Cervical Cancer: What doctors need to know

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Cervical Cancer What doctors need to know

• Si Van Nguyen, M.D., F.C.A.P.
• Laboratory Director, Huntington Beach Hospital,
  H.B., CA
• Vice-President, Vietnamese American Medical
  Association

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What doctors need to know

• Vietnamese women have the highest incidence of
  cervical cancer.
• Pap smear screening prevents cervical cancer.

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3 Questions

• 1. Why are health professionals so vital to
  increase screening in Vietnamese women?
• 2. What are barriers for health professionals in
  improving screening for cervical cancer in
  Vietnamese women?
• 3. How do we address these barriers to screening?

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Question 1 Why are health professionals so
vital to increase screening in Vietnamese women?

• Answer Because health professionals are well
  educated, keenly aware of the disease,
  influential in the community, and able to reach
  out and communicate with and educate the
  Vietnamese patient population. Or may be not!

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Question 2 What are the barriers for the health
professionals in improving screening for
cervical cancer in Vietnamese women?

• Answer
• Lack of awareness of the high incidence of
  cervical cancer in Vietnamese women.
• Too much cultural sensitivity for sex related
  issues, leading to avoidance of discussion about
  cervical cancer.
• Misconceptions about lack of sexual activity in
  unmarried women, and therefore do not recommend
  routine Pap smear.
• Lack of physician recommendation or referral for
  gynecological examinations.
• Lack of habit of routine check-ups for patients
  in the Vietnamese culture, especially for the
  unmarried and the elderly.
• Relatively few numbers of female Vietnamese
  physicians.

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Question 3 How do we address these barriers to
screening?

• Answer I think we are starting to do it
  already. Through leadership and cooperation and
  hard work among public health agencies,
  non-profit organizations, community health care
  providers, and the community itself, we are
  beginning the process of educating the health
  professionals and raise awareness about cervical
  cancer in the Vietnamese community.

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What doctors need to do now?

• Answer Doctors need to recommend and encourage
  Vietnamese women to get PAP smear testing.
• The End