Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
We're talking about cancer this week on Healthwatch. More than 4,000 women in the United States die every year of cervical cancer. Doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center say limiting the number of sexual partners is key to preventing cervical cancer. The human papilloma virus is linked to more than 95 percent of cervical cancers. This virus is spread by sexual contact.
Dr. Carolyn Muller, a UT Southwestern gynecologist, says condoms can reduce exposure but don't eliminate risk entirely. The best way to prevent exposure is to avoid sex with people who have had multiple partners and to limit the number of sexual partners. Although the virus is linked to most cervical cancers, only a fraction of infected women will develop cancer.
An annual Pap smear can detect cellular changes that indicate pre-cancerous lesions.
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July 2005
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