Final answer:
A negative Pap smear does not exclude ovarian cancer. Education should focus on ovarian cancer screening methods, genetic counseling given her family history, and the availability of HPV testing and vaccination to reduce risk of cervical cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
A 60-year-old female client with a significant family history of ovarian cancer has been found to have an abdominal mass and tests are underway for potential ovarian cancer diagnosis. It's important to understand that a negative Pap smear result does not rule out ovarian cancer as Pap smears are primarily designed to screen for cervical cancer, not ovarian cancer. Regular Pap smears reduce the incidence of cervical cancer by detecting pre-cancerous and abnormal cells early on.
The client's educational plan should emphasize the importance of ovarian cancer screening methods that differ from those used to detect cervical cancer. Symptoms, such as the abdominal mass she has developed, should not be ignored, and further diagnostic testing including transvaginal ultrasounds and CA-125 blood tests may be needed. Due to her family history, discussing genetic counseling to assess her risk of having a genetic predisposition to ovarian and other types of cancer is also advisable.
If the client is concerned about HPV, which is linked to cervical cancer, she can be informed that molecular tests are the primary methods to detect HPV and co-testing with a Pap smear can be started at age 30, with further testing advised every five years if the tests are negative and more frequently in certain cases. The HPV vaccine is also available and can greatly reduce the incidence of cervical cancers linked to HPV infection.