Cervical Cancer News & Features

For decades, the Pap smear has been the standard way to test for cervical cancer. But under new government guidelines, women over 30 will have options: a pap test every three years, a test for the human papilloma virus every five years, or both tests together every five years.

Moderate cervical lesions -- formally known as cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2) -- are abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix.

Death rates from cervical cancer have fallen by more than 50 percent in the past four decades as women have learned more about their risk and as increasing numbers have had Pap tests, which help doctors screen for the disease, the experts noted.

New advisory says women can get the screen once every 5 years, in lieu of Pap tests every 3 years

Less testing could reduce risk of false positives and save money, researchers say

But study found just 30 minutes of exercise a week might lower chances of disease

For women 21 years and older at average risk for cervical cancer, getting screened once every 3 years should suffice, according to advice from the American College of Physicians (ACP).

Two groups call it an effective alternative to the Pap test, but another group disagrees

Gardasil 9 protects against 9 types of the virus, compared to the 4 covered by Gardasil

CDC report notes that half of cases occur among women never or rarely screened

More than 4,000 women projected to die this year from the disease

Study of over 1 million women suggests it could be stand-alone screening method

Analysis included more than 500,000 women from Denmark

Rates highest in women 65 to 69, and black women, say researchers using revised data

Detects presence of high-risk strains of virus believed to cause disease

Pap tests are used to find early signs of cervical cancer. But over the past several years, studies from a number of countries have found that HPV tests are better than the Pap test at finding cervical cancer.

Large population of Australian women were protected to some degree after vaccination, researchers report

Drug improved survival by 4 months with cervical cancer, but no such benefit seen with brain tumors

Researchers say their results support screening women up to age 65 and beyond

Too few vaccines recommended, and too many cervical cancer tests done, survey finds

Against clinical guidelines, many women are still getting Pap smears (a test that’s meant to find cancer of the cervix) even after they've had had a hysterectomy, which removes the uterus and cervix, according to a new government report.

Women without health insurance are far more likely to receive a diagnosis of advanced cervical cancer, a new study from the American Cancer Society shows.

Combining a Pap test with a human papillomavirus (HPV) test can safely extend the interval between cervical cancer screenings from three years to five years in many women between the ages of 30-65, according to new recommendations.

A test that looks for the virus that causes most cases of cervical cancer may be the best way to screen women over age 30 for the disease, a new study shows.

New federal guidelines are urging doctors to back off annual cervical cancer screening for most women.