Test for cervical cancer: is a pap smear the best option?

 

 Cervical cancer is a hot topic for the media right now. The Guardian - which earlier this year drew attention to the rise in demand for cervical cancer screening thanks to what they called "Jade Goody effect" - ran a piece this weekend titled "Why I'm never going to have another smear test" which prompted a furious online debate.

Last week medical blogger Kevin MD asked whether the smear will soon be replaced by a DNA test to detect cervical cancer. In his blog post he references a paper which recently appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine and an article in the New York Times.

Abnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. Full medical glossary
Relating either to the cervix (the neck of the womb) or to the cervical vertebrae in the neck (cervical spine). Full medical glossary
The building blocks of the genes in almost all living organisms - spelt out in full as deoxyribonucleic acid. Full medical glossary
An organ with the ability to make and secrete certain fluids. Full medical glossary
A way to identify people who may have a certain condition, among a group of people who may or may not seem to Full medical glossary