Pap smears cause a lot of delays and results come in six weeks' time.
We need a HPV- DNA test which is cheaper than pap smears and the results for cervical cancer are instant.
These are the words of Dr Pushpa Nussair of MIOT Pacific Hospitals who was presenting a case study at the ‘Win Against Cancer’ seminar organised by MIOT International yesterday.
A pap smear is a procedure to test for cervical cancer in women which involves collecting cells from the cervix.
Dr Nussair says women die with cervical cancer and it is a terrible disease which robs a woman of all dignity, but cervical cancer is preventable.
She says mobile clinics can be used to conduct tests and can pick up women who are likely to have the disease.
She says another important aspect of cervical cancer prevention is complete vaccination coverage of young girls.
Dr Nussair says if cervical cancer is detected really early it can be treated. She says there is a need to create awareness.
She says we need a national cervical cancer policy on screening and prevention.
Dr Nussair says our women die with cervical cancer because they come for treatment at a very late stage.
She says our neighbouring countries have won the war against cervical cancer and if we can beat them in the rugby field, we can beat them in the cervical cancer field.
