening tests – that are performed on people with none symptoms – are related to health advantages, but in addition with some harms. These can include psychological and clinical consequences of receiving a “positive” screening result, which need to be investigated further.

The HPV virus can be detected in the vagina without the need to take a cervical swab.
New Africa/Shutterstock

However, recently the World Health Organization (WHO) evidence review found:

  • HPV is a simpler screening test than a Pap smear or some other method
  • significantly reduces the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer
  • it is a approach to examining the cervix, which has best balance advantages to harm.

As a result, WHO now clearly recommends HPV screening as the best method.

Now you can collect your personal sample

One of the essential advantages of switching to HPV screening is that it opens the door for individuals who may collect your personal sample (which was inconceivable with a Pap smear). If the HPV virus is present, it can be detected in the vagina without having to take a sample directly from the cervix.

In 2022, Australia became certainly one of the first countries worldwide to introduce a universal self-sample option as a part of the essential national screening programme. This means that individuals eligible for screening, under the supervision of their primary care physician, can now select to collect their very own vaginal sample, in privacy, using a easy swab.

By the end of 2023 27% of individuals we decided to take the test this fashion, but this trend is growing and can probably proceed to grow, information campaign is scheduled to start next month.

So what happens when I take the test?

You will receive an invite from National Cancer Screening Registry to participate in your first test whenever you turn 25. If you might be older, you’ll receive reminders when it is time to your next test. You will likely be invited to see your GP or health service for a test.

You ought to be asked whether you would like to have the test performed by a physician or should you would like to collect the sample in person.

There isn’t any right or flawed way. The accuracy of the tests has been shown be equivalent for samples taken by a physician or by yourself. It is a matter of alternative.

If your doctor does the test, they’ll perform a pelvic exam with a speculum inserted into your vagina. This allows the doctor or nurse to view your cervix and take a sample.

The doctor holds a speculum
The doctor will insert a speculum to collect a sample.
Tatiana Buzmakova/Shutterstock

If you might be fascinated about the possibility of non-public collection, please check when making an appointment whether the office offers this selection.

If you select to collect yourself, you can do so in privacy. You will likely be given a swab (which looks like a COVID test swab with a longer shaft) and given instructions on how to insert and rotate the swab into your vagina to collect a sample. It only takes a couple of minutes.

What does it mean if my test detects HPV?

If the test detects HPV, it means you could have an HPV infection. These are quite common and do not, in and of themselves, mean you could have cancer and even precancerous conditions (which involve changes in the cells of the cervix that, over time, make it more likely to become cancer).

However, it does mean that you just are at greater risk of developing a pre-cancerous condition or developing it in the future and that you’ll profit from further check-ups or diagnostic tests. Your doctor or nurse to guide you on next steps in keeping with national guidelines.

If a diagnostic test is required, it will involve a procedure called a colposcopy, during which a gynaecologist or other specially trained healthcare skilled will fastidiously examine your cervix and can also take a small sample to examine the cells intimately.

If you could have a precancerous condition, you can be treated quickly and simply, often without having to go to the hospital. The treatment involves ablation, or removal of a small area of ​​the cervix. This treatment will drastically reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer.

What does this mean for cervical cancer rates?

Cervical HPV screening is a very effective approach to stopping cervical cancer. Due to HPV screening in Australia, combined with HPV vaccination in younger people, Australia is expected achieve such a low cervical cancer rate by 2035 that the disease can be considered eliminated.

Last yr the government launched National Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy which presents key recommendations for eliminating cervical cancer and achieving this goal equitably across all groups of ladies and other people with a cervix.

One of the best ways to protect yourself is to get a cervical screening test as soon as you might be eligible, whether or not you could have been vaccinated against HPV.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Your friend has been diagnosed with cancer. Here are 6 things you can do to support them

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All over the world, one in five people are diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Almost on the age of 85 one by two Australians can be diagnosed with cancer.

When this happens to someone you care about, it can be difficult to know what to say and the way to help them. However, providing your friend with the precise support can make an enormous difference as they face the emotional and physical challenges of a brand new diagnosis and treatment.

Here are six ways to provide meaningful support to a friend diagnosed with cancer.

1. Recognize and respond to emotions

When faced with a cancer diagnosis and treatment, it’s normal to experience different situations (*6*)emotions including fear, anger, grief and sadness. Your friend’s moods may change. Feelings are also common change over timefor instance, your friend’s anxiety may decrease, but she or he may feel more depressed.

Spending time together can mean so much to someone who feels isolated during cancer treatment.
Chokniti-Studio/Shutterstock

Some friends might want to share details, others prefer privacy. Always ask permission to discuss sensitive topics (similar to changes in physical appearance or thoughts about fears and anxieties) and do not make any assumptions. You can tell them that you feel uncomfortable since it validates the difficult situation they are facing.

Once they feel comfortable talking, follow their lead. Your support and willingness listen without judging can provide great comfort. You don’t need to know the reply. Just acknowledging what was said, giving your full attention and being present for the person can be very helpful.

2. Understand their diagnosis and treatment

Understanding your friend’s diagnosis and what they’ll undergo after they are treated could also be helpful.

Being informed can reduce your worries. It can also help you listen higher and reduce the quantity of explaining your friend has to do, especially after they’re drained or overwhelmed.

Browse reputable sources similar to Cancer Council website for accurate information so you can have meaningful conversations. But remember, your friend has a trusted medical team that gives personalized and accurate advice.

3. Check in commonly

Cancer treatment can be isolating, so checking in commonly, texting, calling or visiting can help your friend feel less alone.

Normal conversation and sharing a joke can be greatly appreciated. But everyone deals with cancer in a different way. Be patient and versatile in your support – some days can be tougher for them than others.

Remembering key dates – similar to the subsequent round of chemotherapy – can help your friend feel supported. Celebrating milestones, including the tip of treatment or anniversaries, can boost morale and remind your friend of positive moments on their cancer journey.

Always ask if it’s a superb time to visit because your friend’s immune system could also be violated due to cancer or treatment similar to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. If you’re feeling unwell, it is best to postpone your appointments, but they might still appreciate a call or text.

4. Offer practical support

Sometimes one of the simplest ways to show care is thru practical support. Help could also be offered in quite a lot of ways, and your friend’s needs may change at the start, during and after treatment.

For example, you could offer to pick up prescriptions, drive them to their appointments so that they have transportation and company to check-in, or wait with them at their appointments.

Meals will all the time be welcome. However, it will be important to remember about cancer and its treatment affect taste, smell and appetite, in addition to your friend’s ability to eat enough or absorb nutrients. You might want to check first in case your child likes any particular foods. Good nutrition can help increase their strength when dealing with the negative effects of treatment.

There may additionally be family responsibilities you can help with, similar to babysitting, grocery shopping, or pet sitting.

A nice casserole dish filled with lasagna sits on the stove.
There could also be practical ways to help, similar to dropping off meals.
David Trinks/Unsplash

5. Explore support together

Studies they showed Mindfulness practices can be an efficient way for people to cope with the anxiety associated with a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

If that is something your friend is focused on, it is perhaps fun to explore a category together (online or in person).

You can also help your friend connect with organizations that provide emotional and practical help, similar to the Cancer Council support linewhich offers free, confidential information and support to all people affected by cancer, including family, friends and carers.

Peer support groups it can also reduce your friend’s sense of isolation and foster shared understanding and empathy with individuals who have been through similar experiences. primary care doctors can help with referrals to support programs.

6. Stick with them

Be involved. Many people feel isolated after their treatment. This could also be because regular meetings have been reduced or stopped – which can mean the lack of their safety net – or because their relationships with others have modified.

Your friend may additionally experience emotions similar to worry, lack of self-confidence, and uncertainty as she or he becomes accustomed to: recent lifestyle after completing their treatment. This can be a vital moment to support your friend.

But do not forget: take care myself can be vital. Providing good nutrition, sleep, exercise and emotional support will help you get through this difficult time for each you and the friend you love.

Our research the team is developing recent programs and resources to support caregivers of individuals with cancer. While this can be a difficult experience, it can even be incredibly rewarding, and your small acts of kindness can make an enormous difference.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Vice President Kamala Harris’ ascension and derailment to the White House is the story of many Black women, including me

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2024 Election, Concerned, black women


Written by Dr. Dionne Mahaffey

My heart is heavy. My mind is racing and I am unable to help but take into consideration what this latest era under Donald Trump means for me and for ladies who appear like me and who wanted Vice President Kamala Harris to win, not simply because of her policies and competence or its historical significance. We wanted her to win because having her as a black woman in charge could be a robust statement for a rustic that so often seems reluctant to recognize our strength, talent and humanity.

Madame Harris’s candidacy was deeply personal. Black women identified together with her story, her rise, her spirit. Like me, she grew up in a single mother’s home. She’s my sorority sister. I felt hopeful in the concept that for the first time a Black woman was on the verge of real power, not only next to it. She represented every part we are sometimes told we can’t be: good, uncompromisingly ambitious, compassionate, and yet fiercely independent. Her presence defied the “angry black woman” stereotype, and her resilience reminded us of the countless ways during which Black women have long been pillars of American progress.

But now plainly this dream has been placed on the back burner. Trump’s victory brings back a well-recognized fear. His administration has at all times signaled a disregard for racial equality and women’s rights. We’ve seen what happens when hard-won protections are dismantled: voting rights are violated, police grow to be more aggressive, access to health care is restricted, and social justice is sidelined. For me as a black woman, these changes aren’t abstract political moves; these are issues of survival and dignity. The rhetoric surrounding us is a direct reflection of how protected, valued and vulnerable we feel in our own country.

With Trump’s victory comes the specter of Project 2025, a conservative motion plan that would severely limit civil rights, access to health care and economic resources, especially for Black Americans. Proposed cuts and restructuring of health care, housing and education could reverse years of progress and disproportionately harm marginalized communities. In my work, I see the potential impact on Black-owned businesses that already face enormous barriers to accessing capital. My clients – small business owners who’ve put every part into their ventures – are actually apprehensive about surviving in an economy that will push them further aside. Their concerns echo my very own, underscoring a reality we all know all too well: for us, progress is never linear and actually not guaranteed.

Twice nearly as good

But she didn’t win. We know that Black women often have to be twice nearly as good to achieve half nearly as good. Instead, America selected a criminal over an experienced black woman and it hurts. His victory brought back memories of my very own profession, after I began my first job in the technology industry over 30 years ago. I earned a formidable six-figure salary and came upon that my white friend made $30,000 greater than me. I had a diploma; he didn’t do it. While I used to be promoted to manager, he was promoted to director, and the company ended up paying for his education while I self-funded my MBA. That was the first time I understood how much white men were pampered and given opportunities to achieve perfection that black women were simply expected to earn.

Kamala was greater than qualified — she had worked as a prosecutor for 13 years, was the first Black and South Asian woman elected as a district attorney in California, the first Black and South Asian woman in the United States Senate, and the first woman of color to function vice chairman. By contrast, Trump is a convicted felon, born into privilege, who paid someone to take the SATs, filed for bankruptcy six times, was found guilty of sexual assault, incited a deadly revolt and denied the results of the 2020 presidential election. But by some means he won.

For Black Americans, Trump’s return to office is greater than symbolic. The reality of Trump’s latest presidency appears to be looming. Project 2025 plans to dismantle civil rights protections, access to health care, and economic opportunity that our communities have fought to provide. For those of us who in the past were forced to work twice as hard to achieve half as much, the stakes couldn’t seem higher.

Peace priority

The consequences of these selections aren’t just political – they’re deeply personal. As a therapist, I actually have seen firsthand how alternative anxiety affects my clients. After the elections, this tension will only deepen. Many people struggle with concerns about their future safety, rights and dignity in an environment where they feel increasingly unheard and invisible. Advising clients in these times is difficult, especially knowing that they may face renewed threats to their mental health and well-being. They carry the burden of this country’s instability, and sometimes that burden is greater than anyone should bear.

While helping others, I also need to concentrate to my very own mental health. It’s hard to support others when your spirit is drained, when their fears mirror yours. Taking care of yourself is not just a buzzword for me now – it is a necessity. Every day I remind myself that I cannot pour from an empty cup; so as to serve my clients and community, I need to provide myself with a spot to rest, recharge, and find peace inside myself.

Protecting our peace in times like these requires intention and care. It starts with tuning out the noise – setting boundaries around the news to stay on top of things and prevent anxiety from creeping in. Community is a balm, a reminder that we’re on this together. Leaning on friends, family and networks keeps us grounded and resilient. Mindfulness practices, corresponding to just a few minutes of quiet reflection or deep respiratory, can show you how to regain calm in the face of stress. Taking small actions, volunteering, supporting essential causes restores a way of control and purpose.

And still we rise

When I take into consideration this moment, I do not forget that Black women have faced adversity for generations and proceed to thrive. Kamala Harris’s candidacy, irrespective of the end result, has ignited something inside us – the determination to claim our space, construct our communities, and defend justice. The fight for equality and progress doesn’t end with one election; it is a lifelong journey and we’re uniquely equipped to sail it.

So today I hold space for my disappointment. But tomorrow, like all Black women who know that our value, power, and stories are greater than any single person or alternative, I’ll return to work. We will proceed to move forward, not just for ourselves, but for generations who will look back on this moment and know that we never gave up. Together we embody resilience and together we are going to rise.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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Health and Wellness

WATCH: In the studio: Who decides on the war – Essence

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This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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