Question

The Health Promotion nurse at a state university plans a series of educational programs focusing on female reproductive health issues for incoming ?rst-year female students. Because cervical cancer is the third most common female reproductive cancer and affects over 10,000 women annually in the United States, the nurse has planned the first session to focus on cervical cancer screening and prevention. (Learning Objective 6)

a. What information should the nurse include about Pap smears?

b. What clinical manifestations should the nurse include about cervical cancer?

c. The nurse discusses other diagnostic tests used to diagnose/stage cervical cancer. What information should she include in this portion of the educational program?

Answer 1

a. What information should the nurse include about Pap smears?

Regular pap smears can be started during the age of 21 for all women

Frequent test may be needed for the women who have HIV, Undergoing chemotherapy or undergone organ transplant with weakened immune system

A history of normal pap smear test at the age of 65 can stop their checkup in future

Every 3 years pap smear should be taken as a routine to rule out cancers, sexually active diseases

Menstruation may affect test results . so information on menstrual dates before test is essential

Avoid sexual intercourse, douching and use of spermicidal agents just before the day of investigation

Be calm and relaxed

b. What clinical manifestations should the nurse include about cervical cancer?

Abnormal vaginal bleeding

Vaginal Bleeding after menopause

Vaginal Bleeding after intercourse

Vaginal Bleeding or spotting between menstruation

Longer menstruation with heavier bleeding

Abnormal vaginal discharge

pain during intercourse

c. The nurse discusses other diagnostic tests used to diagnose/stage cervical cancer. What information should she include in this portion of the educational program?

Other than Pap smeas, patient will be undergoing diagnostic tests like,

Colposcopy

large loop excision of the transformation zone[LLETZ]

X-rays

CT

MRI

Cytoscopy

Proctoscopy