A Pap smear is a screening method used to identify cervical cancer in women. It is typically done every year during a woman's annual gynecological exam, but can be done more frequently in women who have previously had abnormal results. Having a...
Precancerous cervical lesions, also called cervical dysplasia, are abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix. Cervical dysplasia is classified as low or high grade. Low grade cervical dysplasia grows slowly and may resolve without treatment, the...
According to a three-year study by the University of Western Australia, tea tree oil has been found to be an effective alternative topical treatment for precancerous non-melanoma skin lesions and even has had success in shrinking tumors in mice....
Breast cells undergo cycles of proliferation and maturation throughout the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. These cycles of cell growth are governed by a number of molecular signals that guide the behavior of the cells. When breast cells...
An estimated 12,200 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in the United States in 2010. The cervix, considered the neck of the womb, connects the vagina to the uterus or womb. Cervical abnormalities usually begin as precancerous changes in...
A mole is a skin lesion that primarily consists of nevus cells. This type of skin cell has a high concentration of melanin, the pigment that gives moles their dark color. You may refer to a mole more specifically as a hanging mole or skin tag if...
A mole is a growth on the surface of your skin that has a high concentration of melanin. This skin pigment gives the mole a darker color than the surrounding skin. A mole is generally benign, although the Skin Cancer Foundation reports that the...
A tumor is a mass of cells that serves no purpose, according to Medline Plus. The body renews certain tissues by replacing old cells with new. Sometimes this process goes awry and more cells are produced than are needed to replace dead cells, or...
Many women are nervous or concerned when told their Pap smear is abnormal. However, an abnormal Pap smear does not necessarily indicate cervical cancer. It is imperative that women understand the different classifications of an abnormal Pap smear...
An abnormal result from a pap test, also known as a pap smear, can be scary. Because the test looks for changes that indicate cervical cancer or precancerous conditions, many women worry that abnormalities indicate the presence of cancer. However,...
Although a white tongue can cause concern, it is usually harmless, according to the Mayo Clinic. It can usually be alleviated by using a tongue scraper and drinking an adequate amount of water. In some cases, a white, coated tongue can signify a...
A pap smear is a test to detect changes in the cells of your cervix. The National Cancer Institute estimates that about 55 million pap smears are done annually in the United States. Of those, about 3.5 million or 6 percent, are abnormal and...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 20 million people in the United States are currently infected with the sexually transmitted disease human papillomavirus (HPV). The immune system normally clears the HPV virus in...
Pap tests, done every three years as a preventative measure in women 21 years old or younger, depending on when they became sexually active, diagnose early cancers or cellular changes that might become cancerous. Cells scraped from the cervix's...
Pap smears can diagnose cervical cancer at a very early stage. Pap smears, which are simple, painless tests that examine cells scraped off the surface of the cervix, should be done every 3 years up until age 65 to 70. Most laboratories grade pap...
Women undergo a Pap test, also referred to as a Pap smear, to check for cancer and other abnormalities in the cervix. Infections and inflammation also can be detected in the lower portion of the uterus through a Pap test. According to the National...
According to the Mayo Clinic, an actinic keratosis is a rough and scaly sore on the skin of the face, lips, ears, back of the hands, forearms, scalp or neck. Actinic keratosis is caused by excessive exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun, and...
A Pap test, or Pap smear, is a test that checks for precancerous changes or cancer cells in the cervix. According to the American Cancer Society, cervical cancer is typically slow growing, so regular Pap tests can pick up any gradual cellular...
Bodily cells need good nutrition to function properly -- and a nutritious diet can help reduce your risk of cell changes that may lead to precancerous changes. Cervical dysplasia is a precancerous condition that may benefit from a healthy diet...
Cervical cancer results when cells in the cervix--the tissue that links the back of the vagina to the uterus--develops genetic mutations that cause them to divide abnormally rapidly. One of the main risk factors for cervical cancer is infection...
Dark spots on your skin can be troubling. They might be an indicator of sun damage, which can make you look older, and may even be a sign of precancerous lesions. However, as troubling as dark spots may be, you can get rid of them. In fact,...
Liquid iodine is an amazingly useful substance, finding applications around the home, in the research laboratory and at modern hospitals. Pure iodine is a bluish-black crystal, although it is rarely found in this form. Iodine is very soluble in...
Skin cancer is similar to other cancers simply because of its cause--the growth of abnormal cells. While it most frequently occurs on skin exposed to the sun, it may develop on various areas of your body the sun cannot reach. Treatment varies, and...
If you're diagnosed with leukoplakia, your doctor first will want to eliminate the cause of the mouth lesions. Since the vast majority of leukoplakia is caused by tobacco and alcohol use, you might find the condition clears up on its own if you...
Moles are irregularities that occur when pigments of melanin clump together in your skin. Moles are more common on those with lighter skin, with the average number of moles on those with fair skin ranging from 10 to 40, states the American Academy...
Cervical cancer is the result of genetic mutations that occur in cervical cells leading them to grow abnormally quick. As the National Cancer Institute explains, before cells in the cervix become cancerous they form a precancerous condition called...
A gynecological exam alone is not enough to detect cervical cancer or precancerous cells. The cervix, which is the lower, narrower end of the uterus, is where your doctor collects cells for a Pap smear. If detected early, cervical cancer is one of...
More than 12,000 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year, the National Cancer Institute reports. Abstinence, HPV vaccine use and tobacco avoidance can reduce your cervical cancer risk. Additionally, eating a cancer-fighting diet rich...
Colon cancer refers to cancerous growths in the colon. Learn more about colon cancer, including symptoms and treatments, in this health video.
Menstrual disorders refer to any abnormality in the menstrual cycle in a woman. Get expert tips and advice on diagnosing and treating menstrual disorders in this video.
Esophageal cancer is a form of cancer that starts in the inner layer of a 10-inch long tube that connects your throat and stomach. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for Esophageal Cancer in this video.