New Pap Test Guidelines: Start Later, Have Fewer

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What is the current recommendation for Pap Smears after having had a complete hysterectomy?

Teresa Jenkins of VA 9:53AM April 26, 2012

Nice psot. www.usnews.com deserves an oscar.

Theron of AL 10:43PM March 10, 2010

This is why I read www.usnws.com. Shocking posts.

Grady of AL 10:32PM March 10, 2010

This is the main reason I like www.usenws.com. Insightful posts.

Eduardo of AL 10:16PM March 10, 2010

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katelinepa of CA 6:07AM January 03, 2010

I'm not that surprised by the hysteria surrounding the new recommendations, but there's a lot more heat than light in this discussion. According to the data for breast cancer (thoroughly researched, meta analysis) the difference in number of deaths per year without screening compared to with screening is less than 700. Significant, yes, but alongside that you have a couple of hundred thousand false positives, and tens of thousands of unnecessary follow-up treatments. Not to mention the occasional unnecessary mastectomy, or the 1 in 5 cancers or so that the tests miss anyway. The routine testing has been found to be clinically ineffective for the group 40-50 (though ad hoc screening depending on circumstances IS encouraged) when weighed against the harms, not cost.
Likewise, the problems identified with pap-smears are not cost based, but to do with the clinical-harms that result from over-treatment, in a particular age group.
On the subject of cost, billions of dollars a year are spent on screening. Billions of dollars are spent screening the 40-50 age group. And <700 lives are saved; if you are concerned about rationing then you should be aware of costs. Personally I think $3.2 million per diagnosis per life is reasonable, but there are a lot of people, left and right, who would argue, forcefully that money would be better spent elsewhere. Screening is Big Business, expect to see lots of doctors and radiologists freaking out about losing their livelihood, all with anecdotes talking about the 42 year old who would now be dead. Do not expect to see much analysis of the data from these same people.
Ultimately it is, and remains a womans right to ask for the tests, these recommendations suggest not doing it routinely for everyone. Do not, however, naively assume anyone who suggests all treatment is beneficial or benign is telling the whole truth. Informed consent is meaningless if you're only getting half the facts.

TryingToRemainCalm of FL 3:31PM November 30, 2009

These recommendations...are they coming from male doctors? All I know is that they couldn't find or fund money fast enough for......viagra.......no consideration for women.
All of that funding should have been raised AND USED for female cancers. My sister is suffering from ovarian cancer...no preventative test other than internal pelvic sonogram and CA-125.
Remember the systoms all of you ladies who are reading and men...remember for all of the women in your familes: queasiness, bloating, fatigue, change in bowel or bladder habits, pain in your lower back, gasiness. You can see they are symptoms that could be explained by other conditions, but if they persist more that 3 weeks...go to your doctor, insist on an internal pelvic sonogram.
I have an ob appointment every 6 months and on the odd 6 months, I have an internal sonogram and I have a blood test every 6 months for other medicines, and my PC o.k.s the CA =125 which can be a cancer marker. Talk to your doctors...every woman should be getting the CA-125 as part of their routine blood work. Doctors will say that the CA-125 can be high with from other conditions, but then rule out ovarian cancer.
Write to your elected reps and let them know we don't want less screening.
FOR ALL THAT IS HOLY....STOP SENDING ME UNSOLICITED MAIL....AND WE CAN AFFORD TO PAY FOR MEDICAL CARE FOR EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY.....MILLIONS SPENT ON PAPER, POSTAGE AND MAN OR WOMAN POWER TO DO IT !!!!!
IN THIS COUNTRY WITH BRILLIANT MINDS, I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN'T COME UP WITH A SOLUTION....DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN ...REVERTING TO FEWER SCREENINGS AT LATER AGES.
IF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY IS SAYING THE FIGURES FOR CANCERS HAS DROPPED....IT IS BECAUSE OF THE EARLY SCREENING....AND THEN DO BETTER TESTING...PET SCANS, ETC.
PAYING FOR THE TESTS WOULD HAVE TO BE MORE COST EFFICIENT THAN THE TREATMENTS.
I PRAY CONSTANTLY FOR MY SISTER AND ALL FAMILIES THAT FIGHT THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER. LET'S KEEP FIGHTING.

FRANNIE STONE of PA 10:15PM November 22, 2009

doubtful...
A good way to avoid cancer and keep health care costs down is infant female castration. Its the latest craze in egypt - and there are no incidents of Breast Cancer there - this is a known fact since mammograms are illegal.

Meghan of NJ 5:11PM November 20, 2009

Where can I find who is on the "panel" that is deciding WOMENS
health. I am still furious the yearly physical is now declined
coverage. Preventative medicine is VERY important. Maybe the
mammogram and pap test could be paid for the insurance and drug
companies is they took the Viagra commercials off TV.

Bertie Rettburg of CA 4:54PM November 20, 2009

After reading all of the blogs and articles, it seems to me that being a Women is a Sin.
Let's see No Mammograms before 50, Tax on Breast replacement, Pap not, until this age! No self check monthly. You name it. Next it will be Tax on all body parts. If you need a new Heart, Lung, Liver, Tax it.
Those that are deciding what is good for women, need to walk in our shoes. Or Better than that, Wear a Bra that does not have Breasts in them!
Just think what would the world be without women?
The way things are going it will be a real Mans world.

Sharon of AZ 3:35PM November 20, 2009