New Guideline for Cervical Cancer Screening

It has always been assumed that women would benefit by having an annual cervical cancer screening test called a pap smear, the logic being that early detection of cancer increases the chances that the disease can be more effectively treated

Cervical Cancer Lawsuit News

Monday, October 15, 2018 - Today that schedule appears to have changed and doctors are now advising women age 21- 30 that cervical cancer screening can be safely reduced to once every three years. For all other women, testing once every five years is sufficient. Testing is unnecessary for women over 65 and those that have undergone a total hysterectomy. Women with less than total hysterectomy should be tested like any other women. Annual pap smear testing is no longer necessary because of the 10-20 year period it takes for cancer to develop. Testing negative may eliminate the risk of cervical cancer for many years. new cervical cancer guidelines were established by the American Cancer Society and the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

What happens when a pap smear teat comes back positive for cervical cancer? The quick answer is that it will not. Pap smear tests can result in finding the presence of abnormal cells that could require further testing, most likely a biopsy. Of the tests that come back showing abnormal cells, only .025% (less than one half of one percent) will develop into cervical cancer. When tests to show abnormal cells the doctor will usually recommend that pap smear testing is done more frequently.

Cervical cancer occurs in the cells of the lower part of the uterus called the cervix that connects to the vagina. Women that have had a sexually transmitted infection such as HPV are at a greater risk to develop cervical cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic, common symptoms of cervical cancer are common symptoms of cervical cancer are: "abnormal vaginal bleeding, bleeding after vaginal sex, bleeding after menopause, bleeding and spotting between periods, and having (menstrual) periods that are longer or heavier than usual. Bleeding after douching or after a pelvic exam may also occur."

Although testing schedules for cervical cancer have been relaxed, cervical cancer continues unabated as one of the leading forms of death for women. Approximately 5000 women under 45 years of age die every year from Cervical cancer. Cervical cancer has a 92% five-year survival rate when detected early and properly. A large number of deaths occur as a result of a doctor misreading a Pap smear test. Failing to properly diagnose cervical cancer can allow the disease to spread to other vital organs of the body, reducing the five-year survival rate to only around 50%. If cervical cancer is detected in the early stages it can be removed with minimally invasive surgery. If you or a loved have been the victim of a misdiagnosed Pap smear test and the disease has spread, you are advised to speak with a cervical cancer attorney to see if you qualify to file a claim and hold medical personnel responsible for their negligence.

More Recent Pap Smear Cervical Cancer Lawsuit News:

No-Cost, No-Obligation Cervical Cancer Lawsuit Case Review If You or a Loved One Suffered from Cervical Cancer Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis

OnderLaw, LLC is a St. Louis personal injury law firm handling serious injury and death claims across the country. Its mission is the pursuit of justice, no matter how complex the case or strenuous the effort. The Onder Law Firm has represented clients throughout the United States in pharmaceutical and medical device litigation such as Pradaxa, Lexapro and Yasmin/Yaz, where the firm's attorneys held significant leadership roles in the litigation, as well as Actos, DePuy, Risperdal and others. The Onder Law Firm won $197 million in three talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits in St. Louis in 2016 and other law firms throughout the nation often seek its experience and expertise on complex litigation.