Why is it important to get regular screenings?
Cervical cancer is a highly treatable cancer if discovered early, and most deaths that result from it could be prevented if discovered in the early stages. Through screening, cell changes can be detected in the very early stages, and those cells can be destroyed or removed before they become cancerous. With early diagnosis, the five-year survival rate for invasive cervical cancer is 92 percent; for all stages, that drops to about 71 percent, making it vital to diagnose cell changes as early as possible. Cervical cancer is a slow-growing cancer and by diagnosing cell changes in the beginning stages, the disease can be treated before it becomes invasive, greatly increasing the chances of full recovery.
There are no early symptoms of cervical cancer, and symptoms often do not manifest until the cancer has become invasive and spread into nearby tissue, causing bleeding, discharge and pain. In the early stages, the only way to detect its presence is through regular screenings. This is why it is so important to have a Pap test every three years once you’ve had several years of negative tests. And in addition to being screened for cervical cancer, women should also consider being screened for the HPV virus, both of which can be done by a woman’s gynecologist or by a family doctor.
What are the cost savings of detecting cancer in its early stages, versus the cost of treating advanced stage cervical cancer?
The direct costs of medical care associated with cervical cancer are estimated to be $1.7 billion a year, a figure that does not take into account loss of work time, income or life.
The cost of screening is relatively inexpensive and is covered by most insurance, and when that screening identifies cervical cancer in its early stages, treatment is relatively simple. Cells are removed or destroyed by laser surgery, cryosurgery or LEEP. LEEP is a procedure that removes cells with a thin wire heated with electricity and generally prevents cells from becoming malignant. In the later stages, however, when the cancer has become invasive, treatment becomes more complex and more expensive, often requiring combinations of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy and hysterectomy.
By taking steps to live a healthy lifestyle and getting regular screenings as recommended, a woman can help protect herself against the risk of cervical cancer.
As an employer, you should do all that you can to educate your employees on the preventive benefits available to them through your employer-sponsored health plan.
Julie Sich is the health promotions coordinator for SummaCare, Inc. Reach her at (330) 996-8779 or [email protected]. SummaCare offers a full line of health plans and ancillary products. Through its extensive network of more than 7,000 providers and more than 50 hospitals, SummaCare offers coverage to more than 115,000 members throughout northern Ohio.