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Dr. Dwight Im, The Gynecology Center at Mercy, Addresses Cervical Cancer/Cervical Health on "The Woman's Doctor" as January is National Cervical Health Awareness Month

Gynecologic oncologist Dr. Dwight Im of Mercy Medical Center will appear on the weekly “Woman’s Doctor” program on WBAL-TV11 the week of January 8th to discuss cervical cancer and related cervical health issues.

The program is airing in light of January 2007 being National Cervical Health Awareness Month.

According to information from the National Cervical Cancer Coalition, 11 percent of women in the U.S. report that they do not have regular cervical cancer screenings, despite repeated evidence that Pap smears help save lives.

In the U.S., approximately 14,000 cervical cancer with over 270,000 deaths. Cervical cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women.

There is a direct correlation between high-risk HPV types and cervical cancer, yet many women remain unaware as to what HPV is and its relationship to cervical cancer disease.  

When exposed to HPV, a woman's immune system typically prevents the virus from doing harm. In some cases, however, the virus survives for years before it converts some cells on the surface of the cervix into cancer cells. Half of cervical cancer cases occur in women between ages 35 and 55.

Thanks in great deal to Pap test screens, the death rate from cervical cancer has decreased in the U.S. over the last 40 years. And today, there is now an FDA approved vaccine for certain strains of HPV.

Dr. Im will appear on “The Woman’s Doctor” on Monday, Jan. 8th in the 5 p.m. newscast on WBAL-TV11; again on Tuesday morning, Jan. 9th and on Saturday, Jan. 13th when Dr. Christine Vergara of The Gynecology Center will appear live in-studio to answer viewer emailed questions on the topic.

For more information, visit Mercy online at www.mdmercy.com or call 1-800-MD-Mercy.