Champaign doctor, researcher creating more awareness for cervical cancer
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — A doctor in Champaign is trying to spread more awareness about cervical cancer, especially during cervical cancer awareness month in January. In 2020, the CDC reported 440 cases in Illinois.
Dr. London Beverly, an OB/GYN with Carle Health explained this type of cancer is most of the time caused by the HPV virus. She wants to spread the word and ensure her patients know if they have it before it’s too late.
“Easily treatable if it’s picked up early,” she said.
The first step is getting a regular pap smear. If it shows pre-cancerous cells, it’s time to return to the doctor. That’s when doctors like Dr. Beverly will use a colposcopy machine.
Researcher uses past experience to help others with Cancer Center at Illinois
“It’s simply a camera to take a look,” she said. “It has a screen and different filters attached to it.”
Then, they visualize the cervix and use acidic acid to recognize any abnormalities.
But, on the U of I campus, Joseph Irudayaraj is creating new technology trying to help.
Irudayaraj is an engineering professor and a researcher with the Cancer Center at Illinois.
Dress to Impress event helps Millikin students get ahead on getting hired
“We develop technologies that are very very simple but yet rapid and cheap,” he said.
He wants to get more people screened, especially those in underserved communities.
“We’re really excited to address these issues so hopefully we can improve or create an awareness for screenings so people are aware,” Irudayaraj said. “Really just to save lives especially when it is doable.”
He has even greater goals for the future, hoping thousands of cases can be less than 100 one day.
“Hopefully, our research can impact on that scale,” Irudayaraj said.
Urbana Park District holding job fair
It’s efforts like this making doctors hopeful for the future, and eager to keep making strides in healthcare.
Dr. London said you can help prevent getting cervical cancer with a vaccine. As for symptoms to look out for, she noted abnormal bleeding could be a red flag. Some people will also have pelvic pain, or others won’t have any symptoms at all.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.