Dr. Meredith Wise Fireside Chat 5Q Graphic on a Maroon Background

Addressing barriers in cervical cancer: A conversation with Dr. Meredith Wise

This month, we had the opportunity to sit down with Meredith Wise, MD, MSCR, for an insightful conversation on barriers in cervical cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Be sure to join us for our Fireside Chat on January 22, where Dr. Wise will be our special expert guest!

What is your education background? What intrigued you about your field of specialty and what brought you to the University of Minnesota? 

I completed my undergraduate degree in English at Northwestern University. I then received my medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and completed my obstetrics and gynecology (Ob-Gyn) residency at the University of Minnesota. I was interested in Ob-Gyn because of the variety that exists in the field. I enjoy walking with patients through some of the most challenging yet also some of the most joyful times of their lives. After my residency at UMN, I knew that I wanted to pursue research as a part of my career because it helps answer questions that I can't yet answer when I am treating patients. I wanted additional experience and training in research, so I did a research fellowship and received a master of science in clinical research at the University of North Carolina. 

My research focus is gynecologic cancer prevention and detection, and the UMN cancer research space is a bustling atmosphere that I enjoy being a part of. As a resident, I loved learning from the faculty in the Ob-Gyn department and was excited to join the group to practice medicine alongside my former teachers.

What is cervical cancer and how is it typically diagnosed? 

Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix, which is the canal that connects the uterus to the vagina. The vast majority of cervical cancers are caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), which is sexually transmitted. Cervical cancer is screened for with pap smears and HPV tests. When one of these tests is abnormal, we will either increase the frequency of these tests or go straight to a biopsy of the cervix, which is how cervical cancer is diagnosed.

What health disparities exist in regards to cervical cancer?  there services available in the community that could help fill these gaps for people to more easily access screenings and other types of care? 

There are significant health disparities in the United States when it comes to cervical cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, Hispanic and Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaskan Native individuals have cervical cancer at about 1.5 times the rate in white individuals. These groups also have an increase in mortality from cervical cancer compared to white individuals. 

One of the exciting new developments in preventing and diagnosing cervical cancer is the use of HPV tests without needing a pap smear. A lot of HPV tests that are currently in development can be completed at home or in the doctor's office without the need for a pelvic exam. This removes a big barrier for a lot of people for whom pelvic exams are uncomfortable and take more time. The state of Minnesota has a program called Sage Cancer Screening that provides free cancer screening to those who meet certain gender, age, insurance, and income requirements. The state also provides medical assistance for cervical cancer treatment for individuals without insurance. 

Are there any preventative measures that people can take against getting cervical cancer? 

The two most important things you can do are to get the HPV vaccine and to stay up to date on routine cervical cancer screening. The HPV vaccine has been a standard part of the childhood vaccine schedule for some time, but it is available for anyone to receive it up to age 45. 

It is also important to stay up to date on cervical cancer screening. The recommended screening frequency changes based on age and type of test and whether the individual has had a history of abnormal screening tests, so it's important to talk to your doctor about this at your preventative care visits.

How is your research / work (if applicable) advancing understanding of cervical cancer and how we prevent / diagnose it? 

A lot of my research is focused on patient and provider education efforts. It's hard to know what you don't know! A huge part of reducing the burden of cancer is to prevent it or diagnose it early, so it is important that patients and primary care providers know what screening tests to complete and what early signs to look out for. My research also looks at novel ways to ensure everyone is up to date on cervical cancer screening as new screening methods make their way into common practice.