Local women’s health practitioner talks about cervical cancer

JACKSON, Tenn. – January raises awareness for cervical cancer for women.

Women’s Health Practitioner for the Women’s Clinic, LaCinda Butler shared the importance of having an annual pap smear.

“If you detect it earlier then you’re going to be able to do treatment earlier to prevent the progression of the disease. That’s the biggest thing. There’s probably 13,000 cases that are diagnosed,” Butler said.

She says that cervical cancer is not a genetic disease and is caused by something else.

“The most common cause of cervical cancer is HPV, which is sexually transmitted,” Butler said.

There are some symptoms to see if you are worried about having cervical cancer.

“Of course when you Google symptoms you’re gonna find abnormal bleeding, changes in discharge, bleeding after intercourse, those types of things,” Butler said.

Early prevention is possible by having your annual pap smear exam starting at age 21 and getting the HPV vaccine as early as age nine.

The Women’s Clinic is open on Mondays and Fridays from hours 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

If these times are not flexible for you, there is another option.

“We have an after clinic on Monday nights and it usually starts anywhere about 4:30 and runs until a little after seven. And that’s better for working women that doesn’t need to take days off,” Butler said.

During those hours they can do pap smears and mammograms.

This can affect some women who may be pregnant or who would like to get pregnant.

“It can increase your risk throughout your pregnancy if you have certain types of cervical cancers. So again, that early detection would eliminate a lot of the complications that occur with the pregnancy,” Butler said.

The Women’s Clinic in Jackson is located at 244 Coatsland Drive in Jackson.

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