#ca cervix vaccine

[ganitsoni]

Understanding Breast Cancer Treatment: Exploring Surgeries and Therapies

Breast cancer is a serious illness that requires careful treatment. There are different ways to treat breast cancer, including surgeries and therapies. In this article, we'll look at the types of surgeries and therapies used to treat breast cancer. We'll explain what they are, how they work, and why they're important.

Types of Surgeries:

Lumpectomy: A lumpectomy is a surgery where doctors remove the tumor and a small amount of surrounding healthy tissue from the breast. It's often used for early-stage breast cancer to help keep as much of the breast as possible.

Mastectomy: Mastectomy is when doctors remove the whole breast to treat breast cancer. There are different types of mastectomy, depending on how much tissue is removed.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: This surgery helps doctors see if the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes. Doctors find and remove a few lymph nodes to check for cancer cells.

Types of Therapies:

Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy uses special beams to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It's often used after surgery to make sure any leftover cancer cells are gone.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is when patients take special drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. It's used before or after surgery to help get rid of cancer cells and prevent them from coming back.

Hormone Therapy: Hormone therapy blocks hormones that can make breast cancer grow. It's used for hormone-sensitive breast cancer to stop cancer cells from growing.

Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy attacks specific parts of cancer cells to stop them from growing. It's a newer type of treatment that can be very effective for certain types of breast cancer. Combination Therapies:

Neoadjuvant Therapy: This therapy is given before surgery to shrink tumors and make them easier to remove. It helps make surgery more successful.

Adjuvant Therapy: Adjuvant therapy is given after surgery to help lower the risk of cancer coming back. It can include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or targeted therapy.

Conclusion: Breast cancer treatment is complex, but there are many ways to fight it. Surgeries and therapies play a big role in helping people beat breast cancer. By understanding the different types of surgeries and therapies available, patients and their doctors can work together to come up with the best treatment plan for each person. With the right treatment, many people with breast cancer can go on to live long, healthy lives.

[ganitsoni9951]

Understanding Cervical Cancer Treatment in Hyderabad

Cervical cancer is a significant health issue for women in Hyderabad, India. However, with advancements in medical science, there are more treatment options available. Dr. Chinnababu, a renowned oncologist, is leading the way in providing effective treatments for cervical cancer patients in Hyderabad.

What is Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer starts in the cells of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus. It is usually caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), but other factors like smoking and weakened immune systems can also contribute. Early detection is crucial for successful treatment.

Diagnosis

In Hyderabad, doctors use various tests to diagnose cervical cancer. These include Pap smears, HPV testing, colposcopy, and biopsy. These tests help doctors determine the stage and severity of the cancer, which guides treatment decisions.

Treatment Options

Treatment for cervical cancer depends on the stage of the disease and the patient's overall health. In Hyderabad, patients have access to several treatment options:

Surgery: Surgery may be recommended for early-stage cervical cancer. It can involve removing the cancerous tissue or the entire uterus. Dr. Chinnababu specializes in minimally invasive surgeries, which have shorter recovery times and fewer complications.

Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It can be delivered externally or internally through brachytherapy. Hyderabad has advanced radiation therapy equipment to deliver precise treatment.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. It can be given alone or in combination with other treatments. Dr. Chinnababu designs personalized chemotherapy plans for each patient.

Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy targets specific molecules involved in cancer growth. It can be used for advanced or recurrent cervical cancer. Immunotherapy is a type of targeted therapy that boosts the body's immune system to fight cancer cells.

Conclusion

Cervical cancer treatment in Hyderabad offers hope for patients. Dr. Chinnababu and his team are dedicated to providing the best care possible. If you or someone you know is diagnosed with cervical cancer, don't hesitate to seek medical advice and explore treatment options available in Hyderabad. Early detection and personalized treatment plans can improve outcomes and quality of life for cervical cancer patients.

[mcatmemoranda]

...women 30 and over [should] get a Pap and HPV test every five years.

Women aged age 21 to 29 should get a Pap test every three years but not an HPV test. This is because the rate of HPV infection is very high in younger women and their immune system is likely strong enough to clear it.

Most women will be able to stop screening at 65, depending on their medical history.

uIf you get a positive HPV test, your physician has detected one or more high risk strains of the virus on the Pap test of your cervix. If the virus stays with you for a long time, it can cause cell changes that can lead to several types of cancer.

If you test positive for HPV and your Pap test is normal, your doctor will most likely recommend that you repeat the Pap and HPV screening exams in one year.

If you got a positive HPV test and your Pap test was abnormal, your doctor will probably follow up with a colposcopy.

All males and females ages 9–26 should get the HPV vaccine. It is most effective when given at ages 11–12. Unvaccinated men and women ages 27–45 should talk to their doctor about the benefits of the vaccine. Source

I have a patient who had a hysterectomy years ago for cervical cancer. So she no longer has a cervix. However the remaining cervical cuff still needs to be tested. So I did a Pap test with HPV co-testing. The Pap test showed no abnormal cells, however the HPV test was positive. Since she has no cervix to get cervical cancer, I do not think I need to be concerned. Not sure if HPV can causes vaginal cancer or how likely that is. She just needs to follow-up in 1 year for repeat testing. That's what I understand at least from what I just looked up.

I have the ASCCP app, which is saying she needs HPV testing q3 years x 25 years. My senior sent me this article to figure out what to do. You can get vaginal CA after hysterectomy for cervical cancer:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3817789/

[siva3155]

300+ TOP ONCOLOGY Objective Questions and Answers

ONCOLOGY Multiple Choice Questions :-

1. Cytotoxic T cells (CTL) are capable of recognizing: A. Peptide antigens associated with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. B. Membrane-bound antigens. C. Cytoplasmic antigens. D. Nuclear antigens. E. All of the above. Answer: E 2. Adoptive immunotherapy with lymphokine activated killer cells (LAK) and tumor infiltrate (TIL) cells are characterized by: A. Nonspecific stimulation of effector cells. B. Expansion ex vivo of large numbers of lymphocytes. C. Infusion with interleukin 2 (IL-2). D. Significant toxicity at high doses. E. All of the above. Answer: E 3. Previous clinical studies with cancer vaccines have: A. Clearly demonstrated induction of tumor-specific immune response. B. Repeatedly demonstrated clinical response to large tumor burden. C. Not clearly demonstrated induction of tumor-specific immune response. D. Not been performed to date. Answer: C 4. Which of the following statements is/are true of the epidemiology and etiology of melanoma? A. Most patients are diagnosed after age 60 years. B. Skin color has no association with risk of melanoma. C. Sun exposure is the only risk factor for melanoma. D. The per capita incidence of melanoma is highest in Australia. Answer: D 5. Which of the following variables best predicts prognosis for patients with a recent diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma and no clinical evidence of metastatic disease? A. Breslow thickness. B. Clark's level. C. Ulceration. D. Gender. E. Celtic complexion. Answer: A 6. A 38-year-old man presents with a melanoma on the skin of the right calf measuring 5 mm. in thickness. Several large nodes are palpable in the right inguinal region. Which of the following statements about the appropriate management of this clinical problem is false? A. In the absence of systemic disease, the primary melanoma of the right calf should be excised with at least a 2-cm. margin. B. Complete right inguinal node dissection should be performed if there is no evidence of systemic metastasis. C. If further work-up reveals multiple lung metastases of melanoma, they should be excised as soon as possible. D. Chemotherapy for melanoma is primarily palliative; so surgical therapy is preferred if there is no evidence of metastatic disease beyond the inguinal region. E. If the nodes do not contain metastatic disease but are simply reactive, the chance of 5-year survival is 50% or less. Answer: C 7. A 42-year-old woman presents with an 8 cm. × 6 cm. × 4 cm. mass in the posterior thigh. Incisional biopsy reveals a high-grade liposarcoma. Her management should include: A. High thigh amputation. B. Extracompartment excision with negative margins. C. Complete excision with negative margins. D. Adjuvant radiation therapy. E. Adjuvant chemotherapy. Answer: CD 8. Biologic features of adult soft tissue sarcomas include the following: A. Mutations of p53 in metastatic liposarcoma. B. A low (less than 1%) risk of metastasis for small, low-grade lesions. C. Recurrent disease in at least 33% of patients. D. Lymph node metastasis in less than 3% of patients. E. Mutations of p53 in Li-Fraumeni syndrome. Answer: BCDE 9. Which of the following statements describes an ideal tumor marker? A. The ideal tumor marker should be tumor specific; that is, in the normal population or patients with benign diseases, false-positive test results are rare. B. The ideal marker must have a low false-negative rate; that means that all patients with a particular type of cancer should test positive. C. The circulating level of an ideal tumor marker should correlate directly with the amount of viable tumor and be a measure of the response to therapy. D. The ideal tumor marker should act as a prognostic indicator. E. All of the above. Answer: E 10. A marker for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is: A. CA 15-3. B. CA 19-9. C. Alphafetoprotein (AFP). D. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). E. CYFRA 21-1. Answer: B

ONCOLOGY MCQs 11. Which of the following tumors may cause elevated CEA levels? A. Breast cancer. B. Colorectal cancer. C. Gastric cancer. D. Lung cancer. E. All of the above. Answer: E 12. The presence of which marker is a significant poor prognosis variable for patients with breast cancer: A. CEA. B. C-erb B-2. C. AFP. D. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). E. RB-1. Answer: B 13. The most useful circulating marker for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma is: A. CA 50. B. Levels of vitamin B 12. C. CEA. D. AFP. E. hCG. Answer: D 14. In patients with colorectal cancer the serum CEA level is a clinically useful measure for all reasons except: A. Prognosis. B. Detection of recurrence. C. Guiding second-look operations. D. Following treatment response. E. Early diagnosis. Answer: E 15. Which serum markers are useful in the management of patients with testicular cancer? A. hCG. B. AFP. C. CA 15-3. D. Two of the above. E. None of the above. Answer: D 16. Which tumor marker is useful for the management of patients with breast cancer? A. CA 125. B. Inhibin. C. CA 19-9. D. CA 15-3. E. CEA. Answer: D 17. A new marker that has possible utility in the management of patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is: A. Calcitonin. B. Neuron-specific enolase. C. CYFRA 21-1. D. Glucagon. E. Chromogranin A. Answer: C 18. A circulating marker that may be useful in the management of patients with any neuroendocrine tumor is: A. Chromogranin A. B. Neuron-specific enolase. C. hCG. D. Two of the above. E. None of the above. Answer: D 19. A 65-year-old man is seen two years following right hemicolectomy for a Duke’s B-2 carcinoma of the cecum. Although asymptomatic, the CEA level has risen four-fold from a value obtained six months previously. Computed tomography reveals a single, 3 cm lesion in the right hepatic lobe. There is no evidence of extra-hepatic metastatic disease and the patient undergoes right hepatic lobectomy. Which of the following correctly represents the chance of overall 5 year survival? a. 15% b. 33% c. 50% d. 66% Answer: b 20. The most serious long-term side effect of bleomycin therapy is which of the following? a. Pulmonary fibrosis b. Cataract formation c. Cardiomyopathy d. Aplastic anemia Answer: a 21. Which of the following malignancies have declined in incidence in the United States over the past two decades? a. Breast carcinoma b. Gastric carcinoma c. Endometrial carcinoma d. Prostate cancer e. Carcinoma of the uterine cervix Answer: b, c, e 22. Oncogenes have been implicated in the development of a number of human neoplasms. Oncogene activation is believed to be required for oncogenesis. Which of the following potential mechanisms are relevant to these processes? a. Chromosome translocation b. DNA point mutation c. Amplification d. Gene deletion Answer: a, b, c 23. A 45-year-old woman undergoes excision of a 1 cm breast mass. Histologic examination reveals invasive ductal carcinoma. Flow cytometric analysis is also performed which determines that a fraction of the tumor cells are “aneuploid”. The patient asks for an explanation of this term. Which of the following is/are correct? a. The cells have a DNA content 1 times the baseline content b. The cells have hyperchromatic nuclei c. The cells have a DNA content 2 times the baseline content d. The cells have squamous morphology e. The cells have a DNA content not an even multiple of baseline content Answer: e 24. A 45-year-old man with long-standing gastroesophageal reflux undergoes upper endoscopy that reveals patchy areas of epithelium resembling gastric mucosa extending 5 cm proximal to the esophagogastric junction. Biopsies are obtained. The pathologic report describes “Barrett’s epithelium”. Which of the following processes does this finding represent? a. Cellular hyperplasia b. Cellular hypertrophy c. Metaplasia d. Carcinoma in situ Answer: c 25. Which of the following statements regarding the inherited form of retinoblastoma is/are correct? a. Retinoblastoma results from amplification of the H-ras oncogene b. Clinical disease results after chromosomal loss in a retinal cell after birth c. Retinoblastoma results from the loss of a tumor suppressor gene d. Clinical disease results from chromosomal translocation Answer: b, c ONCOLOGY Objective type Questions with Answers 26. Analysis of metastatic tumor cells has revealed expression of factors promoting tissue invasion. Which of the following is/are among such factors? a. Collagenase b. Plasminogen activator c. Fibroblast growth factor d. Interleukin-2 Answer: a, b 27. The most common complication that requires alteration of planned chemotherapy regimens is which of the following? a. Pulmonary fibrosis b. Gastrointestinal ulceration c. Hematologic suppression d. Hepatotoxicity Answer: c 28. Resistance of tumors to multiple chemotherapeutic agents is often due to the MDR gene. This gene encodes a protein that acts by which of the following mechanisms? a. As a transmembrane efflux pump for chemotherapeutic agents b. As a DNA repair molecule c. As an isoform of superoxide dismutase d. As a membrane stabilizer Answer: a 29. The high incidence of hepatitis B infection in Africa and parts of Asia is thought to be causally associated with increased incidence of which of the following malignancies? a. Hepatocellular carcinoma b. Esophageal cancer c. Burkitt’s lymphoma d. Gastric carcinoma Answer: a 30. Workers exposed to asbestos are at increased risk for which of the following tumors? a. Thoracic mesothelioma b. Bladder carcinoma c. Laryngeal carcinoma d. Testicular carcinoma e. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma Answer: a, b, c 31. The Lynch Syndrome is also known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer. Which of the following is/are features of this syndrome? a. Left sided colon cancers b. Autosomal dominant inheritance c. Multiple polyps beginning in adolescence d. Multiple cutaneous nevi Answer: b 32. A number of clinical factors have been noted to decrease sensitivity of tumors to the effects of ionizing radiation. Which of the following is most important in this regard? a. Increased tissue vascularity b. High tumor mitotic rate c. Tissue hypoxia d. Subcutaneous tumor location Answer: c 33. Brachytherapy involves the delivery of radiation therapy locally via specially designed catheters placed in direct apposition to the treated tissue. The most common radioisotope used in this application is which of the following? a. 125I b. 14C c. 3H d. 34P Answer: a 34. Patients that have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome are at increased risk for which of the following neoplasms? a. Colorectal cancer b. Meningioma c. Kaposi’s sarcoma d. Hepatocellular carcinoma e. Esophageal carcinoma Answer: c 35. DNA viruses have been implicated as etiologic agents in several human tumors. Evidence for a causative role exists for which of the following neoplasms? a. Burkitt’s lymphoma b. Testicular carcinoma c. Cervical carcinoma d. Osteogenci sarcoma e. Esophageal carcinoma Answer: a, c 36. When a chemotherapeutic agent is stated to have caused a partial response this implies what degree of reduction in measurable tumor volume? a. 0–9% b. 10–29% c. 30–49% d. 50–99% Answer: d 37. Which of the following represent obstacles to the use of retroviruses in therapeutic gene transfer? a. Viral receptors may not be present on target cell membranes b. For integration, the host cell must undergo mitosis c. Virus particles are labile d. Viral purification is difficult Answer: a, b, c, d 38. Which of the following statements regarding alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency is/are correct? a. Alpha-1-antitrypsin is a plasma elastase inhibitor b. Most homozygous patients develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease c. The spleen is the primary site of alpha-1-antitrypsin synthesis d. Intracellular accumulation of abnormal protein occurs in hepatocytes Answer: a, b, d 39. Which of the following statements regarding retroviruses is/are correct? a. The genetic material contained within a retrovirus is RNA b. Inside the host cell the viral RNA is converted to single-stranded DNA c. Proviral DNA is integrated into the host chromosome d. Retroviruses can be used to transfect both replicating and non-replicating cells Answer: a, c 40. Which of the following statements relating to adenoviruses is/are correct? a. Adenoviral infection is a common cause of upper respiratory tract infection b. Adenoviral genetic material consists of double-stranded DNA c. Adenovirus can be produced in large quantity and easily purified d. Adenoviral infection requires host cell mitosis Answer: a, b, c 41. Which of the following statement relating to cystic fibrosis is/are correct? a. Cystic fibrosis is inherited as an X chromosome-linked recessive trait b. Cystic fibrosis is caused by a defective chloride channel c. Cystic fibrosis is caused by defective acetylcholine receptors d. Cystic fibrosis is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait Answer: b, d 42. Hemophilia B has been treated in a pre-clinical model by gene transfer for which deficient clotting factor? a. Factor II b. Factor VII c. Factor IX d. Factor X Answer: c 43. Familial hypercholesterolemia has been proposed as a disease to be treated by gene therapy. The molecular basis of familial hypercholesterolemia is which of the following? a. Absence of hepatic low density lipoprotein receptors b. Overproduction of high density lipoprotein c. Absence of lipoprotein lipase d. Overproduction of hepatic ornithine transcarbamylase Answer: a 44. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides have been proposed as agents for cancer-directed gene therapy. When delivered intracellularly, antisense molecules act to block which of the following? a. Transcription b. Translation c. Post-translational processing d. Ribosylation Answer: b 45. Which of the following viruses is/are considered to be neurotropic? a. Adenovirus b. Herpes simplex virus c. Retrovirus d. Adeno-associated virus Answer: b ONCOLOGY Questions and Answers pdf Download Read the full article

[blackbridesmaiddresses1]

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[megabarbidollthings]

Ca Cervix isone of the most preventable &curable cancer,as long as it is detected early& managed effectively.We can reduce new diagnoses by 2ways,vaccination &screening of the cervix,&follow on treatment of early changes before cancer appear#StopHPVCancer

[kristablogs]

Pap smears are no longer the best way to screen for cervical cancer

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. The new guidelines will prevent 13 percent more cervical cancers and 7 percent more cervical cancer deaths. (Pexels /)

The American Cancer Society has updated its recommendations for cervical cancer screening to require less frequent tests and be easier to follow, the organization announced on July 30 in its publication CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. The new guidelines bump up the recommended age for people with cervixes to begin screening from 21 to 25. Additionally, the organization now recommends testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV)—which is responsible for causing nearly all cases of cervical cancer—every five years without an accompanying Pap test.

“The main way that [the new guidelines] will prevent more cancers is by facilitating screening,” says Debbie Saslow, the managing director of HPV and gynecological cancers at the American Cancer Society and one of the authors of the new report. “And by that, I mean it’s a very simplified guideline: Start at 25, get the HPV test every five years until age 65, and then stop.”

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Most HPV infections clear up on their own. However, HPV can sometimes cause changes in the cells of the cervix that eventually lead to cancer. Previously, the recommended strategy for early detection of these abnormalities or cervical cancer was for people to begin receiving Pap tests at age 21 every three years, then receive both HPV and Pap tests starting at age 30.

The Pap test detects abnormal cervical cells, while the HPV test diagnoses infection with the virus, which can take many years to lead to cancer. The HPV test is more accurate than the Pap test; a single HPV test every five years is more effective than a Pap test every three years in reducing the overall, population-level risk of cervical cancer, Saslow and her colleagues wrote. Compared with previous screening practices, they estimated, the new guidelines will prevent 13 percent more cervical cancers and 7 percent more cervical cancer deaths.

“Having a simple guideline like that makes it easier to follow for both patients and clinicians, and hopefully that will increase the screening rate, particularly for people who haven’t been getting screened or haven’t been screened regularly,” Saslow says.

She and her colleagues also updated the recommendations because cervical cancer is extremely rare in people under 25. These cases of cervical cancer also tend to be rarer forms of the disease that screening tests cannot detect, Saslow says.

Additionally, the new guidelines will mean that fewer young people will need to undergo follow-up procedures such as biopsies to confirm that they don’t have cancer after their Pap test indicates potential abnormalities in their cervical cells. These procedures can sometimes raise a person’s risk for giving birth prematurely if they become pregnant in the future.

The other reason that Saslow and her colleagues updated the recommendations for cervical cancer screening is the growing use of the HPV vaccine, which has been available since 2006. “The majority of parents are getting their kids vaccinated against HPV,” she says. “Those numbers, even though they are not as high as we need them to be, have been enough to lower cancer rates across the entire population, not just among vaccinated people.”

The FDA must approve all cervical cancer screening tests before doctors can use them. Some HPV tests are green-lit only when paired with a Pap test, a practice called cotesting. The American Cancer Society guidelines state that in places where laboratories aren’t yet set up to perform only HPV tests, giving people Pap tests every three years or cotesting every 5 years are acceptable alternatives for now. However, Saslow and her colleagues foresee Pap testing eventually being phased out.

“This guideline…is putting the country on notice,” she says. “The next time the American Cancer Society updates our cervical cancer screening guidelines, it will not have pap testing or cotesting in our recommendation.”

As more adolescents receive the HPV vaccine, the incidence of cervical cancer—as well as other cancers caused by human papillomavirus, such as penile and anal cancer—will continue to drop, says Alexi Wright, the director of gynecologic oncology outcomes research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Scientists have recently estimated that if people are screened regularly and receive the HPV vaccine, this highly preventable cancer could be eliminated from the United States within a few decades. This means that it’s vital to ensure that people have access to both HPV testing and the vaccine going forward.

“These guidelines represent progress—they reflect the fact that we are better at identifying who is at risk for cervical cancer and how to detect it,” Wright said in an email. “My hope is that they will reduce a lot of unnecessary testing—and alleviate a lot of worry that frequent testing and false positive tests cause—but it’s still very important that all women continue to get screened.”

[scootoaster]

Pap smears are no longer the best way to screen for cervical cancer

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. The new guidelines will prevent 13 percent more cervical cancers and 7 percent more cervical cancer deaths. (Pexels /)

The American Cancer Society has updated its recommendations for cervical cancer screening to require less frequent tests and be easier to follow, the organization announced on July 30 in its publication CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. The new guidelines bump up the recommended age for people with cervixes to begin screening from 21 to 25. Additionally, the organization now recommends testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV)—which is responsible for causing nearly all cases of cervical cancer—every five years without an accompanying Pap test.

“The main way that [the new guidelines] will prevent more cancers is by facilitating screening,” says Debbie Saslow, the managing director of HPV and gynecological cancers at the American Cancer Society and one of the authors of the new report. “And by that, I mean it’s a very simplified guideline: Start at 25, get the HPV test every five years until age 65, and then stop.”

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Most HPV infections clear up on their own. However, HPV can sometimes cause changes in the cells of the cervix that eventually lead to cancer. Previously, the recommended strategy for early detection of these abnormalities or cervical cancer was for people to begin receiving Pap tests at age 21 every three years, then receive both HPV and Pap tests starting at age 30.

The Pap test detects abnormal cervical cells, while the HPV test diagnoses infection with the virus, which can take many years to lead to cancer. The HPV test is more accurate than the Pap test; a single HPV test every five years is more effective than a Pap test every three years in reducing the overall, population-level risk of cervical cancer, Saslow and her colleagues wrote. Compared with previous screening practices, they estimated, the new guidelines will prevent 13 percent more cervical cancers and 7 percent more cervical cancer deaths.

“Having a simple guideline like that makes it easier to follow for both patients and clinicians, and hopefully that will increase the screening rate, particularly for people who haven’t been getting screened or haven’t been screened regularly,” Saslow says.

She and her colleagues also updated the recommendations because cervical cancer is extremely rare in people under 25. These cases of cervical cancer also tend to be rarer forms of the disease that screening tests cannot detect, Saslow says.

Additionally, the new guidelines will mean that fewer young people will need to undergo follow-up procedures such as biopsies to confirm that they don’t have cancer after their Pap test indicates potential abnormalities in their cervical cells. These procedures can sometimes raise a person’s risk for giving birth prematurely if they become pregnant in the future.

The other reason that Saslow and her colleagues updated the recommendations for cervical cancer screening is the growing use of the HPV vaccine, which has been available since 2006. “The majority of parents are getting their kids vaccinated against HPV,” she says. “Those numbers, even though they are not as high as we need them to be, have been enough to lower cancer rates across the entire population, not just among vaccinated people.”

The FDA must approve all cervical cancer screening tests before doctors can use them. Some HPV tests are green-lit only when paired with a Pap test, a practice called cotesting. The American Cancer Society guidelines state that in places where laboratories aren’t yet set up to perform only HPV tests, giving people Pap tests every three years or cotesting every 5 years are acceptable alternatives for now. However, Saslow and her colleagues foresee Pap testing eventually being phased out.

“This guideline…is putting the country on notice,” she says. “The next time the American Cancer Society updates our cervical cancer screening guidelines, it will not have pap testing or cotesting in our recommendation.”

As more adolescents receive the HPV vaccine, the incidence of cervical cancer—as well as other cancers caused by human papillomavirus, such as penile and anal cancer—will continue to drop, says Alexi Wright, the director of gynecologic oncology outcomes research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Scientists have recently estimated that if people are screened regularly and receive the HPV vaccine, this highly preventable cancer could be eliminated from the United States within a few decades. This means that it’s vital to ensure that people have access to both HPV testing and the vaccine going forward.

“These guidelines represent progress—they reflect the fact that we are better at identifying who is at risk for cervical cancer and how to detect it,” Wright said in an email. “My hope is that they will reduce a lot of unnecessary testing—and alleviate a lot of worry that frequent testing and false positive tests cause—but it’s still very important that all women continue to get screened.”