Dom Zdravlja "Dr Ristić"

BAD HABITS SCARS

Since 1928 PAPA test has been and still is most reliable diagnostic method for cervix changes monitoring



    {mosimage}MOST OFTEN malign tumor in women population in the world is, after breast cancer, cervix cancer. In Serbia between 1400 and 2200 women get this disease per year, among them 500 to 650 with lethal outcome, which puts us on the top of the list in European countries. Statistics is not the most accurate, but it is alarming that in Serbia every day there are four women who get the disease and at least one of them dies.
    The frequency of disease spreading out cannot be influenced much, but what can be done is to detect disease in time and to start adequate treatment. This disease is of a kind that does not have to cause a single death of women, but the condition is to detect changes in time and go to the doctor immediately. Imagine the cervix as a stage where constant small dramas take place, dramas of enters and exits including many actors. From the first period till menopause, there are dynamic changes and regenerations of epithelia, surfaces, all aiming preservation of a healthy cervix, precondition for normal conception and giving birth. Our body does not pay much attention to these small dramas, actors seem not so important, nothing except baby delivery and pregnancy seems to be an important role, so this scene is an excellent ground for disorders, especially when its guard, immunity, gets tired. Then fiercely, HUMANE PAPILOMA VIRUSES,step on the scene (humane means they attack human beings, papiloma means the tissue changes, while virus is a Latin word for poison! An appropriate word, indeed! ). Most dangerous types 16 and 18, but there are many well-trained replacements for these changes – cancer causes. The language of science calls this talent – oncogene potential. The more potent, the more dangerous and insolent! By entering the cervix, they inbuild themselves into its genome, its essence. In this manner, they turn one “typically responsible, hard working and guardian cell” into atypical, and later a bizarre and parasite cell of cancer.
    Can this be recognized and prevented? Vaccination is possible, but still being discussed and argued about. It is possible only to detect the exact type of HPV virus, but it is only a sign they are here, while a woman with most oncogene type of a virus is not ill woman. If your partner has HPV virus, it is probable that it was sexually transmitted and the probability you have it is 65%! Fortunately, only 3% of these women provide fertile ground to keep the virus. What does it depend on? It depends on a bad company following the virus and finding the easy way for it. This bad company assists the most popular one of them to conquer cervix with destruction.
    So, HPV arrived to cervix and as the mentioned factors decreased cervix defense, it leads first to pre malign cervix changes, and then comes finish. Usually, it takes about 10 to 15 years between the first change, that is not a cancer, and the last one-cancer. Exactly these, PRE MALIGN CONDITIONS THAT CAN TURN INTO CANCER, are the point of this story. Successful curability of all these forms is 100%. Late forms have less percentage, but even in these cases salvation is possible in 30%. These statistic data should persuade you to go to your gynecologist. The accuracy of Papa test ise 83%, and in combination with colposcopy it goes to 99%.
    Dr Papanikolau, in 1928 noticed that it was possible to detect cervix cells changes according taken culture from and out of the cervix, as well as to form groups of these results and then perform further diagnostic procedures. Even then it was clear that PAPA is not a diagnosis, but it is the fastest, the cheapest, the least painful and the easiest way to detect changes. Results are analyzed based on the cells appearance
    Test is simple. Gynecologist takes cells during examination, puts them on analyzing glass, fixes it and sends to cytology analysis. It is important to have enough of cells material. In order to have clear and accurate results never put vagynalets, creams or anything else that could blur the view area. Do not rinse vagina before visit to a doctor because you will rinse the needed cells. For the same reason sexual abstinence is advised at lest for one day. Most convenient is to take the culture in the middle of menstrual period. Test is obligatory in pregnant women.
    So, once a year, all women age 18 to 65should have PA test. How often it should be repeated? It is not harmful in any sense, but it is enough to perform it once a year. Choose some particular date, easy to remember, as your birthday, for example, or some convenient occasion, such as gynecology discount actions in our Health Centre in March or October.
    Remember and have in mind, cervix changes are long lasting, they do not show any symptoms and that carcinoma is developing slowly but surely, that curability of initial stadiums (pre malign conditions) is the best way to prevent changes into malign forms when everything becomes more difficult and uncertain.

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dr Marica Đuran
gynecology and obstetrics specialist

FIDELITY AS A MEDICINE

    Bad sexual habits (early start, before the age of 16, changing partners or a partner who changes partners, if you cannot change it then use condoms at least) are the biggest enemy for cervix health. Except HPV virus, the same transmitted diseases are Chlamydia, Mycoplasm and Ureaplasm. This virus also finds a fertile ground in bad diets, non-regular health examinations, smoking, obesity (hyperestrogenemia), immunosuppressive medicines, HIV, long-term contraception and maybe genetic predisposition.

PAPA

PA I and PA II – test is normal, it is enough to repeat it once a year.
PA III – findings suspicious, either because of infection or pre-malign cells, further additional examinations necessary as well as treatment. Repeated usually every three or six months.
PA IV and PA V are very serious findings of changed cancerous cells, so it is necessary to perform further patohistology verifications before the final diagnosis.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS

    Health Centre Dr Ristić can offer Papa test examination every day from 8 AM to 9.30 PM and on holidays and weekends from 8.00 AM to 8.00 PM. Call our call centre 011 2693 287 or 063 205 764 and book the examination when it suits you. So, choose the path of health, preventive, choose the miracle and brightness of life, choose „I GO TO A GYNECOLOGIST WHEN I WANT TO, NOT WHEN I HAVE TO“.