Cervical Cancer Prevention: What To Look For and What To Ask During Annual Exams

The unexpected death of beauty influencer Jessica Pettway has many concerned after she shared she was misdiagnosed with a tumor only to learn later she actually had cervical cancer.
Dr. Wendy McDonald sat down with us to discuss what women need to look for and what questions they should be asking when they have annual exams.
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[@nederahpollack]

I had never had an abnormal papsmear, so my doctor tried to talk me out of getting a papsmear & to wait 3 years. I forced them to do it. That was my first abnormal papsmear ever, and it came back with high-grade displasia. I received treatment for 6 years & it still eventually turned into cervical cancer. I am fine & cancer free now, but please get your annual papsmear no matter what your doctor says!

[@mekajones7273]

I get mine every year...

[@myhealthislife]

It's sad to see how the healthcare system is now. We definitely need to advocate for ourselves.

[@god563616]

Thank you for this!!! I was told since I'm not sexually active to get one every 3 years. Last year I scheduled one and my doctor told me no so I'm going to go to another OBGYN. Thank you for this.

[@LightSkinCandice]

Thank you for sharing this. Because my doctor actually just told me the exact same thing last week when I asked for a pap smear. He said since my last pap smear in 2022 was normal, that I only needed one every 3 years.

[@DEEDEE-gw7hl]

Wow thanks for that advice!

[@laames1599]

I had cervical cancer from 17-18 due to HPV. Luckily it was caught quickly and a leep procedure was done. It cured me. So blessed to still have kids. I had high risk pregnancies but very blessed. I'll be 35 in a few days and I still get check every year. Don't let the health care system fail you! She's right make them prove you're safe!

[@gmb6050]

@laames, the same thing happened for me back in 2000. I am so thankful for the leep procedure that saved my life.

[@laames1599]

@@gmb6050 💜🙏

[@DARKANDLOVELYful]

I was in the hospital being treated for severe migraine. I begged my doctor for a pap smear because I felt that something was off "down there". At one in the morning they did the test and found cervical cancer. I was 25 years old, now 69. No cancer after surgery.

[@DetroitRed03]

Hi, I am 29 years old. What were you experiencing down there?😢

[@ncg5560]

This is tragic. I had two doctors miss my cervical cancer in 1980. By the time the third doctor correctly diagnosed it, I was in stage 3. Doctors DO NOT take women seriously even now. 😢

[@tabbyb3514]

Thank God you were healed ❤️🙏🏿

[@elenaarman-tang7811]

May I ask how you were cured? Did you undergo a full hysterectomy?

[@meahdahlgren6537]

Ncg5560 sad but true

[@AS-kx4bl]

Did you have regular, prior, pap tests? Just curious...

[@bellaklouisaevans]

They do take us seriously, they get PAID for it to hit a late stage so they get money for the businesses made after being sick. They do it with everything. My daughter is dead due to them ignoring her kidney disease. We need to start taking self responsibility and atop thinking these ppl care about us. It's the same as black men and prostate cancer. No profit in catching it early.

[@lashellhenry-maivia4464]

When i found out I had cervical cancer my insurance put me thru so much bs, i fought and fought and got the surgery. Yes ladies please get your exams and second,third etc opinions. Thank you for bringing this attention.❤❤❤❤❤

[@LaLa-Luminous]

I recently loss a dear friend of mine from cervical cancer after the doctors kept dismissing her and telling her she had an UTI. She went to a hospital in another state where they discovered advanced stage cervical cancer. I am devastated and so angry with the healthcare system. 😢

[@kissy0k8]

🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@trinjuwan4422]

RIGHT. The healthcare system is FAULTY. BE AFRAID, AWARE & FIGHT/ADVOCATE 4 yourself & loved ones. MORE OFTEN than NOT, Dr's DONT CARE. You are just one more patient in the line up of a looong list JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER SYSTEMATIC STRUCTURE in society. The system is designed to profit, NOT CARE‼️😤

[@calledalways]

🙏🏾my condolences to you and your loved ones

[@Ccgemini]

My mother was mis diagnosed and told she had a UTI. She was still feeling sick and went to another doctor who did a@ scan and saw two big Tumors. My mom had Cancer not a UTI. I do a Pap every year and I did a Braca to check my genetics 🧬 for Cancer. Ladies ask questions and listen to your body.

[@trb3074]

Get a yearly Pap smear, even if they tell you that you don't need one for years.

[@pn1856]

I agree!! Me🙋🏽‍♀️ too. I don’t care what the guidelines are, I get my pap once a year!!!

[@empressmartin832]

Does your health insurance allow it?

[@pn1856]

@@empressmartin832 Yes it does. Well mines does

[@jayvacay]

most insurances do allow for annual visits and if not pls advise or remind your PCP if you have had an abnormal pap in the past that you need to be checked annually. If they still say no then dispute it with your insurance, and/or find another physician

[@yogaqueen1527]

​@@empressmartin832insurance still covers once a year

[@AncientOne222]

This is a result of medical racism, black women are often ignored and their complaints are often labeled as anxiety.

[@More_of_Jesus]

Facts.

[@K42023]

Just stop havin sex. Abstinence.

[@AngelasTravelAdventures]

Yes, and it needs to stop.

[@DukeChubbyDun]

Women in general are often ignored, but black women at higher rates. It's saddening and maddening!

[@AS-kx4bl]

Goes both ways. As a Black multi-racial woman I was kinda mad that they wanted me to do the HPV test and said that I was in the "High Risk' group, like because I am Black/multi-racial I am promiscuous and high-risk??? Anyways I had it done and was negative for all the tested strains of HPV and had a clean PAP as well. Watching this feature took away my anger though... at very least I am being examined adequately and was papped a couple of time now.

[@qwitaherrod7056]

my heart is broken for her family. I have to make sure I am consistently going to the doctor!!

[@myhealthislife]

I was told by a healthcare provider that I shouldn't come to the doctor yearly; I'm healthy. I went to another doctor fast. It's sad, but some of them don't care seriously.

[@shenilewhite5856]

​@@myhealthislifeI was told the same by the nurse at the Clinic..I live in Jamaica....But I am going to make sure I did my Papsmeare This year because I have a right to live a Healthy Long Life

[@myhealthislife]

Agreed@@shenilewhite5856

[@MaryLee-vk5pi]

The same thing happened to me I had gone to see my Doctor and I told him that I could smell and taste blood He spoke with me as though I was imagining it then he suggested that I might want to go see a Counselor I went to see a Counselor he sent ny Doctor a note telling him that there was nothing wrong with me The Counselor said in the note to the Doctor stating that he should come see him and that he should listen to me I was at home when I passed out my Daughter found me on the living room floor She called 911 I had to have emergency surgery They found two tumors a 12 pound tumor in my abdomen a grapefruit size tumor in ny uterus and I had inturnal bleeding My Daughter saved my life Most male Doctors think that Women are overreacting to issues that aren't normal in regards to their body My thoughts and prayers goes out to the Family of this beautiful young Lady My God rest her precious young soul Heartbreaking story

[@asiablackgrl6482]

I’ve had bad experiences dealing with the western medical healthcare system and HPV for years!! I finally found a black woman doctor and feel so much better! She answers all my questions and runs any and every test that I want! Also, found out I was HPV free! Praying that all my sisters can get a great medical team behind them! 🙏🏿

[@sidni.d5989]

What did you do to clear it?

[@gmb6050]

@asianlackgrl6482, that is wonderful that you found a good Dr.😊What state are you in? Is your dr taking new patients?

[@ellimac2tru]

Yeah this was so preventable. When I was in college I wanted to get on birth control and the health center told me I had to get a pap before they put me on BC. Sure enough they found pre-cancerous cells on my cervix. I had a very quick out-patient LEEP procedure and I got the HPV vaccine. Sine then, all my paps have been clear of any issues and after some time, they’ve told me I can skip a few years between but I always get my annual paps 10 years later. PLEASE sisters, always advocate for yourselves now that we know how preventable cervical cancer is! ❤️🙏🏾

[@meahdahlgren6537]

It's not aways preventable

[@ellimac2tru]

@@meahdahlgren6537 Im sorry, thank you for the correction. The disease itself may not always preventable, but it is easily early detected if you’re getting regular paps.

[@meahdahlgren6537]

@@ellimac2tru ok

[@Lisa-kz7vw]

I just learned of her passing so sad my obgyn does papsmears every year she said she is against the recommendations for every 2 to 3 year's thing with cancer you never know how slow or fast it can progress everyone's body is different she was so young 36 and was gone in the blink of a eye take control of you're health get checked yearly pay out of pocket it's worth it 😢

[@itohano8724]

This happened to a close friend of mine. She was diagnosed with CV cancer in Feb and died in April. So quick and tragic! They need to change the pap guidelines back to yearly! After my friend passed, I had to push back to insist on my yearly pap. Also if you can get your HPV vaccine. Let your daughters get their HPV vaccines out of the way when they are teens.

[@tiberiajames5997]

Women healthcare is horrible in this country . We used to get pap smears every year, now insurance companies will only pay every 2-3 years, unless you have an abnormal test. A lot things could be caught if it wasn't about money.

[@LightSkinCandice]

I agree!

[@shenilewhite5856]

@tiberiajames5997 • I live in a Third World Country and health care is horrible,but I am going to do my Papsmeare this year because I want to live to see my daughter's walk the doors of University and be apart of Society..RIP to That beautiful KZbinr who lost her Battle To Cervical Cancer .. Condolences to the Bereaved Family 🙏🏿

[@MaryLee-vk5pi]

Agree

[@derica4643]

You’re absolutely right. I remember when my doc told me insurance guidelines had changed. I said ok cool. I still get one annually and just pay for it out of pocket on the years not covered

[@Queen-ConsciousYa]

They’re trying to research and advance women’s healthcare currently. Reproductive healthcare is substandard due to systemic sexism/racism.

[@georgia-b2d]

I accidentally healed myself from fibroids by drinking lemon water ( heavy on the lemon) everyday. I was reading one day and found out that lemon juice works great on shrinking fibroids. Rest Easy Sistar and condolences to her family

[@mekajones7273]

I drink lemon water to everyday... I also have fibroid... I

[@humansparkler]

@@mekajones7273so not helping you?

[@86Kera]

I’m gonna start drinking more of it

[@morelandevents9058]

I drink warm lemon water every morning on a empty stomach

[@Queen-ConsciousYa]

No, just go to the doctor.

[@rosecitytheaftershow]

This hurts my heart. Let’s share this information with our family and friends. Praying for her family. 🙏🏽🕊🤍

[@sammiig]

Yup I definitely clicked on this fast. I have fibroids and this story about the influencer surely gave me a scare.

[@Morrisneuro83]

Fibroids has nothing do do with paps

[@vgrannyvl2]

Well the woman in the burgundy dress disagrees. She’s a physician. So I’m going to believe her…

[@86Kera]

I’m so thankful for my gyno from years ago who advocated for me every step of the way. She was adamant about having my fibroids removed and testing the masses for cancer just to be sure. She’s a great oncologist.

[@sscott504]

What's crazy is a pap is being done every 3-5years now....insane!!!

[@rosecitytheaftershow]

Yeah I don't like that.

[@biancam2327]

My last dr tried telling me that. I told her nope.. I want one every year.

[@yeseniacastillo5796]

I agree @sscott504! I was told that the insurance company does not cover it yearly if your pap is normal. Only will do it yearly if it’s abnormal.

[@nca4794]

Don't go by what the office says, go by what your insurance offers. Some policies have a provision for you to get it yearly. If that's the case, tell your gyno or gp, whoever performs the pap, that your insurance covers a yearly exam so you would like to schedule it. If they push back, tell them you're paying for it anyway, so you might as well get it done. And, if they *still* push back, which they shouldn't, take that as a sign that they don't have your best interest at heart and go somewhere else.

[@gracief3242]

Same. The VA Gyno told me to I needed a Pap smear every 3 years. That’s why I go to a civilian and have my Pap smear yearly. Sometimes you gotta be smarter than the doctors.

[@thisnaturalgirlislocd]

Keeping her family and loved-ones lifted in Prayer 🙏🏽

[@JJ-kf4kc]

Please ladies. Use your brains. This is tragic, if you are ever bleeding out of the ordinary that is a sign to get yourself into the doctor's office and do not leave until you are tested.

[@danyellecarter]

Went and did my Pap smear immediately when I heard this news. I hate doing them, but will now take it seriously doing them annually. RIP JP

[@hadlee189]

As a person who was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer, & now a Survivor...You "have" to advocate for yourself, it is a must!

[@TT-cu7ze]

That's NOT normal at all. I had fibroids in fact when I was 34 i had a partial hysterectomy and I had a fibroid the size of a grapefruit. Ot can cause heavy bleeding on your cycle and spotting occasionally but nothing requiring blood transfusion! This is tragic!

[@mekajones7273]

Exactly

[@vgrannyvl2]

I used to bleed so badly I would miss 2-3 days from work and wear 3 and four pads.. I bought so many sanitary hospital sized pads every month. I had many blood transfusions…just crazy. A hysterectomy was a Godsend for me..

[@god563616]

I followed Jessica since 2009 on KZbin. It's heartbreaking. We are supposed to trust our Doctors! I hope her husband sues the smitherins out of that hospital. Malpractice for sure!!!!

[@LightSkinCandice]

The family needs to sue the doctor that misdiagnosed her! I am getting tired of doctors just brushing everything off and saying “it’s normal”……🙄🙄

[@TMB62]

This is insane 😢 That same year I had the same issue in April. I was given a blood transfusion in the hospital. Before I left that hospital I had a CT, ultrasound and a pap. Then followed with an in office biopsy a few weeks later. Once cancer was ruled out then I was told I had fibroids. It breaks my heart she didn't get this same care.

[@dupesonlyanddrugstores7421]

❤❤❤❤ all of my daughters had the HPV vaccine when they were teenagers now they are in their 30s and 20s and I’m thankful that they had that done

[@ladyt4062]

Rely on the Holy Spirit! I was dismissed by a black female doctor before being diagnosed with breast cancer 24 years ago. She said that it was “a piece of my ribs.”SMH Praise God my mom advised me to go to another doctor, by the time I told her I was diagnosed with stage two cancer. My advice, as soon as you find the lump go to the doctor, and if dismissed go to another one. I found the initial lump.

[@vgrannyvl2]

My doctors refused to operate and I had 4 or 5 transfusions. Doctors said that fibroids swell and become inflamed and then shrink. By the time doctors prepare for surgery and open you up, they are gone..that’s the story they gave me and I had it rough. I moved to Colorado and within 3 months I had emergency hysterectomy surgery…

[@tamlynn786]

My mom died of cervical cancer and she used tampons for many years from her teenage years through adulthoood. I stopped using them about 10 years ago after hearing they can cause HPV and cervical cancer and switched to pads. Why was this not brought up in the video? I’d rather error on the side of caution and eliminate tampon use altogether. Ladies, please ditch the tampons!!

[@meahdahlgren6537]

Right

[@Kamilahpumpum]

Facts

[@BayouBarbie504]

I stopped using tampons when I was 15. I had a big cousin that couldn’t have a baby because of tampon use and it scared me. I noticed I don’t cramp like my friends that use tampons.

[@JustBee03]

Tampons cause HPV? Since when? I have heavy bleeding from fibroids so I HAVE to use super sized Tampons AND pads to slow the bleeding.

[@meahdahlgren6537]

@@JustBee03 no they don't

[@memem5976]

I remember this influencer. So beautiful and talented. So sad.

[@tammied1858]

Makes me wonder if any of those doctors performed an ultrasound. Only the final doctor asked to take a look. Those other doctors should not be allowed to "practice."

[@Ms.HoneyH]

I just wonder if she was going to the doctor to get a pap smear and pelvic exam ultrasound done every year, and she could have done a travaginal ultrasound and a CT scan exam.

[@29.11plum]

I was diagnosed with 20 cm of fibroids and went over a year before having surgery. It wasn’t biopsied until after surgery. Thank God it was just fibroids. I was 28 at the time. Had surgery at 29 and Im now 30. I had an abdominal vertical myomectomy. Currently now trying to have a baby. I blame myself. I went over 5 years without a vaginal exam. The tumors grew in that time frame! My paps have all been normal.

[@applesidertea]

Went to grade school with this brilliant queen. Go, Wendy!!! So proud of you.

[@peachypie3442]

Thank you for coming on the show upon hearing the news. We love you so much. Continue to be the great OBGYN you are.

[@nopressurenodiamonds5566]

I had a colonoscopy and 7 pre cancerous polyps were found and they told me come back in 3 years. Nope, I’ll back back every year until I’m in the clear! Most doctors don’t care anymore and this is a fact.

[@dupesonlyanddrugstores7421]

❤❤❤❤ good to know I’m 47 and I usually get my paps every year including with my mammograms so I do think it’s very important to have them every year. Most women don’t unfortunately.

[@Maggie-zr2ow]

Mammograms can also cause it. And there’s a type that resolves on its own but women are put through H being treated. Check out Michael Greger Nutrition Facts videos for more info.

[@littIefairy]

That was very informative. Thank you!

[@atlsongbyrd6084]

Wow! This is so sad! You know your body so ask the doctor to run certain test if you suspect that you have something. If they don’t do it then go to another doctor!

[@adechalus]

5 years ago I went to my gyn because of heavy bleeding. They said I had fibroids and it was benign. 6 months later I was in the hospital getting a blood transfusion. I changed my gyn and had surgery to remove my fibroids. All good until 2024, bleeding started back again. I have a new gyn since I moved. They saw fibroids again and palup. They did a biopsy and PAP fortunately no cancer. The last time I had a PAP was in 2019 when I had the fibroid issues initially so I was a little nervous. Yesterday I had another surgery. Ablation to my uterus , removal of palup and fibroids, and removal of fallopian tubes. I have 4 kids so I’m good lol ! Decreased my chances of ovarian cancer by 60-70%. I will be returning next year for a PAP lol I had two coworkers who died from cervical cancer from not getting PAPs. I’m not going to take any chances. Regular checkups are vital.

[@Millennial_Matriarch]

I like this doc.

[@ammaopoku5397]

Here in the UK, a Pap smear test is given by the National health service every three years and I guess what you’re saying is we have to go every year to get a Pap smear test and not wait three years because anything can happen. I’m booking an appointment on Monday if I have to pay out of pocket, I will do so.

[@meahdahlgren6537]

Right ❤

[@timescale9326]

Me too!!

[@warrenas79]

A doctor "thoughtful" enough? THOUGHTFUL enough??! thoughtful is remembering she doesnt like mushrooms. You mean she finally found a doctor COMPETENT enough to actually do his JOB?? There is an INCOMPETENCE epidemic in the medical profession

[@hoosieraussis1]

Even if it was proven benign fibroids, I can't understand their letting her go so long without intervention with such severe anemia! A full workup including imaging, pap, and endometrial biopsy should have been done well before 8 months. Granted, by the time she was bleeding, it was almost certainly already invasive cancer, but we'll never know if it may have been caught at an earlier stage. The key to cervical cancer success is prevention. Please keep up with your scheduled paps, get the gardisil vaccine, and advocate for yourself!

[@meahdahlgren6537]

Right

[@tasteoflios6572]

So heartbroken 💔 😢

[@ashiramorris9632]

For 2 months i went to the doctor 3 times due to continuous bleeding, each time the prescibed higher doses of birth control to stop it. One night i went to the emergency and found out i was pregnant in my tubes Sometimes I wonder if these people willfully misdiagnose certain patients

[@beeznhoney4323]

You could've d!ed🤬 Doctors ignored my relative like that. On a Friday they told her "oh you're pregnant, but you'll be okay" although she was screaming in severe pain. They told her to _"go home and put her feet up. Relax"_ By Sun, she was near crawling in pain and barely made it back to ER at the same hospital. The ER doctor caught the tubal pregnancy. He was so scared that she could burst and bleed to death. He wanted to operate right away but there wasn't staff for that😒She had no idea she was even pregnant until that Fri. The ER Dr reluctantly gave her pain meds & sent her home. She called off work and return for surgery the next day. Of course, this was another BWoman being dismissed about her body & pain.

[@ashiramorris9632]

@beeznhoney4323 That's so sad, we really don't keep the care we need. I'm glad she was OK.

[@cookingwithkira802]

My mom passed away in 2021 at age 51 from cervical cancer After we were informed that she had fibroids for three years😔😔❤RIP mommy❤

[@antoaneta70]

💔😪😪

[@redpinky44]

this was a damn good table talk discussion

[@ghanaina12]

This is so heartbreaking 💔 prayers for her family, the precious little girls 😢🙏

[@FernGray]

I was traumatized when I went to an obgyn at Georgetown in DC and he did not even want to touch me and do a physical exam. I have fibroids and endometriosis and I’m very proactive about my care. I was appalled and really felt small. I never went back to that doctors office.

[@gmb6050]

@FernGray, Im sorry to hear about your bad obgyn experience at Georgetown. I hope you were able to find a better obgyn in the area. I also went to an obgyn in DC at Georgetown. Her name was Monica Elston and she was fantastic!

[@kimberlyjones6476]

You know what’s best. It’s your body, your life. Like she said, get a second opinion, especially if the symptoms continue and are bothersome or debilitating. I’ve known too many people even men who were told it’s nothing or not that serious and then a year later it was cancer.

[@LeeLee-ux8gh]

HPV connection to Cervical Cancer!!

[@WOG-ue9mt]

This is horrific 😢 Father have mercy

[@exboyjr]

Very informative!

[@humansparkler]

She needs to talk more about HPV. HPV is sexual transmitted.

[@Morrisneuro83]

Exactly this is so true, many women of color have many sexual partners and think it doesn’t matter…it does actually

[@LeeLee-ux8gh]

Yes, that’s where Cervical Cancer comes from HPV!!!!

[@humansparkler]

@@LeeLee-ux8gh they are dancing around the core issue…I hate this for the audience…

[@rissa8329]

I agree. Can men get cancer from HPV like we do??

[@humansparkler]

@@rissa8329 not sure. Don’t think so… but could be wrong

[@MichelleFaith-ez8br]

I've demanded one for each year! They only agreed to it when they noticed a spot that was noncancerous. Before then they said I didn't need to be there every year and I feel like if I had one in the past when they told me not to get one I would've caught whatever they seen!! Smh

[@amberabracadabra]

So sad to hear this, I used to watch her. Such a beautiful woman inside and out ❤❤❤

[@Ahtlis]

As a 44 year old with endometriosis... They do this to all of us, no matter what issues you have down there. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT US.

[@heatherdowdy8651]

Great info and segment thanks for sharing Dr. Wendy!

[@Missliaz]

This is so sad I am sorry and my condolences to her family ❤❤❤

[@FernGray]

What we aren’t talking about is if this tumor was so large and bloody and she gave birth vaginally just a few years before how was it missed at that stage as well?

[@lcolon5606]

What doctor did she see??? Preventive care is what is needed. ER will go by insurance. Best to establish a primary and gyn that get to know your history.

[@realfiregoddess]

I prefer to get tested every year.

[@tabbyb3514]

So tragic😢🙏🏿💔

[@Ooo1traj4]

Very sad story may soul rest in peace

[@Nasrumii]

All of my doctors let me know to wait 3 years if my pap result is healthy. I’ve been going faithfully to all my appointments. Going very soon this year. I’ve even had doctors tell me that they can’t give me a cervical Check or wellness checkup before the 3 year mark because my insurance won’t cover it. There’s not much information out there about cervical cancer.

[@ArtistrybyAlyssa]

Noted. Get your annual

[@leviloganlauryn1773]

Why do they act like it will cost them to run the test????

[@Michelle_Michelle___]

Because it does. I remember a doctor telling me how expensive it is to get these tests performed in a lab. It’s costly.

[@ROYAL12366]

Tragic story and it’s good that the topic is bringing awareness. However, this young lady did choose not to get treatment when she did find out. Instead, she put her trust in her faith! Ladies, it makes no difference how wine they were or how hard you’re going to advocate for yourself if you don’t end up using the medicine afforded to you!

[@tararansom2750]

fibroids are not normal. period pain is not normal. excessive bleeding is not normal

[@zee_lolaj7382]

My PCP KEPT fighting the fact that I wanted a damn Annual Pap Smear.

[@anjelicaewing5348]

I definitely get one every year

[@monalisaflower6339]

We need to know if when she was diagnosed with the tumor if they did an internal exam and Pap smear.

[@MikeRuby8g]

This was incredibly helpful Dr Obulor for using your herbal remedies to cure Cervical Cancer totally in a short period of time. I’m still amazed for the healing I got doctor you’re great

[@da5449]

My friend was taking care of everyone else accept herself...She was told to wait 3 years for Pap and later found out she had overian cancer stage 4...she die a year after.

[@justyne.justyne]

Sadly if you are a younger individual and do not have history of cancer in your family they will not take you serious. You have to go in there saying you have a history even if this is not true. That is the only way they will run certain test.

[@meahdahlgren6537]

Sad but true

[@DanButters1]

What I have learned, depending on certain states is the medical care for black women is terrible in New York. I get a yearly Pap smear with my GYN appointment, and I’m going to encourage black women in all women to always get a second and third opinion our intuition tells us something and we all need to listen to it

[@HR-re6mr]

It’s all ways to reduce medical/insurance costs in my opinion. Insurance is a business and so is healthcare now. The biggest point is press them to do what’s best for you. And at the very least make sure you get a test scan etc. and not just oh it’s prolly this.. God bless her soul!

[@FranBenjamin-yg7qt]

I get a yearly pap despite the guidelines and even when I'm abstinent it is so sad she prob had hpv

[@Morrisneuro83]

Exactly

[@meahdahlgren6537]

Right

[@theteleisewilliamsexperience]

I had a hysterectomy 10 yrs ago but before that I went yearly the 3 yrs thing is weird. I'm too much of a hypochondriac 2 not get a diagnoses because I will keep going 2 the doctor til the fix whats wrong.

[@meekashabazz6135]

My friends daughter just passed away from this she was only 27 years old. 😢

[@jkgolden6143]

I think like what the doctor said, you should do what works for you. Because guidelines are there for a valid reason but if u don't feel comfortable with that... Do you. Advocate for u. I do think though, we could extrapolate this logic to other cancers like colon cancer. Which now is 45 years old for screening colonoscopy for the average risk individual. But ppl have been diagnosed earlier but not commonly. Guidelines are made for the majority of situations but we likely can all come up with rare cases where following guidelines lead to delay in care. So what is right? Full body imaging by the age of 20? That sounds horrid and fraught with incidental findings galore that can lead to invasive testing and possible complications. Honestly there is no right answer. But guidelines will typically use research and statistics. What an individual does is up to them

[@taytd14]

So helpful ❤

[@lyricrhodes1293]

So sad!

[@shavonh8421]

I go every year

[@zag7257]

YAS! PROVE THAT SHIT! I need literal evidence

[@Shay42835]

They won't le t me get a papsmear because I had a hysterectomy. 3YEARS ago one of my friends died from Cervical Cancer. Ounce she found out it was too late.

[@carameldva11]

I also had a hysterectomy 3 yrs ago but I had everything removed including my cervix. Only my ovaries remained. I never had an abnormal pap. I started to bleed abnormally. I went to my obgyn, I told him I will not leave until they do something. He ordered a sonogram and before I left I was told that I needed a hysterectomy. I had so many fibroids they could not count. I had scheduled surgery before I left the office. We have to speak up and advocate for ourselves.🕊❤️

[@meahdahlgren6537]

​@carameldva11 right

[@Shay42835]

@@carameldva11 I definitely agree. I had a lot of fibroid too. Along with very foul order during my menstrual cycle that almost smelled like death. That is why I decided to do it. This was 9/2015 and my obgyn never discussed any other options with me. So now I have syst or fibroid on my ovaries. I'm 42yrs old. So now I'm interested in getting vaginal cancer screenings. I read there is a risk of Ovarian Cancer after getting hysterectomy.

[@Ciyotnnakauebluzy2seanuh]

Rip to jessica pettyway 🕊️🕊️🕊️

[@exquisitecaribbeanqueen7198]

Medical Racism

[@hajat83]

I wonder if her family will sue ??? 🤔 This could've been prevented

[@Mary-io1mb]

Gross negligence on the doctors who did not perform routine tests like pelvic ultrasound for fibroids; or Pap/HPV tests for Cervical Cancer. She was a black woman; and the negligent medical system just passed it off as a black woman who just has fibroids. This is pure negligence on every doctor involved-including her OB/GYN- who failed to properly examine her. Warning to black women in particular-DO NOT TRUST the medical system for your health. Condolences to her family.

[@AngelasTravelAdventures]

Her story is so sad, and more of the reason why I just don't trust as much even though I have been going to my GYN since 2011.

[@indiyahb2165]

As a young lady i remember my mom taking me to get the hpv shot but why take the shot if we dont have hpv just curios when we trust them so much but arent they just putting ut in our bodies im so not trusting that then later on this is whats happening to us

[@marshajackson8796]

What about when you are told you have aged out for a lap smear? Happened to me.

[@derica4643]

Oh my. Aged out? Please enlighten me. I’ve never heard of such

[@CM-wu2qn]

So if cervical cancer is the "snail of cancers" the guidelines should remain yearly instead of every 3-5yrs. By the 3-5yr mark, women often find out that they are in the later stage of cancer. Makes no sense. Im getting mine done next week.

[@laurenjackson2810]

Kaiser tells you when you’re 18 that you don’t need a Papsmear until after 24-26 & then only ever 3 years. I remember my mom saying wth when I told her what 3 different doctors told me…

[@wiggly103]

You don’t need a Pap smear at age 18 if you are not sexually active. Cervical cancer and most anal cancers are caused by HPV and other viruses spread during sex.

[@megansisk7094]

Stop sleeping with men who have multiple partners and question abnormal pap results if your medical professional is not being completely transparent about helping you understand what that means!!!

[@PaperMario64]

how would you possibly know how many partners a whole other human being has had? You do know men tell lies, right?

[@Michelle_Michelle___]

@@PaperMario64 Then practice abstinence until you find a spouse who is trustworthy.

[@tgreenwood3193]

It is best to listen, not good to judge. Some people made a mistake by trusting someone they thought they were in love with. No judgement for healthcare. Help people period.