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WOMEN & WELLNESS
Keep cancer at bay
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Have a Pap smear done as part of your annual check-up for, prevention is better than cure.
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MADHURI HAS always been aware of her health. She watches what she eats, exercises regularly and pays attention to what her body tells her. She is 37 years old and has heard about the Pap smear. She wants to know if she should have one.
What is the Pap smear?
Cancer of the cervix is one of the commonest cancers in Indian women. One of the great strides in preventive medicine was the introduction of the Pap smear, more than 50 years ago. The Pap test has greatly reduced the number of deaths caused by cervical cancer. The Pap test is used to find changes in the cells of the cervix that could lead to cancer. Once these changes are treated, cancer can be prevented. Most women should have Pap smears on a regular basis. Regular Pap smears can help find problems early so that they can be treated before they become serious.
The cervix is the lower, narrow end of a woman's uterus. It opens into the vagina (the birth canal). The cervix is covered by a thin layer of cells. The cells that cover the cervix grow and are replaced all the time. During this growth, the cells at the bottom layer slowly move to the surface. These cells are shed when they reach the surface.
What is a Pap smear?
A Pap smear or cervical cytology screening is a simple test to look at cells taken from the cervix. It tells your doctor if there are any abnormal cells on the cervix that may lead to cancer. The Pap test does not detect cancer in other parts of the body. A Pap smear is a simple and fast procedure. It is most often done in a doctor's clinic along with a pelvic exam. A small number of cells are removed from the cervix by gently scraping the surface with a brush or spatula. The cell sample is then sent to a lab for testing. The cell sample is placed on a glass slide before it is sent to the lab. At the lab, the sample is examined under a microscope to see if abnormal cells are present.
Who should have a Pap smear?
A Pap smear is an integral part of any health check-up for a woman. It is important that it should be done by a gynaecologist or a physician who is involved in women's health care. Women who are 30 or older should have annual Pap smears done. In Western countries, the Pap smear is recommended at an earlier age. Women who were married at a very young age or those who have had early childbirth should probably start testing earlier. Most women should continue having routine Pap tests after menopause.
How often do you need a Pap smear?
All women should have a pelvic exam yearly. It is a good practice to have a Pap smear as part of your annual check-up. Talk with your doctor about whether and how often you should have a Pap smear. If you have had three normal Pap tests in a row, you may not need a Pap test every year. You may only need one every 2 or 3 years. If the results of your Pap test are abnormal, or if you have had abnormal results in the past, your doctor may suggest having a Pap test more often.
Results of Pap smears: The Pap smear may show all normal cells. That means that your Pap smear was negative. Sometimes it might show dysplastic cells which are abnormal cells having the potential to turn cancerous over the next few years. In this case, you might be asked to undergo a repeat Pap smear or have a colposcopy.
Colposcopy is an examination using a device like a microscope to look at the cervix. It helps your doctor see changes that may mean abnormal cells are present. If an area of abnormal cells is seen, your doctor may decide that a cervical biopsy is needed. Colposcopy and biopsy will help your doctor decide if further treatment is needed.
The Pap smear is the best way to find cell changes that may lead to cancer of the cervix. Routine Pap smears can find the problem early.
GITA ARJUN
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