Cervical Cancer Test Saves Lives

We're told to see our doctor on a regular basis and get the tests we need. Well, now we know just how well one of those tests saves live.

We've known for sometime that pap smears save lives, but new information is showing just how important they really are. Especially when it comes to surviving cervical cancer.

Pap smears are used to detect cervical cancer and the HPV virus that can lead to cervical cancer. And like all cancers, the earlier it's detected the easier it is to treat. And if it's HPV that's found then the cancer can be avoided before it takes hold. But now we are finding out just how effective pap smears really are.

A new study out of Sweden, just published in the British Medical Journal, found that women whose cervical cancer was detected by a pap smear increased their chances of getting cured by 26%. And those women who didn't have any symptoms, but had their cervical cancer found earlier because of a pap smear had a 95% survival rate 5 years out. That's an incredibly effective test.

Currently, the U.S. recommends healthy women aged 21 to 65 have a pap smear every 3 years. This study didn't address how often these tests are needed, but did show that getting tested on a regular basis is important and can be life saving.