An A-Z Woman's Guide to Vibrant Health
Cervical Dysplasia
The American College of Pathology states that four out of five women who die of
cervical cancer had not had a PAP smear in the previous five years. According to
Health Canada, the highest incidence of cervical cancer and the highest death rates
occur in women over the age of 65, a group that often stops having annual PAP tests.
PAP smears save lives by discovering abnormal cells, called cervical dysplasia,
early enough to prevent loss of life from cervical cancer. Every adult woman from
the age of 18 should have an annual PAP test to ensure her cervix is healthy - but
what can be done when the test comes back abnormal? (See
Appendix C for more information on PAP tests)
Symptoms
There are no symptoms until invasive cervical cancer makes itself apparent. This
is why an annual PAP test is necessary.
Causes
We know the main risk factors that promote abnormal cervical cells include: greater
number of sexual partners, increasing age, infection with the Human Papilloma Virus
(HPV) (the virus that also causes warts), smoking, oral contraceptive use and nutritional
deficiencies of folic acid, vitamin A and vitamin C.
We definitely do not want to ignore abnormal PAP tests. Too many women are advised
they have an abnormal test result, told to come back in six months for another test
and are not given any suggestions for how to get their cervical cells to return
to normal. Yes, some abnormal cells return to normal with no treatment, but what
if simply taking a nutritional supplement containing vitamin A and C and folic acid
could ensure a normal PAP? Every woman I know would take a multivitamin with minerals
to help those cells revert to healthy cells.
We know that HPV is implicated in the majority of cervical dysplasia and cervical
cancer cases. New research has shown that a nutrient called Indole-3-carbinol can
reverse abnormal cervical lesions before they have a chance to develop into cancer.
In one study 30 women with CINII and CINIII cervical lesions took 200 mg or 400
mg of I3C daily. Fifty percent in the treatment group had complete regression of
their lesions. None of the placebo group had complete regression of their lesions.
Indole-3-carbinol is available in a nutritional supplement called ESTROSMART in the dosages used in the study to reverse abnormal
cells. ESTROSMART also contains other nutrients, including calcium D-glucarate,
rosemary containing carnosic acid, DIM, sulforaphane, tumeric and green tea - all
researched to help prevent female cancers and keep our estrogens from converting
to cancer-causing estrogens. So you get the benefit of returning abnormal PAP tests
to normal while helping to prevent female cancers.
PRESCRIPTION FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH
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Multivitamins with minerals; (contains no iron)
MULTISMART
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As directed. For complete formula recommendations see
Appendix A
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Ensures adequate nutrient status
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4 capsules containing D-glucarate 300 mg
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Important for healthy metabolism of estrogen; detoxifies breast cancer-promoting
agents
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Turmeric )100 mg
(95% curcumin)
daily
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Prevents breast cancer, detoxifies cancercausing form of estrogen, excellent to
reduce chemotherapy side effects
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Indole-3-carbinol 300 mg
(found in cruciferous vegetables)
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Reduces risk of breast cancer, can be used in conjunction with tamoxifen; prevents
healthy estrogen from converting into the cancer-causing form
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Green tea extract 200 mg daily
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Protects against breast cancer
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Rosemary extract 50 mg daily
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Reduces tumor formation and breast lumps; antioxidant
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Antioxidant, reduces risk of breast cancer
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Sulforaphane 400 mcg daily
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Reduces risk of breast cancer
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Evening Primrose Oil or Borage Oil containing GLA
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3000 mg Evening Primrose
or
2000 mg Borage oil per day
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Anti-inflammatory; controls negative prostaglandins involved in pain and inflammation
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Chaste Tree
(Vitex) berry
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Balances estrogen-to-progesterone ratio
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HEALTH TIPS TO ENHANCE HEALING
See Health tips for
Endometriosis
