Tampa Bay.com

By Richard Martin, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 20, 2009

For the second time this week, a major U.S. medical panel has revised recommendations for a key test that millions of American women use to detect cancer.

On Tuesday, it was mammograms. Today, it’s Pap tests.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that women no longer need annual cervical cancer screenings. It also says women can now wait until they’re 21 to get their first Pap test, instead of getting one after they’ve become sexually active.

“The tradition of doing a Pap test every year has not been supported by recent scientific evidence,” said Dr. Alan G. Waxman of the University of New Mexico, who headed the American College’s guideline revision.

“A review of the evidence to date shows that screening at less frequent intervals prevents cervical cancer just as well, has decreased costs and avoids unnecessary interventions that could be harmful,” he added.

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Comment from Leslie

What the????????????  is this coming from the vaccine manufacturers? Every year we have trudged in for paps and mammograms to find out that they are unnecessary…..And some of us knew it all along and were made to feel guilty about not having the tests of year. Doctors profited, insurance companies profited and we got cancer from x-rays…..Bastards.

Wonder if they are pushing for the HPV vaccine instead of pap.  Makes sense to me. Bastards - Already said that.  Whatev..Bastards.

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