How The Pap Test Can Save Your Life
When you think of cancers associated with women, breast cancer is likely to be the first one that comes to mind. But the truth is that cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women in India and the second most common cancer among women worldwide. The Cervical Cancer Free Coalition reported in 2013 that cervical cancer kills more than 72,000 women in India every year, which is more than in any other country.
These aren’t numbers we can ignore, and yet most of us aren’t very informed about cervical cancer and how to get tested for it. Every woman needs to be regularly screened for it, and a simple test is the first place to start.
What is a Pap Test?
Cervical cancer can be detected by taking what is known as a Pap test or Pap smear. It’s a quick and simple test in which sample cells
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Don’t dismiss any signs or symptoms commonly associated with cancer, even if your test results show a negative finding, and consult a doctor to discuss your symptoms.
Who Should Take a Pap Test?
It’s very important for women who are sexually active to take regular Pap tests because cervical cancer is commonly associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is spread during sexual activity. You should also get tested regularly if you aren’t currently sexually active but have been in the past. HPV isn’t, however, the only cause for cervical cancer, and if you’ve never been sexually active then you should still ask your doctor whether you should take the Pap test.
Different countries have different guidelines for the Pap test, but most agree that women between the ages of 21 to 65 should get tested regularly. You should continue to take the test until the age of 65 even if you’ve gone through menopause, and after 65 discuss it with your doctor. They’ll guide you based on your history and previous