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iThemba Life COVID-19 Solution for Patients

Know what to do next to protect yourself from cervical cancer

  • FOR PATIENTS
  • PATIENT FAQ's
  • FOR CLINICS & LABS
  • FOR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS

With iThemba Life patient app, your health is in your hands.

 

The iThemba Life patient app is a personalized approach, with information managed by your healthcare provider at the clinic. Your medical history and results are private and designed to help identify if you are at risk, take steps to protect yourself, and get the right care at the right time for disease from developing cervical cancer.

The iThemba Life patient app empowers you to play an active role in preventing cervical cancer. It delivers test results and appointment reminders directly to your smartphone so that you can take an active role in managing your own wellness and care. 

Get more information about Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and its role in cervical cancer, along with an assessment of your individual risk for cervical disease based on an HPV screening test or biopsy results with the iThemba Life app.

The iThemba Life solution for cervical cancer screening helps by:

 

  • Delivering results directly to your smartphone;
  • Providing tailored HPV and cervical cancer prevention educational information;
  • Enabling appointment and follow-up care reminders;
  • Including links to the iThemba Life website for Patient Frequently Asked Questions.
iThemba Life solution for cervical cancer prevention

 

 

Please reach out to learn more about iThemba Life

Frequently Asked Questions for App

Frequently Asked Questions for App

While HPV DNA is detected in over 99% of cervical cancers, many women test positive for HPV, and do not develop cervical disease. However, since we do not know whose body will clear the virus, and who will go on to develop invasive cancer, further testing and follow-up is important.

At this time, there is no proven medicine or cure or drug to eliminate an HPV infection of the cervix. In many cases, the body’s immune system will take care of it on its own. 

For women who show signs of precancer or cancer, there are treatment and procedure options to stop further progression of disease.

Your healthcare provider takes every precaution to use clean and sterile equipment so there is no worry of patient to patient transfer of virus. Early detection of disease can help stop its advancement, and is always a good idea. 

HPV is quite common, almost everyone who is sexually active has had it, or will be exposed to it in their lifetime. Since there are often no symptoms, people usually share it unknowingly.

If you feel comfortable doing so, you may want to let your partner know, so that you have support and understanding during the follow-up visits and management of your health care. There is no test or treatment at this time for men. There is no reason to blame or finger-point about how you might have gotten the virus. It could have been in your body for years, without showing any signs or symptoms.

Usually women experience only minor discomfort during cervical sample collection for an HPV DNA test. If a more significant sample is collected (for example: tissue, for a biopsy) there may be some momentary pain, but it is usually manageable.

Sometimes there will be small or light spots of blood for a few hours or days after cervical screening, or after a biopsy is performed. If this continues for more than a few days, please contact your healthcare provider or schedule a follow-up appointment.

If your first dose of the HPV vaccine was received when you were between the ages of 9-14, only two doses of the vaccine are needed to be considered sufficiently immunized.

You may need 3 doses of the HPV vaccine if your first one was received when you were between ages 15-26, or if you have an immunocompromised immune system and are between the ages of 9-26, or the first dose was started after 27. The HPV vaccination shots are recommended within 6-12 months of each other.

Yes, you still need to be screened even if you have been vaccinated against HPV. The HPV vaccine provides protection from the most high-risk types of HPV known to cause cancer, however, it does not protect you from all types of the virus that can potentially cause cancer; due to this reason, it’s important to go for routine cervical cancer screening tests to ensure you catch any potential disease early and reduce the chance it will cause cancer in the future. 

For patients of all ages, please check with your doctor or healthcare provider for HPV vaccination recommendations.

A colposcopy is a visual examination of your cervix, very much like the procedure you had when your screening sample was collected. 

The healthcare provider may use a device, called a speculum, to hold open the vaginal walls to get a better view. Then, your cervix will be visually examined using a special microscope called the colposcope. The colposcope is placed outside of the body and does not enter the body. 

During colposcopy, if areas of your cervix appear abnormal, a biopsy may be performed. This involves the sampling of small pieces of tissue to be sent to the laboratory for testing. 

You may feel some pressure or experience some bleeding, cramping, or soreness. If this continues for more than a few days, please contact your healthcare provider or schedule a follow-up appointment.

It may have been recommended that you return to the clinic for a follow-up exam called a "colposcopy". To prepare for this visit, your doctor may suggest that you:

 

  1. Avoid vaginal intercourse, or placing any products such as tampons or medicine, inside your vagina the day or two before your colposcopy appointment
  2. Avoid scheduling the colposcopy appointment during your period, and tell your doctor if you think you might be pregnant
  3. Talk to your doctor about taking pain medication before going to the colposcopy appointment

  

It is normal to feel anxious about the exam. Remember to talk to your clinic about your concerns when you book your colposcopy appointment, and do not delay booking the appointment. The iThemba Life app will remind you to take the important next steps to stay informed about your health.

Sometimes, small samples of tissue may be collected. This is called a “biopsy”. A laboratory test will analyze whether abnormality is present, showing cervical disease.

The clinic may also advise that you avoid sexual intercourse, the use of tampons or menstrual cups, or bathing for a period of time.

It is normal to feel anxious about the exam or while waiting for the results. You may also experience some unusual, discolored discharge for a day or two. Usually this clears up and is no reason for concern. However, if symptoms go on longer than a few days, please contact the clinic.

Please contact the clinic following a colposcopy immediately if your discharge lasts longer than a few days, or if you experience a fever, chills, bad smelling discharge, or severe pain.

Yes, patients who are HIV positive are 6 times more likely to develop cervical cancer than those who are HIV negative. Your care will be managed even more closely, with more frequent cervical screenings as necessary. Please consult with your doctor or healthcare provider for more specific information about your personal medical history.

Medicines used to manage the virus, HIV, are not protective against HPV. Currently, there are no medicines or treatments to eliminate the HPV virus from your body. For patients living with HIV, the immune system may not be able to fight an HPV infection as easily, so it is important to work closely with your doctor or healthcare provider and follow all of the prescribed recommendations and next steps. 

Implementation of cervical cancer screening programs is made easier with innovative patient communication tools

 

The iThemba Life patient app supports direct patient communications, and simplifies the delivery of next step and follow-up appointment reminders.

The iThemba Life implementation tool enables laboratory professionals to perfrom back-end data operations that allow them to run program implementation for the iThemba Life solution as a key element of cervical cancer screening programs. It provides authenticated real-time remote access to the system for data operations, data fixes and reviewing result-related behavioral data (e.g., users viewing results).

The iThemba Life implementation tool provides an automated export and reporting system to enable healthcare providers to manage patients who are using the iThemba Life patient app, and tailor follow-up care based on individual results and a clinical risk assessment.

The iThemba Life solution for cervical cancer prevention helps labs and clinics by:

 

  • Linking recommendations and follow-up care to individual results;
  • Delivering tailored messages to each patient, helping to build awareness and education for the community;
  • Providing reminders and encouragement for patients to schedule follow-up appointments, helping to ensure patients adhere to next steps and clinical recommendations;
  • Connecting patients directly to the iThemba Life website with a database of Frequently Asked Questions, helping to minimize patient concern, and address misconceptions about HPV and its role in cervical cancer; 
  • Aiding health systems and clinics to more easily identify patients at risk for disease, and tracking their participation in the cervical cancer prevention screening program;
  • Contributing to the success and sustainability of the cervical cancer elimination goals as set forth by the World Health Organization.1
iThemba Life - for Patients

1. WHO Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative https://www.who.int/initiatives/cervical-cancer-elimination-initiative Accessed August 2021.

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Empower patients to take a more active role in protecting themselves from cervical cancer


Patients who are identified to be at risk for cervical cancer can be managed with the right care, at the right time, avoiding the potential for over- or under-treatment. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is detected in >99% of all cervical cancers, so testing for HPV can help identify who is at risk, before more serious disease develops. Patients who are positive for one of the high-risk types of HPV may benefit from a clinical management plan that helps tell them what to do next, and encourages them to take a more active role in their care and wellness.

The iThemba Life solution delivers HPV and biopsy test results directly to a patient’s smartphone and provides clinical information, educational content and appointment reminders. 

Communication with patients for next steps and follow-up care decisions is critical to the success of a cervical cancer screening program. Keeping patients engaged through technology helps support prevention strategies, increases awareness, and allows the medical staff to focus their attention on those who need it most.

Use of the iThemba Life patient app and implementation tool supports cervical cancer prevention strategies, to help bring the elimination of cervical cancer within reach.

Please reach out to learn more about iThemba Life
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