I had a pap -it had been three years since my last one--and could anyone tell me if this now the norm in exams.
When I was rooming in, the assistant (no name tag) asked if I was here for a pap AND breast exam as well.
Only a pap was done. Are you supposed to request both be done? I thought both pap and breast exams were always done together.
This family practice MD is really a good doctor, very smart, caring, has delivered babies in the past. I have been pleased with him in everything but is something new or not. Does this have something to do with the time constraints of patient care and needs to be requested separately? They were behind schedule and seemed rushed that day.
Kinda off topic, but I recently saw a commercial about the importance of getting a hpv test along with your yearly pap, saying something like 90% of all cervical cancers are from the std. Now, I know this should be vital info that women need, but I wonder how many people "know" a girl who had cervical cancer ( I know quite a few) and now are thinking about them "differently" because they had an std? I mean, what if you told your uber religious parents that you were being treated for cervical cancer, and they were all understanding and now they see this commercial (by the way I only saw it air once) and they get crazy. I know a std is nothing to be ashamed of (what, a third of people have one) but some people want it to be kept private, and here is this commercial advertising it all over the place. Again, I know this is EXTREMELY vital info, but do we need a commercial about it? I cringed for the people I know who have been public about cervical ca (or pre-cancerous ca). There are alot of people out there.
Anyway, off topic, but irresponsible television if you ask me.
Well how in the heck else are they going to get the word out? I think that's more important than trying to preserve some type of facade for some nosy, puritanical parents. If the parents are that nuts, then the girls can just lie about the type of cancer they have. And again, not everyone who has CA or precancerous cells necessarily got them from HPV or another STD so there's no need to cringe because we just don't know who is who. The commercials are a good thing because maybe they will remind people to practice safer sex.
Now I have never had a breast exam accompany my pap smear. Although my Dr. did ask if i perform monthly ones myself, which i do. A breast exam has never been offered to me. hmm. I suppose i could have always requested one? My Dr. just retired, so i just recently had my first pap with my new Dr. when he was done and i was dressed he came back in to take my blood pressure and pulse. I though that was weird....and they were quite high compared to my norm. Gee i wonder why....
now I'm getting confused. What test is done for HPV. I didn't realize it was a separate test from the pap
Here is how my doctor explained it to me, which may or may not be true for all doctors.
I believe that she said that they are doing something a little different nowdays than the way they used to do the pap tests. Something about doing DNA testing on the scrappings to see if there is HPV. I think it's called a "Thin Prep". It's supposed to be alot more reliable than how they used to do things.....
Always the whole package. I always end up with a rectal because my uterus is in a bizarre postion. YUK. any hoot I see a midwife . I see my primary care for every thing else but my yearly paps are ALWAYS done in obgyn with a female midwife.
Time to switch doctors. Any md who has to ask a women if she wants a breast exam should not be practicing .The aide with no name tag is a concern. I always ask the person bringing me in the room what and who they are. I dont want a medical assistant asking me anything,but "can you roll up your sleeve so I can take your BP?" Every other question should come from the MD/NP .
Always the whole package. I always end up with a rectal because my uterus is in a bizarre postion. YUK. any hoot I see a midwife . I see my primary care for every thing else but my yearly paps are ALWAYS done in obgyn with a female midwife.
Time to switch doctors. Any md who has to ask a women if she wants a breast exam should not be practicing .The aide with no name tag is a concern. I always ask the person bringing me in the room what and who they are. I dont want a medical assistant asking me anything,but "can you roll up your sleeve so I can take your BP?" Every other question should come from the MD/NP .
Yes, I am not happy about health care workers without names tags now that I've matured a bit. I figure if they know everything about me including my address, I should at least know there name.
I like this doctor and I plan to have a discussion about that the next time I see him. I am not ready to drop him, he is good at so many things, can listen to suggestions without get his ego in a fury like some. Thanks for all your replys.
Just want to add that three years ago, he did breast, pelvic and rectal exam on my visit so I was surprised when I was asked if I was just there for the pap.
Kinda off topic, but I recently saw a commercial about the importance of getting a hpv test along with your yearly pap, saying something like 90% of all cervical cancers are from the std. Now, I know this should be vital info that women need, but I wonder how many people "know" a girl who had cervical cancer ( I know quite a few) and now are thinking about them "differently" because they had an std? I mean, what if you told your uber religious parents that you were being treated for cervical cancer, and they were all understanding and now they see this commercial (by the way I only saw it air once) and they get crazy. I know a std is nothing to be ashamed of (what, a third of people have one) but some people want it to be kept private, and here is this commercial advertising it all over the place. Again, I know this is EXTREMELY vital info, but do we need a commercial about it? I cringed for the people I know who have been public about cervical ca (or pre-cancerous ca). There are alot of people out there.
Anyway, off topic, but irresponsible television if you ask me.
Simple answer: not all cervical cancer is caused by HPV.
And a simple reply of "Judge not..."
(Soapbox Time:)
As for commercials, i've long determined that it's perfectly FINE for TV to advertise warts, herpes, yeast infections (gotta love that 'feminine itch' commercial), birth control pills, pils that get your sex drive back, pills that make things (um) work right, K-Y warming lotions, tampons, maxi-pads, preparation H, Tucks, Summer's Eve, etc., etc.
But advertise condoms on network TV in the U.S.??? Oh, heck, no! Can't have THAT!
Even the condoms commercials i HAVE seen were on after 10:30 at night and i've only seen them on MTV. There are people out there that watch ABC, CBS, NBC, CMT, A & E that are sexually active, too.
(By the way, when was the last time someone saw a commercial for jock itch? )
Sorry for the rant, it just irks me how we can air commercials about medications that 'suppress' herpes, yet we can't advertise a latex product that might reduce the risk of its transmission in the first place. OOOOOO :angryfire
As for commercials, i've long determined that it's perfectly FINE for TV to advertise warts, herpes, yeast infections (gotta love that 'feminine itch' commercial), birth control pills, pils that get your sex drive back, pills that make things (um) work right, K-Y warming lotions, tampons, maxi-pads, preparation H, Tucks, Summer's Eve, etc., etc.
But advertise condoms on network TV in the U.S.??? Oh, heck, no! Can't have THAT!
Even the condoms commercials i HAVE seen were on after 10:30 at night and i've only seen them on MTV. There are people out there that watch ABC, CBS, NBC, CMT, A & E that are sexually active, too.
(By the way, when was the last time someone saw a commercial for jock itch? )
Geez, Marie! After this post I was dying to see what they were advertising at the bottom of the page.
)
SharonH, RN
2,144 Posts
Well how in the heck else are they going to get the word out? I think that's more important than trying to preserve some type of facade for some nosy, puritanical parents. If the parents are that nuts, then the girls can just lie about the type of cancer they have. And again, not everyone who has CA or precancerous cells necessarily got them from HPV or another STD so there's no need to cringe because we just don't know who is who. The commercials are a good thing because maybe they will remind people to practice safer sex.