Combo of testing and vaccines a winner in fight against cervical cancer

May 1 2006

According to experts in reproductive health, the combination of HPV testing with HPV vaccines is the best hope for preventing cervical cancer.

Throughout the world cervical cancer affects more than 400,000 women annually and, after breast cancer, is the second-most-common malignancy found in women.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) causes a common sexually transmitted disease and but can also be responsible for cervical cancer if left untreated and many people have HPV with no apparent symptoms.

Experts have focused on the emerging role of HPV testing as a standard of care for cervical cancer screening, and the development of the first vaccine to protect against the two most high-risk forms of HPV.

Virtually all cervical cancers are caused by HPV.

Although regular use of cytology (Pap testing) has dramatically reduced the incidence of cervical cancer in many countries, it is not foolproof.

Experts believe that success can be increased by 40 percent by effectively following up on women whose Pap results are normal but who test positive for high-risk HPV.

Experts recommend most women should have a yearly Pap test and a pelvic exam to detect the beginnings of cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer if diagnosed early has a high survival rate and a yearly Pap smear checks for abnormal cells and certain infections and can predict future problems.