HPV Archives - EZ.Insure

What You Need to Know about Cervical Health

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, so it’s time to talk about that dreaded subject: cervical cancer. Did you know that each year more than 14,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer, which only has a 66% five-year survival rate?

Yet this disease is actually preventable through vaccination and appropriate screening. In order to help spread the word about cervical health, we have some facts that all women should know, so they can lower their risk of HPV infection and cervical cancer.

Most adults have been infected with HPV

Here’s the thing about the sexually transmitted disease human papillomavirus, or HPV: most forms of it are harmless and leave the body within a year or two without causing any symptoms. That is why more than 79 million Americans, or the majority of sexually active adults, have had it. And there are around 14 million new infections each year. But some strains of the virus can cause serious health complications, which can lead to cervical cancer in women.

Cervical cancer screening is recommended

yellow stethoscope surrounding a red heart — *Screenings can help detect cervical cancer in its earliest form!*

If you are a sexually active woman, you should visit a gynecologist for regular cervical cancer screenings. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines for cervical cancer screening are:

Women aged 21 to 29 should have a pap test every 3 years. HPV testing alone can be considered for women who are 25 to 29, but pap tests are preferred.
Women aged 30 to 65 have three options for testing. You can have both a pap test and an HPV test every 5 years. You can have a pap test alone every 3 years, or you can have HPV testing alone every 5 years.
After age 65, you can stop having cervical cancer screenings if you have never had abnormal cervical cells or cervical cancer, and you’ve had two or three negative screening tests in a row, depending on the type of test.

These screenings can help detect cervical cancer in its earliest and most treatable form. As well as precancerous cells, which can decrease your chances of developing the disease or dying from it. A gynecologist will screen for the disease with an HPV test for women older than age 25, followed by a pap test if the virus is detected.

Free and low-cost screening is available

A local clinic, pharmacy, or hospital can offer free or low-cost cervical cancer screenings if you need one and cannot afford your deductible or co-payment, or do not have health insurance.

HPV vaccines are recommended for both boys and girls

illustration of a vaccine syringe — *The CDC recommends that both boys and girls get the HPV vaccine.*

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that both boys and girls get the vaccine that protects against HPV, specifically the riskier strains. Although HPV affects women more than men, men are carriers and can spread it to women without knowing. The recommended age to receive the vaccine is 12 years old, but anyone younger than 26 can get the vaccine.

Having the right health coverage is key

Having a great health insurance plan is important so you can get routine screenings for HPV. When trying to select the right health insurance plan for you and your family, you will come across many different choices. The right one for you will depend on your lifestyle, the doctors you want to see, and any medical equipment you need or medications that you take regularly.

Comparing plans is the best way to find an affordable plan that provides the right level of coverage for you. Before you start doing the work of comparing on your own, come to EZ. We will make the process quicker and easier by comparing available plans in your area in minutes. Our licensed agents work with all the top-rated insurance companies in the nation. They can go over your budget and needs, and find the best plan for you and your family. We compare plans and offer guidance at no cost to you. To get free quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above. Or to speak directly with an agent, call 888-350-1890.

Are You At Risk For HPV?

You would think with the rise of Human Papillomavirus(HPV) cases, the number of vaccinations would also rise. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. HPV is the most common STI because people don’t know how to protect themselves.

To make matters worse, a study conducted in 2018 found that almost 70% of adults don’t know that anal, penile, and oral cancers can come from HPV infections. Because of this, there are an estimated 24 million active cases, and 5.5 million new cases each year.

the word "cancer" in a newspaper article magnified by a magnifying glass — *About 70% of adults are unaware that HPV can cause other cancers than just cervical.*

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), “HPV is so common that nearly all sexually active men and women get the virus at some point in their lives.” Because there usually aren’t symptoms, many people don’t know they are infected, especially men.

Men can blindly spread it to women because they don’t know what to look for. If left untreated, HPV can lead to a variety of cancers for both sexes.

Texas Study on HPV Awareness

Researchers from UTHealth conducted a study with 2,564 men and 3,697 women. The group was split into three age groups of 18-26 years, 27-45 years, and 45 years and older. They asked each group about HPV and cancer.

Of the age groups:

In people aged 18-26 years, about 92% of men, and 79% of women were unaware that HPV causes anal, penile, and oral cancers
In people aged 27-45 years, about 89% of men, and 78% of women were unaware.
In people aged 46 years and older, about 85% of men, and 78% of women were unaware.

Risk Factors for Contracting HPV

A graph of gold bars going up with an upward arrow above the bars. — *A high number of sex partners is a contributing risk factor to contracting HPV.*

If you were like these age groups, you might also be unaware of how you contract HPV. Get checked by your doctor if you:

Have a high number of sexual partners.
Have a history of STIs.
Have HIV.
Have a weakened immune system.
Had sex at a young age.

Prevention

Both the CDC and physicians recommend that people get HPV vaccinations as early as 9-years-old until they turn 27. In 2006, HPV vaccines were recommended just for girls to prevent cervical cancer. By 2001, it was recommended that boys get the vaccine too. This was because of science showed that men are also at risk for HPV related cancers and genital warts.

Boys and girls ages 9-14 should receive a 2-dose vaccine six months apart, but if the vaccine was administered after 15-years-old, then it is a 3-dose.

Co-lead study author Kalyani Sonawane, Ph.D. said, “Low levels of HPV knowledge in these older age groups is particularly concerning, given that these individuals are (or will likely be) parents responsible to making HPV vaccination decisions for their children.”

Caucasian woman with a side braid and light blue collared shirt on shrugging with her hands mid waist. — *People do not know how to protect themselves because they are unaware of the true dangers of HPV.*

As the study showed, more than half of adults between the ages of 27 and 45 are unaware that HPV is linked to multiple cancers. This is most likely why people do not take HPV seriously.

However, as science shows, we need to take it seriously. We can see that at first, it was just linked to cervical cancer in women. When more studies were conducted, it was linked to penile, anal, and oral cancers in both sexes. Now that we have a better idea, more people need to be aware of it.

The truth is, it is no one’s fault that people don’t know. We can take steps to inform more people so that they have better chances to be protected, especially if they meet a lot of risk factors. In order to decrease the number of HPV cases, physicians, schools, and parents all need to spread awareness of the infection and its vaccinations.

Lung Cancer Is More Common In Non-Smokers Than You Think

When a person is diagnosed with lung cancer, the first question asked is “were they a smoker?” The reason is that most people believe you only get lung cancer from smoking cigarettes. Whereas the reality is that most lung cancer patients are not active smokers. Anyone with lungs can get it.

Drawing of two lungs, on the right side, it is darker than the right side. — *For non-smokers, lung cancer is considered the 6th most common cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.*

For non-smokers, lung cancer is considered the 6th most common cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Researchers say the main reason for so many deaths is lack of funding. There is a difference between lung cancer with smokers and non-smokers.

The Causes

Current or former smokers are at a high risk of getting lung cancer, but non-smokers are at risk as well. About 10-15% of non-smokers develop lung cancer due to different risk factors.

Secondhand Smoke– If you live with, or work in proximity to a smoker, then your lung cancer risk raises by 24%. Inhaling tobacco smoke is as bad as smoking the tobacco yourself. Secondhand smoke is responsible for almost 3,000 American lung cancer deaths annually.
Radon Gas– Exposure to radon gas in your home is another contributing risk factor. Radon gas is a radioactive gas that is still, colorless, and odorless. You cannot see, smell or taste radon, but it may be a problem in your home. It forms when uranium decays in soil, rocks, and water. Radon gas accounts for a yearly 12% of American lung cancer deaths. Most, if not all, houses contain radon gas detectors. Make sure your detector is up to date, working, and serviced regularly.
Asbestos– Asbestos is a compound that was used in home/building insulation in the past. When the asbestos fibers break loose and are released into the air, a person can inhale them. Lung cancer develops from inhaling this toxic substance, and it can also cause mesothelioma.
Genetics– If you have a family history of lung cancer, then your risk is higher regardless of your smoking habits.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)– According to a small study, HPV, a sexually transmitted virus, has been found in lung cancer cells. Researchers examined 36 tumor tissue samples from patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who had never smoked. The investigators found that about 6% of tissue samples showed signs of infection from strains of HPV known to cause cancer.
If a person lives in a city, or close to a power plant, then they have a higher risk of developing lung cancer.
Air Pollution– Pollution from cars and power plants is unavoidable. If a person lives in a city, or close to a power plant, then they have a higher risk of developing lung cancer. Almost 2,000 lung cancer deaths a year are due to polluted air.

The Difference in Lung Cancers

There are 2 types of lung cancer: squamous cell lung cancers and adenocarcinomas.

Squamous Cell Lung Cancer
– Also called epidermoid carcinoma, it occurs when abnormal lung cells multiply out of control and form a tumor. This type of cancer accounts for 25-30% of all lung cancers. It is more common in people who smoke, and it grows near the airways, causing coughing symptoms early on, including coughing up blood.
Adenocarcinomas
– This type of cancer forms in mucus-secreting glands throughout the body. It typically occurs in 85-90% of lung cancer cases, and is also the most common type of cancer, regardless of smoking habits, mostly found in women and young adults. It often grows in the lung’s outer regions. A person can have this type of lung cancer for a long time and show no symptoms. If you do have symptoms, the ones to watch for are shortness of breath, bone pain, and fatigue.

Lung cancer is diagnosed at a later stage for non-smokers because they usually lack symptoms. People with allergies or a respiratory infection often brush these issues off as normal. Due to the fact that lung cancer is seen as a self-caused cancer by smokers, funding and research are limited. However, to help people live, researchers are constantly looking for ways to detect lung cancer in non-smokers at an earlier stage.

Lung cancer has no prejudice; both non-smokers and smokers are susceptible to dying from it. In order to lower a non-smoker’s chances of developing it, there are preventive measures they can take. Check your home for radon gas and asbestos, get checked for HPV, and avoid being in close proximity to a smoker when you can. If you suspect something is off, like coughing more than normal, shortness of breath, bone pain, or feeling tired regularly, see your doctor and get tested. The longer you excuse your symptoms for a cold, the more cancer progresses. Do not wait to take care of yourself, you can beat lung cancer before it begins, or worsens.