(Atlantic) January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.
Dr. Kerry Rodabaugh is a visiting gynecologic oncologist in the Cass County Health System Specialty Clinic. She is affiliated with Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Dr. Rodabaugh said in the United States there are a little under 15,000 women diagnosed each year with cervical cancer. She said that is a smaller number compared to the 220,000 cases of breast cancer each year, but cervical cancer is a very difficult cancer to deal with.
Dr. Rodabaugh said the vast majority of cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Cervical Cancer is preventable with vaccination and appropriate screening.
Dr. Rodabaugh said sometimes there aren’t very many symptoms of cervical cancer, but commonly it will be irregular bleeding. She said it’s important you are seeing a doctor and staying of top of your routine exams.
