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The more you know about your health, the more empowered you are to take control of it. There’s no greater example of the power you have to protect your future when it comes to preventative health visits and cervical cancer. While cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecological cancers, it doesn’t have to be.

With the guidance of their physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner, women and teens can learn important education and take action that could potentially save their lives. That’s because most types of cervical cancer are now completely preventable.

“Education is queen,” said Dr. Jeffrey Hines, Chief of the Division of Wellstar Gynecologic Oncology, citing better health outcomes for women who have regular visits with their health providers.

It’s not too late to vaccinate

Cervical cancer typically affects women between 30 and 50 years of age. Younger women are also at risk.

Of course, prevention works best when it starts early. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine prevents cervical cancer and can be given to children as early as 11 years of age by their pediatrician.

If not previously vaccinated, the HPV vaccine is recommended for everyone through the age of 26 and can be administered by a primary care provider or gynecologist.

Even some adults in their 30s and 40s who were previously unvaccinated benefit from getting an HPV vaccination.

How well does it work?

The HPV vaccine has been found to provide close to 100% protection against infections and pre-cancers caused by HPV.

According to the CDC, HPV infections and cervical precancers (abnormal cells on the cervix that can lead to cancer) have dropped significantly since the vaccine has been in use in the United States. Among teen girls, infections with HPV types that cause most HPV cancers and genital warts have dropped 86 percent. There has been a 71% decrease for young adult women.

Identify cervical cancer earlier for better outcomes

Women can also be screened for cervical cancer at regular intervals. There are two tests that can help:

• The more traditional is a Pap smear, which looks for precancers, or cell changes on the cervix.
• The newer HPV test looks for the human papillomavirus, a virus that can cause the cells to become cancerous.

Most health plans cover preventative care services — like vaccines and screening tests — at no additional cost. For people without insurance, Wellstar Medical Group practices have low-cost annual exams that include evaluation for cervical cancer and a Pap test if it is medically appropriate.

To find a primary care provider, gynecologist or pediatrician, call (770) 956-STAR (7827) or schedule online by clicking the “Book Now” button at the top of any page.

There’s no question that David Moffett is a tough guy.

Having served as a Marine and law enforcement officer, he’s been a pillar of strength, both for his family and within the greater community. But after conquering prostate cancer with the help of Wellstar, David has found a new calling: supporting other men going through the same difficult diagnosis.

Since his recovery, David’s been on a mission to break barriers in men’s health. He has started a prostate cancer support group to teach a new meaning of “strength” and help men feel empowered to take charge of their health.

“Being a husband, father and grandfather, people have always looked to me as a leader. I am used to being the protector and being strong,” David said.

“Through my experience with prostate cancer, I’ve learned a man’s greatest strength is vulnerability. You don’t have to be Superman — being yourself and becoming your best advocate are enough,” he said.

With expert care and support from Wellstar, David redefined his role as a protector and learned to prioritize his own well-being too. Now, he’s spreading the message for other men to do the same.

Early detection is key

Unlike a lot of men, David never misses his annual wellness exam. Working as an Operations Coordinator at Wellstar, he knows the important role preventative care plays in overall wellness.

During his routine check-up with Wellstar Family Medicine Physician Dr. Thomas Gearhard in 2019, David’s prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was taken.

With just a simple blood draw, a PSA test can reveal the presence of prostate cancer or other health conditions, such as an enlarged prostate. When David’s test results revealed an elevated PSA level, Dr. Gearhard referred him to a urologist right away.

There, a nodule was discovered in David’s prostate. Following a biopsy, he was diagnosed with Stage II prostate cancer.

“Finding out that I had prostate cancer was devastating,” he said.

But David didn’t have to go through the battle alone. It wasn’t long before he found a trusted health partner in Wellstar Urologist Dr. Paymon Nourparvar. The pair formed a lasting bond as they both worked together to fight prostate cancer.

“Dr. Nourparvar was a blessing. He became like family to me,” David shared. “There was no question he wouldn’t answer, and no question we couldn’t ask. He made me feel like I could open up and talk about the journey I was on.”

Having an open dialogue with patients is a key part of Dr. Nourparvar’s care philosophy. Because he knows not one person is exactly alike, he always takes a personalized approach with every patient.

“There are a wide variety of treatments for people with prostate cancer, and there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to it,” Dr. Nourparvar explained. “I treat all my patients how I would like my family to be treated. I tailor all of my recommendations and treatments through that lens.”

Based on David’s age, physical health and lifestyle, Dr. Nourparvar felt surgery was the right path forward to treat prostate cancer. However, Dr. Nourparvar wanted to arm him with a breadth of knowledge to make the right choice for his body.

That’s why Dr. Nourparvar encouraged him to get a second opinion with a radiation oncologist — so David could know all the facts before committing to a care plan.

After hearing both treatment plans, David felt empowered to make an informed decision to treat the prostate cancer.

“Dr. Nourparvar was very transparent and made sure he had all the information to choose the right treatment path for me,” David shared. “Then, when my wife and I made the decision that surgery was our best option, I felt like I could make the right choice for my situation.”

Steve Shelton, a retired middle school principal who lives in Villa Rica, is living life to his fullest years after having a robotic prostatectomy in December of 2014. The procedure was performed by Dr. Justin Watson at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

Robotic prostate cancer surgery has several key advantages over the more traditional approach. It shortens the time spent in a facility following a surgery. It also reduces surgery site blood loss, scarring and pain, and speeds up recovery. This method also has the potential to preserve nerves.

Steve remembered he was in his fourteenth year serving as the principal of Mount Paran Christian School Middle School when his urologist, Dr. Thomas Emerson, broke the news that he had cancer.

“I had to lean up against the wall for a minute,” Steve said. “Dr. Emerson drew out diagrams and presented us with all of our options. My wife, Brenda, and I made the decision right then that I was going to do the robotic surgery. I wanted to be decisive and take action and I wanted the cancer gone.”

Robotic prostate cancer surgery reduces surgery site blood loss, scarring and pain, and speeds up recovery.

“The robot allows us to see the prostate better and spare the nerves, which can preserve sexual function,” said Dr. Watson.