Cancer of the cervix is no longer the major threat to the lives of women that it was 50 years ago, thanks, for the most part, to the pioneering effort of Dr. George Papanicolaou, a pathologist whose work established the Pap Test, which remains an important examination for women between the ages of 18 and 70. Fifty years ago cancer of the cervix was the leading cause of cancer death in women. Most of these women were between the ages of 30 and 50. With the introduction of regular screening for cervical cancer by the Pap Test, early cancers were identified and the likelihood of cure increased substantially. In more recent years, additional tests were possible to identify pre-cancerous, pre-invasive lesions with essentially uniform curability. Approximately 10 years ago, it was found that cancer of the cervix was due to a virus, Human Papilloma Virus, which was sexually transmitted. It is, therefore, possible to prevent cancer of the cervix by all the usual means of preventing sexually transmitted diseases. Within the last year, researchers have developed a serum that can immunize against the Human Papilloma Virus infection. This material is currently in clinical trials and should be available for routine use within the next decade. So we have gone from early detection to prevention of an important cancer in women.

This success story was possible because women understood the risks involved in cancer of the cervix and made Pap Smears a part of their regular health care. Physicians recognized the importance of promoting regular Pap Smears and all private and governmental health insurers paid for this examination. This is a model that we can apply to other important cancers, particularly colorectal cancer, which is second only to lung cancer as a cause of death in both men and women. (Of course, lung cancer is a preventable disease if everybody stopped smoking.) We can look forward in this century to making cancer a preventable disease as well as a curable disease.

For more information and answers to specific questions contact the Rhode Island Cancer Council at info@ricancercouncil.org or call us at (401) 728-4800 or toll free 866-879-4100.

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month.

IT IS EASIER TO PREVENT CANCER THAN TO TREAT IT.

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