At-home pap smear helps fight against cervical cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, there will be about 13,490 diagnoses of invasive cervical cancer nationwide and about 4,200 women will die from it in 2026.
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Physicians are touting tests that women can take at home to help detect cervical cancer and other measures to catch the disease in early stages.
According to the American Cancer Society, there will be about 13,490 diagnoses of invasive cervical cancer nationwide and about 4,200 women will die from it in 2026.
“It is really important to be aware about symptoms but also be aware that often something may be happening without any symptoms being apparent,” said Dr. Ana Tergas, director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and practitioner at University Hospital.
Tergas is also stressing the importance of the HPV vaccine for both sexes.
“The HPV vaccine prevents cervical cancer. It can also prevent genital cancer, penile cancer and I should also mention anal cancer,” she said.
Tergas said regular screenings are key to detecting any issues in the cervix.
A new screening option called self-sampling is intended to make pap smears easier to perform, more accessible and less painful for some.
“Self-sampling is essentially a way for women to collect their own sample for HPV testing.
It is a very simple swab you insert into your vagina and collect a sample and send it off for testing," Tergas said.
She said there are currently three FDA-approved methods for self-sampling at home. One is called Teal Wand, which is HSA/FSA eligible. The patient gets a kit in the mail to conduct the test and send back to a lab.
“We need to figure out how to best implement this screening option in a way that really optimizes access,” Tergas said. “We are hoping that it can address some of the health disparities that we have seen in the past in regards to cervical cancer.”
