Breast, Cervical & Colon Health Program

HPV And The Consequences

Yeah - it's that bad

HPV is the most commonly spread sexually transmitted infection that encompasses more than 150 different varieties, which includes strains responsible for genital warts and cancer. 

It is highly contagious through skin-to-skin contact or the exchange of body fluids.  This mainly occurs during sexual intercourse and not all strains of the virus can be avoided by using condoms.  Sharing drinks and food also pose a risk to developing HPV, although; the main area of infection are the genitals of men and women. 

graphic, but true

Now that we know how it's spread let's examine signs and symptoms of HPV.  There are, in fact, little or no noticeable symptoms of the majority of HPV strains.  Over half the American population will get some type of HPV during their lifetime and never know it, possibly spreading it without protection.  Some strains of the virus cause genital warts, but they may not always be visible and may show up months or even years after the initial exposure.  Skin-to-skin contact with these warts will result in HPV infection.  Although it's very unpleasant, genital warts are not the most devastating aspect of HPV.  HPV causes almost every kind of genital cancer in men and women.  It is most often associated with cervical and ovarian cancer, but it can also cause anal and penal cancer in men. 

Men and women can spread it

HPV survives by infecting a type of body tissue called the mucus membrane, which makes up male and female genitals, the surface of the throat, and other sensitive areas.  Mucus membranes are made up of stem cells, which regularly regenerates the tissue with new cells.  When the virus is present it infects one cell, which then reproduces again to create more infected cells.  It's difficult for the immune system to target and destroy these cells because they like to wander to other parts of the body, and when they land in other types of tissue they assimilate those cells and produce more infected cells.

Cancer, or malignant tumors, are created when a cluster of these infected cells begin to reproduce out of control - building up until they form a mass in the tissue, or the cells begin to eat away at the healthy cells in the tissue creating a lesion.  The cells may be building up around themselves like Legos, but many of them like to travel especially if there are blood vessels nearby or lymph nodes, which act as highways.  Blood vessels routinely carry damaged and old cells to the liver and spleen to be recycled, but HPV infected cells are often resilient and will leave the blood vessels when they find suitable tissue to plant themselves, making the cancer metastatic.   Cancerous cells typically like other stem cells and will find other bodily tissue that regularly regenerates itself - like our bones - to plant itself and infect the surrounding stem cells. 

For women especially, HPV-associated cancers are not symptomatic until a large mass or tumor has developed.  By then the chances of survival are dramatically less than catching it at an earlier phase.   HPV cancers are best treated if they are caught early when they are merely a sheet of cancerous cells.  A pap smear is the only way to test for HPV or cancerous cells within the genitals for women.  Skin tissue within the throat and anus can also be tested, but these areas usually go unnoticed until the cancer produces a mass in which we later biopsy to collect a sample and that will tell us exactly what caused the mass to grow. 

Catch it quickly before it gets really bad

Pap smears are the golden standard for preventing HPV cancers and the virus itself.  In most cases HPV doesn't cause symptoms and the body will clear it away on its own, but having HPV at any point in your life will increase the likelihood of getting any kind of genital cancer just like smoking increases the likelihood of getting lung cancer.  

choose your partners wisely

Safe sex practices like condom use and limiting sexual partners will decrease your chances of getting HPV, but remember HPV is also responsible for 70% of throat and tongue cancer.  Drinks and food should not be shared to avoid this. 

this guy had HPV-associated throat cancer

...but it doesn't always work

Regular testing is a priority to manage and avoid the HPV epidemic.  If you don't have health insurance to get regular testing there are many programs and other resources available in your community like the Free Clinic of SW Washington that can provide pap smears and other help to prevent and treat HPV.  For women ages 40 and over you can call 800-992-1817 for a free pap smear, and for all other age groups and demographics you can call 211 or visit 211.org for a nationwide network of free health and human services. 

Save your life - get screened for FREE today

In many cases diseases may occur without anyone noticing a change - when that is the case the only way to detect that disease is by following regular cancer screening procedures. 

For hundreds of women in our community that is not so easy.  Women without health insurance or high out of pocket insurance plans tend to leave preventative screenings on the back burner as a low priority, therefore; when this happens a disease that could have been caught early will eventually develop into stages or categories that cause further damage to the body.  Symptoms inspire panic and despair. 

The Breast, Cervical, & Colon Health Program provides free breast, cervical, and colon cancer preventative screenings - and also diagnostic imaging procedures at no cost. 

Women ages 40 - 64 may qualify for both preventative screenings and diagnostic procedures if suspicious activity is found at no cost. 

Women may avoid screenings on account of believing they cannot pay for them, however, when suspicious symptoms occur diagnostic imaging is more expensive than regular preventative screenings.  The BCCHP is able to cover diagnostic imaging or other diagnostic procedures for low income women struggling to address their health concern. 

To qualify and enroll into the free program each client must call first; please call 1800-992-1817 or 360-514-1663 ext. 1

Remember: the longer screening procedures are avoided the more likely it is to develop complications.  Cancer prevention procedures may be uncomfortable, but cancer is much more painful and lasts much longer.  

Prevent Cervical Cancer

Updates - Clark County Fair & Free Raffle

First and foremost - The Clark County Fair

It was a busy opening weekend for us and everyone else at the fair.  We will be there again Wednesdays, August 12th all day and the following weekend, the 15th and 16th.  The BCCHP/KBC booth will likely be located in between the large exhibition hall and the smaller green vender barns.

If you visit our booth at the fair you can enter a free raffle to win either a free fit bit

 or a breast cancer awareness gift basket.

We also have several other free items like sunscreen and personal first aid kits.  Information about our free cancer screening program will also be available.  If you're due for your mammogram or wellness visit the scheduling phone numbers will be at our vender booth.  If you need any assistance scheduling your exams or need help applying for health care please do not hesitate to give us a call at 1800-992-1817 or visit us at fair!

In addition, it's almost October, which means Breast Cancer Awareness is just around the corner.  The Breast, Cervical, and Colon Health Program will be running around SW Washington hosting a few events and attending gatherings to support our cancer patients.  A comprehensive calender with local breast cancer events will be added shortly, but until then here's a few breast cancer awareness ideas for this festive season:

Announcement - We'll be at the Clark County Fair!

BCCHP and Kearney Breast Center staff will be providing women's health information at the Clark County Fair.  We will be located inside an air conditioned event center, but not sure which one yet. 

More information to come

Successful Dragon Boat Launch

Last week the Kearney Breast Center Dragon Boat was successfully water-born in the Vancouver Lake.

Following a Catholic blessing and a Zen Buddhist blessing, the vessel was carried into the water and took a lap around Vancouver Lake crewed by breast cancer survivors.

Dr. Christine Katterhagan  delivered an explanation of the health benefits for cancer patients in recovery to practice dragon boat racing.  She also elaborated about the Breast, Cervical, and Colon Health Program and the impact of these free services.

Dr. Christine Katterhagen speaking on behalf of BCCHP

An overwhelming amount of support flowed towards the BCCHP from all kinds of community and PeaceHealth leadership.  Please read the following article highlighting the launch and please visit the Need Health Insurance page for contact and enrollment information per BCCHP.

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/jul/30/kearnet-breast-center-dragon-boat-blessing/