Coping and Living with Cervical Cancer

Introduction, perception and action. Coping with a positive Pap test and coping with cervical cancer on a daily basis. Support from health providers, caregivers, family and friends. Support groups.

Fear is a part of our lives, and we deal with fear almost on a daily basis. Health problems are among the most frequent stressors [10]. However, we differently perceive stress and react individually to stress. The same stressor may provoke quite a different reaction in different persons. For example, common sense dictates that fear of cervical cancer would motivate most women to go and take a Pap test. However, our Survey on the participation of women in Pap test and cervical cancer screening indicates that many do not take Pap test because they are afraid of the exam and even more of the result of this exam (See Section 3.4). These are educated women living in Washington Metro Area, but in spite of availability of medical care, they choose not to take a Pap test. They are afraid and rather do not want to know what is going on within their body. One highly educated university professor personally told me, she is so afraid that she would rather not know! This calls for education and for counseling of high school girls and women of all ages and categories. “The worst fear is from the fear itself!” (Franklin Delano Roosevelt).