The best way to find cervical cancer early is to have regular screening with a Pap test (which may be combined with a test for human papilloma virus or HPV). As Pap testing became routine in this country, finding pre-invasive lesions (pre-cancers) of the cervix became far more common than finding invasive cancer. Being alert to any signs and symptoms of cervical cancer can also help avoid unnecessary delays in diagnosis. Early detection greatly improves the chances of successful treatment and can prevent any early cervical cell changes from becoming cancerous.

More information about using the Pap test and the HPV test to find cervical cancer early, including the American Cancer Society’s Guidelines for cervical cancer screening can be found in Cervical Cancer Prevention and Early Detection.

http://www.cancer.org/latest-news/special-coverage/cervical-health-awareness-month.html