ADEL – Approximately 12,000 American women will learn they have cervical cancer this year, and about 4,000 will die from an advanced form of the disease.
January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, and Dannyelle Booth, PA-C with Cook Primary Care and Cook Family Wellness Center in Adel, is focused on educating women about the importance of the Pap test as a screening tool for cervical cancer, and about vaccines that can further reduce the burden of this disease.
It is the start of a new year – a time many reflect on their health. Dannyelle knows the importance of encouraging women to schedule a Pap test to check for cervical cancer. Screening is a crucial part of a woman’s health care regimen, yet one that many overlook. “It is important to remember that cervical cancer is a preventable disease – as long as it’s caught early enough,” says Dannyelle.
While routine Pap testing is the best means of detecting cervical cancer at an early stage, vaccines have the potential to protect women from the disease by targeting cancer-causing types of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Two forms of the virus, HPV 16 and HPV 18, account for more than 70 percent of all cervical cancer cases.
Dannyelle explains, “Some medical experts believe that through a successful education, screening and vaccination program for women, the potential exists to nearly eliminate cervical cancer in the U.S.”
Dannyelle is a certified Physician Assistant who sees patients at both Cook Primary Care and Cook Family Wellness Center in Adel. A Physician Assistant is a medical provider who is nationally certified and state licensed to practice medicine. They can obtain medical histories, conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, perform medical procedures like joint injections, counsel patients on preventive healthcare, assist in surgery, write prescriptions, and make rounds in nursing homes and hospitals, among many other medical services. Dannyelle is available to both male and female patients of all ages.
To make an appointment with Dannyelle at either location, call (229) 896-3424 or (229) 896-8500.
