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........................................................................................................ Talking With Your Doctor ........................................................................................................  How do I talk to my doctor? Here are some tips to remember when talking to your doctor. "After learning about the HPV test from a relative who is a doctor, I asked for it when I got my last Pap smear. My gynecologist initially told me it wasn’t necessary, but when I insisted, she did it. Sure enough, the results showed that I had a high-risk type of HPV, even though my Pap was normal. " At that point, I knew enough about HPV to not be too concerned, because I knew it would most likely go away on its own. However, I’m a busy executive, and I am not typically that punctual about getting screened every year for cervical cancer. Now that I know I’m at increased risk, though, I’ll make sure I don’t miss my next scheduled exam. If I still have HPV at my next appointment, my gynecologist has said she’ll do a colposcopy to make sure she knows what’s going on." Andy F., 51 years old
2) Don’t assume that your doctor is up-to-date on the new cervical cancer screening guidelines. The pace of modern medicine is very fast and new treatment advances are announced every day. New guidelines for cervical cancer screening were released in early 2005. An article published in American Family Physician talks about the new practice
guidelines. Read
the article. Print out a copy and share this with your healthcare provider. " With so many advances in medicine – which means that even doctors have trouble keeping up with the latest information – women must become their own best health advocates. When it comes to cervical cancer screening, women should not just assume their doctor is giving them an HPV test along with their Pap. The HPV test is relatively new, and medical practice is slow to change. Therefore, women should do their own research and they should ask for an HPV test if they want it." Marie Savard, MD 3) Be prepared to answer your doctor’s concerns. Bring a piece of paper with you noting all the reasons why you want cervical cancer screening. Be ready to answer the concerns your doctor may have about the HPV test if that’s what you are requesting. Many doctors are concerned about what the HPV test will mean for their patients. Doctors are afraid the HPV test will lead to unnecessary and expensive workups. Also, doctors are concerned that a positive test will make patients worry. Suggestion A: If your healthcare provider is worried about unnecessary workups, you might want to cite an article in the medical journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, which suggests that women with HPV do not have any more follow-up tests than when the Pap alone is used. In fact, many experts think it will result in fewer unnecessary tests. Women for whom both tests are normal do not need to be screened as often. In addition, by using the HPV test along with the Pap, fewer women with inconclusive Paps will need to go on to further tests. Suggestion B: If your provider is worried that a positive test will cause
anxiety, thank your provider for his/her concern. Then explain that you’ve
educated yourself about HPV and know how to put it into perspective. Many
women will find out that they have HPV. In most women, the virus will go
away on its own. But for some women, the virus will hang on and may cause
problems that are not detected by the Pap. You want to make sure you aren’t
in that last group, and that’s why you want to have the HPV test. "Many OB/GYNs don’t tell their patients that they have HPV because they don’t want to scare them. But women are smart and they want information. It all comes down to education. Maybe if more women knew about the connection between HPV and cervical cancer, it would make them take more responsibility for their health."1 Marie Savard, MD
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The Female Soul and Spirit
The mission of the ISIS Project is to educate and empower Black women about cervical cancer and HPV, and provide them with information on the need for regular screening to ensure early diagnosis and treatment.
site by: ashay media group