In recent years, cervical cancer has become the 8th cause of cancer death among women in my country. Therefore, since 1984, the National Health Administration has subsidized the annual cervical smear examination for women over the age of 30 to reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer. It is reduced by 70%, and early treatment can block disease progression as soon as possible, encouraging eligible women to actively go for screening.
Most cervical cancers are caused by sexually infected HPV, and most of them will recover on their own after being infected with HPV, but a small number may develop cervical precancerous lesions or even cervical cancer. Therefore, Pap smear is an effective tool for screening cervical cancer. Lin Liru, head of the cancer team of the National Health Administration, said that cervical cancer has no obvious symptoms in the early stage and is not easy to detect. Regular smear screening can detect cervical cancer early. 97.9% of the lesions are cervical precancerous lesions and early-stage cervical cancer cases. The 5-year survival rate of early-stage cervical cancer cases after treatment can reach more than 90%. The survival rate plummeted to about 20%.
According to statistics, about 2 million women undergo Pap smear examinations every year. The National Health Administration analyzed the Pap smear screening data and cancer registration data. The risk of invasive cancer of the cervix was three times that of those who had regular smears; those who had never had a smear had a 3.4 times higher risk of cancer. Women who haven’t had a smear for a long time, or even never had a smear, are at high risk for cervical cancer.
Since the National Health Administration subsidizes women over the age of 30 to undergo a Pap smear examination every 3 years, Dr. Shi Jinquan, the convener of the Supervisory Committee of the Taiwan Family Medicine Association, specially put forward the precautions before the smear examination, such as remembering to bring a health insurance card and wearing loose clothes. Clothes, 10 to 20 days after the start of the menstrual period, or 3 to 4 days after the end of the menstrual period, or two weeks after the treatment of vaginal infections, it is also recommended not to use tampons, vaginal suppositories, etc. It is very simple to make an appointment for an examination after about three months of sexual behavior and childbirth, and I will do my best to promote it as a doctor.
The recent COVID-19 epidemic is severe, but women and friends should also not forget “6 minutes to protect a lifetime”, and regularly go to medical institutions to receive cervical smears. For women undergoing cervical cancer screening, a trial service of human papillomavirus testing is provided in 17 hospitals, and eligible women are encouraged to receive HPV testing. tracking and diagnosis.