Just days after controversy erupted regarding mammogram screenings, another panel emerged Friday with new guidelines when it comes to women and cervical cancer. Experts say these recommendations aren't as controversial, simply because breast and cervical cancers act very differently.
“The chances of a young woman getting cervical cancer is probably one in a million,” said Dr. John Mattox.
Dr. Mattox heads up Banner Good Samaritan's obstetrics and gynecology department. He believes these latest recommendations aren't a threat to women's health.
“I think that the information that we have about the progression of cervical cancer, the screening mechanisms that we have and that are in place right now, particularly with HPV testing, I think tell us that we can safely change these guidelines,” he said.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says these changes are based on studies that suggest starting screening earlier than 21 for healthy women may cause more harm than good.
“This is based upon science,” Mattox added. “This isn't a group of people getting together saying, ‘We think this is a good idea.’”
The new guidelines suggest routine paps should start at age 21, or within three years of sexual intercourse; women 30 years and younger every two years; and healthy women 30 and over every three years once they've had three consecutive clear tests.
Since cervical cancer is caused by certain strains of the sexually transmitted virus HPV, doctors say the new HPV vaccine will cut down cancer rates even more.
Dr. Mattox says these recommendations are a step in the right direction.
“I think that they reflect that we're becoming more evidenced-based, we’re becoming more cost-aware,” he said, “we're trying to do the very best we can to take care of women in this country.”
Unlike the new mammogram guidelines, the American Cancer Society says they support the changes and will update their recommendations in 2011.
