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.
This week on Health Watch, we've been talking about cancers that affect women. While the cause and origin of many cancers remains at least partially unknown, Dr. John Schorge, a gynecologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says there's a clear cause-and-effect relationship between the human papilloma virus, or HPV, and cervical cancer.
Now that doctors know the cause of this kind of cancer, it may be possible to prevent it entirely. Researchers are working on vaccines against the virus that are proving effective in trials. Now doctors have to determine the best time to vaccinate patients to prevent HPV infection and cervical cancer. Until vaccines become widely used, practicing safe sex can help reduce exposure to the virus, and annual exams are important for detecting cellular changes in the cervix that may indicate cancer.
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October 2006
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