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PAP it Girl

Most women know all about a PAP Smear or Pelvic exam named after its’ inventor, Dr. Georgios Papanikolaou (1883-1962). He was a Greek from the island of Evia who later emigrated to the United States of America, say amen to immigration. He became known as the father of cytopathology. "Pap" is an abbreviation for Papanicolaou or his last name. Everyday another precious female is born, so it is important to keep bringing up Mr. Papanikolaou’s test, especially because the deadly Human Papilloma virus (HPV), may feaster undetected if we don’t allow the doctors to peek in from time to time.

HPV is a group of viruses with at least 70 different types. At least 23 types infect the cervix, and more than a dozen of these have been linked to cervical cancer (some other types cause warts). The cancer-associated types of HPV are called high-risk types especially HPV-16 and HPV-18. They all can cause abnormalities in the cervix, but it appears that abnormalities associated with high-risk types progress more often to cervical cancer. Unfortunately, there is no specific cure for an HPV infection, but the virus often can be controlled by podophyllin (medicine derived from the roots of the plant Podophyllum peltatum) or interferon, and the warts can be removed by cryosurgery, laser treatment or conventional surgery. Some scientists even believe HPV can "clear" out of the body.

Researchers at Bringham and Women’s Hospital in Boston suggests that the herb ginkgo biloba (can you say that three times fast) might lower the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Dr. Daniel W. Cramer and Bin Ye, PhD. Questioned mor than 1,300 women with and without ovarian cancer about their use of herbal supplements.

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Taking ginkgo regularly for at least six months was associated with a 60% lower risk of getting the most common kind of ovarian cancer. They tested their findings and found that ginkgolides reduced cancer cell growth by up to 65%.

This herb shows promise, but both active younger women and older women with active husbands (outside of the home) must remember the virus can be sexually transmitted and kills thousands of women annually, so having regular paps are your first line of defense.
A pap smear (also called Pap test and smear test) is a medical screening test for early detection of cancer and other abnormalities in the female genital tract by sampling cells from the cervix with a swab. The cells are placed on a glass slide and checked for abnormalities in the laboratory. The test is simple and effective. About 5% to 7% of pap smears produce abnormal results, such as dysplasia, a possibly pre-cancerous condition. Many of these abnormalities are not due to cervical cancer, but they are an indicator that increased vigilance is needed. Women should have a Pap test at least once every 3 years, beginning about 3 years after they begin to have sexual intercourse, but no later than age 21.
On May 18, 2006 A vaccine
that protects against the virus known
to cause most cervical cancers was given the
blessing of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration
advisory panel. The vaccine, Gardasil, is
expected to get full FDA approval on June 8,
and the national Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices will then decide
whether to include the vaccine in routine
vaccination schedules. Gardasil, which is
manufactured by Merck & Co., would then
become the first vaccine to be approved
for the prevention of cervical cancer.

T. Christian