Your viewing articles about; Fox News

Annual Pap Smears May Be Thing of the Past

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists announced its new cervical cancer screening recommendations today, stating that annual pap smears may no longer be necessary.

The group recommended that women start getting cervical cancer screenings at age 21, instead of age 18 which has been the protocol for a number of years.  They also said that women could wait longer between screenings, regardless of the young woman’s sexual activity.

Women in their 20’s can now wait two years between screenings, and women in their 30’s can wait three years according to the new guidelines — provided that they have had a normal pap smear.

There has been a public uproar for several weeks over revised screening recommendations for mammograms.  Some have even challenged that the change in recommendations was tied to the current U.S. healthcare reform debate. It remains to be seen how this new announcement will be received.

“This is not a radical change in screening practices.  This is something that has been coming gradually since the 1980’s,” said Dr. Alan G. Waxman, who helped write the new guidelines.

Some doctors are particularly concerned about college-age women who are sexually active.  Dr. John Curtin of The Cancer Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City said that 70 percent of all sexually active college women have contracted the HPV infections which will show up as an abnormal pap smear.

Fox News interviewed physicians this morning analyzing whether the guidelines should be part of government regulations and the expectation that women will see insurance companies increase denials of routine pap tests.

All women are encouraged to review their female health screening routine with their personal physicians, also discussing your family’s history.  Many doctors are fearful that women will neglect preventative screenings.

         

Welcome back! If you love Baby Chums, please subscribe to our RSS feed.
Thanks for dropping by and enjoy!

---

Heene Family Investigated for Possible Balloon Hoax

The family of Falcon Heene is under investigation for yesterday’s balloon escapade which captured the world’s attention.

After the 50-mile balloon chase which reached heights of 8,000 feet, the balloon finally came crashing down, but little Falcon Heene was nowhere to be found.

Falcon was later found hiding in his parents’ attic.  Parents, Richard Heene and Mayumi Heene, began television interviews with their children present.  Falcon admitted hearing his family call his name while he was hiding.  Durving the live interview on CNN his father asked Falcon, “Why didn’t you come out?”  Falcon answered, “You had said we did this for a show.”

Local authorities are launching an investigation to determine if this was all a hoax.  The recording of the emergency call for assistance has just been released by authorities.  Both parents sound distraught, but is it genuine?  They reported their son had been missing for approximately 20 minutes.  Neighbors reported they thought the family seemed genuinely distraught.

Reports of the estimated cost of rescue efforts are rising.  Some believe it could be as high as $2 million.  The rescue effort included a Black Hawk helicopter, another helicopter, rerouting air traffic, ambulances and other first responders.  The Federal Aviation Administration is also reviewing the case to determine whether a formal investigation should be launched.

The family seems to like drama.  Richard Heene is a weather chaser.  The family reportedly often sleeps in their clothes so they will be ready to chase a storm at any time.  They have appeared on the TV reality show Wife Swap for two seasons.  Richard Heene also hosts regular You Tube video series.

Fox News interviewed a psychiatrist this morning who expressed serious concern for a family that would involve children in plotting such a hoax and ongoing drama of this magnitude.  Falcon suffers from diabetes.  Stress and excitement can change blood sugar levels drastically.  On several occasions Falcon became physically ill saying he felt like he was going to vomit.  He left the room with his mother and could be heard gagging.

Was it a hoax?  Or was it just a scared little boy who got too close to his father’s balloon?  Should the family have to pay for the rescue effort?

Register your vote at Fox News.com.