Cervical Cancer Screening

ASCCP Annual Meeting with BD

I recently attended the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) Annual Meeting in Las Vegas Nevada to represent Cervivor in the BD exhibitor display area. BD is one of Cervivor’s sponsors. What an amazing experience this was for me as a Cervivor Ambassador!

BD had recently received FDA approval for their BD Onclarity™ HPV Assay and they had information in their display area on their product The BD SurePath™; a liquid-based PAP test.

BD was raising funds for Cervivor and had this set up where the attendees would have an opportunity to spin the wheel and whatever dollar amount it landed on would be donated to Cervivor. Once they had their turn at spinning the wheel they would fill out their name and the dollar amount on a teal and white sneaker sticker that I would place on the BD/Cervivor display wall. By the end of the meeting we had the wall filled on both sides and $3000.00 was raised for Cervivor!

I interacted with many people in the women’s health field about my story and what impact having cancer had on my life. Nearly everyone thanked me for coming out and talking so openly about my cancer journey. It was such an honor for me to be able to share Cervivor and the work we do with this group! Several shared that they did not know of a resource like Cervivor, where they could direct their patients.

One moment that really stood out for me was when an OBGYN I had shared my story with earlier in the day came back after the afternoon sessions and asked to take a photo with me. She told me that she was so moved by my story and willingness to share it that she was going to carry this photo with her. This photo of us together was going to be her reminder about how to treat her patients that were diagnosed with cervical cancer. This literally brought me to tears. I was so touched by this and to know that my story will help other women in her practice is truly heartwarming!

Attending this meeting as a Cervivor Ambassador to represent our organization was such an honor for me. The work being done in women’s gynecologic health is really fascinating and I am excited to know that studies are being conducted and products developed to make some of what we go through less invasive/painful. Everyone in this field realizes the importance of early detection, better screening options for women and less invasive procedures as well as the importance of vaccinating against HPV related cancers.

 

Paulette Apostolou resides in Illinois with her loving husband and two rescue Miniature Pinschers. She is the owner/designer of ThePartyDeeva.com and founder of Operation Teal; an awareness ribbon campaign she founded in 2016 after attending Cervivor School Louisville. Contact Paulette@Cervivor.org She is available for speaking/advocacy events. Read her Cervivor Story here.

National Women’s Health Week

May 14-May 19 Cervivor will be celebrating the 19th National Women’s Health Week, as declared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

NWHW is a time when many women are reminded to prioritize their health, schedule screenings, and recommit to a healthy lifestyle. We will be posting articles, blogs, and tips throughout this week to help women in our community and beyond, get on track with their wellness and of course to stay on top of cervical health!

We would like to kick off #NWHW by sharing the recommendations for cervical cancer screening:

  1. Begin getting Pap tests at age 21. Continue getting Pap tests every 3 years through age 29.
  2. When you reach age 30, the preferred method of testing is an HPV test along with your Pap test. Get both tests together every 5 years. Screening with the Pap test alone is also an acceptable option.
  3. Based on new guidance from professional medical organizations, your healthcare provider now has the option to screen you with an HPV test first starting at age 25, followed by additional tests if needed.
  4. And ALWAYS remember to schedule your ANNUAL WELL WOMAN visit!

Stay tuned this week for more tips on women’s health and wellness! Happy National Women’s Health Week!

For more info on cervical health and screening visit our website here.