And what if a simple test could save thousands of lives every year, but don’t bless it anyway?
This is the case with cervical cancer checks, which is one of the most avoided cancers. Due to HPV tests, which have high -risk human papillomavirus (a virus causing cervical cancer) and PAP smears that determine abnormal cellular changes before cancer, HPV tests. There is even a very effective shot – HPV vaccine – prevents cervical cancer along with five more cancers.
Problem? Not everyone is checked (and the vaccination percentage has stopped). “The Pap smear has been around for more than 80 years,” says dr. Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine of the North Western Memorial Hospital in the GIR Weiss, Ob-Gyn Ob-Gyn. “But unfortunately, over the past 10 years, PAP selection standards have begun to decline.”
According to Weiss, there are several reasons for this. “The most common challenges for cervical cancer screening are: financial barriers, language difficulties, cultural stigma and lack of knowledge about the health care system,” he says.
Access is also a problem. “We know that there are not enough medical service providers in this country, so patients are sometimes challenging,” Stanford Medicine Children’s Health-DR. Michelle Khan, Ob-Gyn, learning reproductive infectious diseases.
And then there is fear and anxiety about the pelvic exam on the screen. “The exam may result in discomfort because we traditionally use speculation that is not the most convenient type of exam, and this can be an obstacle to patients,” says Khan.
The newly approved FDA -approved Teal Health Test Set at a home called Teal Wand is seeking to break down some of those obstacles and help eliminate cervical cancer screening gap as women are easier to try.
Problem: Cervical cancer screening can be uncomfortable, so people can avoid appointment. Others do not look regularly because they have no time, money or access to the doctor.
By number: According to the National Cancer Institute, nearly 30% of the suitable Americans are not checked for cervical cancer, and between 20% and 50% of women with cervical cancer were not checked in the diagnosis of the American Cancer Society (ACS) within five years before the diagnosis. According to the data of the National Institutes of Health, regular examination can reduce cervical cancer from 50% to 80%. According to the World Health Organization, these selection also save lives and reduce the risk of death by 80% or more. (Meanwhile, the HPV vaccine is almost 90% effective to prevent cervical cancer.)
Solution: The Teal Health Tea Rod is a cervical cancer screening measure that can be done at home for people aged 25-65-no specula or bags are required. Here’s how it works: When you order a set, you will have a virtual visit with Teal Medical Service Provider to go beyond your cervical cancer selection history and explain how the home test works before they indicate. After an example, he was sent to the laboratory for analysis. Then take a test for the primary HPV test recommended by ACS and US Prevention Services Working Group. Test results published on the patient portal online; If you need further care, for example, if the test results return abnormal or positive HPV, you can do a virtual visit with Teal supplier to talk about other actions and get a referral if necessary.
“The selection is critical – cervical cancer is 100% avoided if caught early,” says Kara Egan, CEO and fellow man (along with Dr. Avnesh Thakor) from Teal Health. “When you look at the reasons why people don’t do it, it’s time and comfort – whether you have time for your day or is there [doctor] Accessibility, which are certainly no longer available for these appointments. And then the other is the fear of the exam and the discomfort. So we can actually turn to the main obstacles that everyone feels. ‘
The ability to take this important test at home means that it is “less thing you have to worry about,” says Egan.
Experts are happy and optimistic about the new device, including Weiss, which says the wand is 96% accurate to detect HPV when there is a Pretimser. “I see it as a great tool for people who, for various reasons, are unable to use health care,” he says. “Theal sticks offer a convenient and comfortable choice for cervical cancer checking, reducing obstacles to care and increasing communication with preventive health care. This also allows women to control their health care under their own conditions.”
Khan agrees: “I think it’s a really exciting tool we have now. I hope it will replace cervical cancer.”
While it is difficult to overcome the convenience of the test at home, Doctor Karen Tang, Gynecologist and Author This is not hysteria: all you need to know about your reproductive health (but never said)Is it Yahoo tells you that it does not change your personal examination with your doctor. “Any checking of cervical cancer is better than any test, although I have concern for patients to consider at home to avoid a gynecologist to see personally when there are many other things we discuss and examine the normal gynecological exam, without cervical cancer check.”
Tang also emphasizes that there are other options for those who seem uncomfortable with the guesses during the pelvic exam. For example, self -assembled cervical cancer screening sets such as Onclarity HPV and Cobas HPV, use a small swab or brush and are a good choice for people who want to not make standard checks; However, they need to be done at the health service provider’s office, not at home. If necessary, doctors can also use less children’s speculation.
And there are some promising Spectulum design progress – what has not changed much in 170 years. For example, Yona is a new speculation that uses three silicone -coated metal “leaves” to distinguish vaginal walls rather than two bills of exchange so doctors can better see the cervix and inner vagina without creating greater pressure. It also provides space between the doctor’s hand and the exam table, so patients do not need to sink so far.
The point, says Tang, is: “It is very important to get this selection, and what we can do to increase access to the selection for those who may be avoiding it is a good thing.”
Teal Health is currently working on the network using large insurance plans in California and will eventually expand. They will also have a cash option from your pocket (no price is not yet) and the kit can be purchased from a health savings account or flexible expenditure account.