During Cathy’s routine annual gynecological exam, her physician, Meera Atkins, MD, used a pap smear to screen her for cervical cancer. Dr. Atkins screens many patients for precancerous cells of the cervix each day. She also offers her patients a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.

Cathy’s laboratory results revealed cells of a rare type of cervical cancer, adenocarcinoma, for which the usual treatment is a hysterectomy.

Since Cathy was young and had not yet had any children, Dr. Atkins wanted to avoid the hysterectomy.  She worked with specialized gynecological oncologists to develop a treatment for Cathy’s cancer.  The treatment was successful and did not affect her reproductive organs or her chances to conceive. Early detection of the cancer cells was very important, which is why Dr. Atkins encourages all women to have their annual gynecological exams.

A few years later Cathy got married and came back to Dr. Atkins when she was pregnant.  Dr. Atkins delivered Cathy’s healthy baby girl at the Maternity Suites of Kishwaukee Community Hospital. She was very grateful to Dr. Atkins for her efforts in helping to find a treatment that preserved her ability to have a child.

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