Abnormal Pap Cells

When should you start your Pap test? In "The Treatment" Best, Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld of the New York Hospital-Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center said you must have one year from your teens, especially when you start having sex, until 'to your 60th birthday.

Women belonging to the group at high risk should also be tested annually. If your Pap smear is normal, there is no point of having a Pap test after age 60.

But not all doctors agree with the recommendations Rosenfeld. Others say that the Pap test should be conducted every three years after the first two tests a year, a performance framework with negative results at age 35 or age when you first have sex.

"Ideally, a Pap smear should be taken annually for sexually active women, especially women 35 and older. However, given our economic situation and that studies have shown that two or three smears from 35 may confer the same benefits as an annual review, I recommend a Pap test every three to five years if the first two tests negative. In other countries, this procedure has reduced rates of cancer of 40-55 percent, "said Dr. Rey de los Reyes, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Doctors Medical Center-USA in the Philippines.

In cancer, however, it is better to be safe than sorry if an annual Pap test is probably best for most women. This may mean more spending and a little inconvenience on your part, but it will offer greater protection in the long term.

As regards treatment, surgery can cure most cases of cervical cancer. If the cancer has spread to other organs, a combination of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be the case.

"The best way to ensure eradication of abnormal cells in cervical conization is the removal of part of the cervix in which they are located. But, since this procedure can cause bleeding, infection, and possibly reduce your chances of having a baby at a later date due to scarring, it should be reserved for serious cases, "said Rosenfeld.

"When the dysplasia is mild or moderate, other methods such as freezing laser vaporization, and combustion (with a hot cautery) is easier and preferable. However, their rate of healing in the long term is a bit lower. Whichever approach you choose, make sure you have repeat smears every three months for at least two years to ensure that you are not one of the five or 10 percent of women who cancer develops later, he added. (Next: If you're at risk for colon cancer?)

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