Figure 1 Normal endocervical cells

American Indian women have high rates of cervical cancer. It can be a very detrimental experience. In fact, just knowing that you may have some kind of cancer, whether it is benign or has the opportunity to spread, can add undue stress to a person. One Indian woman states, “the experience was very frightening and I did not know what was going to happen to me and my family if I were to lose my life because of it.” For this woman, the cancer was found early and was treated promptly.

In the 1940’s, this woman may not have been able to receive treatment promptly because Pap smear screening was not as prevalent as it is today. Since the Pap smear was introduced, death rates have dropped by as much as seventy percent. The field of gynecology has thus reduced the number of malignant cells that would have otherwise destroyed the reproductive system of many women. These precancerous lesions can be identified sooner and treated, in order to avoid the development of cancer and to save many more lives.

Figure 2 The cervix connects the vagina to the uterine cavity.

Cervical cancer is found on the surface of the cervix (Fig. 2). The cervix can be found in the lower end of the uterus, and it connects the vagina with the uterine cavity. Stage I cancers are confined to the cervix, while other stages of the cancer can spread throughout the body. However, all stages of cervical cancer originate at the cervix before metastasizing to other areas of the body.

High risk patients include older women, women of lower socioeconomic status and members of minority groups. Many Native American women are uneasy about getting a Pap smear because it is a huge invasion of their bodies and is very embarrassing. Culturally, Pap smears and cervical cancer are not often talked about because they are portrayed as something that should be kept private. Therefore, Native American women have higher rates of cervical cancer and should be targeted for getting regular screening because they seem less likely to get regular check-ups. The cancer can be detected early through regular Pap smears. This simple test can mean the difference between life and death.