October 19, 2011
Most women have routine pap tests for cervical cancer. But now leading experts from the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force say for most women annual tests are not necessary. They can be done every three years, without worry.
"The more often you do a test, there's a higher chance you will come up with a false positive and false positive can be harmful because they can lead a woman down a path for further diagnostic treatments and procedures that aren't necessarily needed," said Dr. Wanda Nicholson, a member of the task force.
Overtreatment is a big concern in women, especially those who plan to have children, because parts of the cervix can be removed. But the pap test does save lives. It's led to a significant drop in cervical cancer over the past 30 years.
"Largely we know about 50 percent of who have had invasive cancer diagnosed have not had adequate cancer screening in the years prior to that diagnosis," said Dr. Elizabeth Poyner, a gynecologic oncologist and advanced pelvic surgeon.
Testing for the human papillomavirus has become more common in recent years. The virus causes cervical cancer. But experts say HPV testing should not replace the pap test.
The new guidelines say women should begin cervical cancer screening at age 21 and that most healthy women over 65 do not need to be tested.
