Are You a Black Women With Lupus? Why Cervical Cancer Screenings Are a Must

If you’ve been diagnosed with lupus, did your health practitioner explain that you have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer? If they didn’t, we want to make sure you are aware. Black women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are more likely to die from the disease than women of other races. But this is a preventable disease. Proper screening is critical.

But what is screening these days? The American Cancer Society recommends the first screening (and HPV test) at age 25. It also recommends a primary HPV test* every five years up to age 65. If primary HPV testing is unavailable, a co-test that combines an HPV test with a Papanicolaou (Pap) test every five years or a Pap test alone every three years. This is important for you to understand because women with SLE have a higher incidence of genital infection.

A study by J. Patricia Dhar, M.D., a Clinical Professor of Medicine and a rheumatologist at Wayne State University, used a self-sampling brush to collect cell samples for HPV screenings. The cells were tested for HPV genetic information, gene activation of local inflammatory factors, or cytokines, in the vagina, and cervical cytopathology.

The results showed that 70% of the 30 study participants, all Black women, showed infection with HPV, and half of those showed multiple HPV types. Subjects also had a higher-than-expected frequency of abnormal pre-cancerous Pap smears.

In an interview, Dr.Dhar said, “I did expect they would have higher rates of HPV infection and abnormal Paps based on my experience, but I did not expect to see multiple HPV types, including new types that are just being identified as being high risk for cancer,” she explained. “It verified what I was trying to demonstrate – that this is a high-risk population and needs more monitoring for cervical health.”

So what does this mean for you?

1. Use condoms to prevent transmission of HPV.
2. Stay on top of cervical health screenings (gynecological examinations, Pap smears,  HPV screenings, or co-tests).
3. Get the HPV vaccine if you are eligible for it.