RW19-05 Cervical Cancer for Awareness Month

“Recovering the Whole of You” with Dr Kitiboni Adderley with her guest Dr Inga Pratt, on air from January 29th

January is cervical cancer awareness month . Several of cancer is one of the cancers that are preventable. Join us as Dr Inga Pratt discuss it cervical cancer it’s causes its treatment and prevention. Dr. Pratt talks about the HPV virus and how critical it is for us to do paps smears for early detection and treatment of cervical cancer. It is exciting and informative talk.

Cervical Cancer is a leading cause of cancer in the developing world with a high incidence in women between the age of ages of 40 to 65. The pap smear, high risk HPV screening and the HPV vaccine are crucial elements that decrease cervical cancer risk. Education about these options, particularly the vaccine and the early signs of cervical cancer will decrease cervical cancer morbidity and mortality.

According to MedicalDaily.com, 30 years ago cervical cancer was among the leading cancer killers among women. But if there’s good news to be had, it’s that the death rate from cervical cancer has dropped more than 50-percent since, and is now considered “one of the most preventable types of cancer,”

JOIN KITI AND DR PRATT ON CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS

VIDEO

There’s a Main Cause

Not all cancers have causes that can be traced so definitively, but in the case of cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV) is usually the culprit, notes WebMD. The source stresses there are many forms of HPV virus, and not all of them can lead to cancer.

HPV is spread through intimate contact, it adds. It some cases, there may be genital warts, and in some cases no symptoms at all. In fact, “Most adults have been infected with HPV at some time,” explains the site. This is why it’s important to follow regular screening schedules to catch any signs early – there’s a pap test to detect any cell mutations, and an HPV test that looks for the virus as a root cause of cell changes.

Dr Pratt currently serves a leadership role in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at The Princess Margaret Hospital and at Doctors’ Hospital.

“I am responsible for women’s health in both the gravid and non-gravid state. My primary focus is disease prevention through timely screening and patient education. ”

“In a team dynamic I diagnose, investigate and treat gynaecological illnesses including abnormal uterine bleed, neoplasia and management of abnormalities of the first trimester of pregnancy. I also perform diagnostic and therapeutic surgical procedures.

I manage low risk and high risk obstetrics patients. In a multidisciplinary setting I institute antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum management that improve maternal and neonatal outcomes.

A major part of my role is the teaching of junior staff and medical student based on the best evidence based medicine. I am also tasked with administrative roles which include the management of High Risk obstetrics at Fleming Street Clinic and the organization of morbidity and mortality meetings.