American Cancer Society issues new early detection guidelines.(for cervical cancer and precancerous conditions)

2002 DEC 12 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The American Cancer Society has issued new guidelines addressing when and how often women should get early detection tests for cervical cancer and precancer.

The new guidelines were developed by an expert panel and address who should be screened, when and with what test.

Under the new recommendations, most women would begin cervical cancer screening later, have an option to stop at a certain age (70 years) and be exempt from screening entirely if they have had a hysterectomy.

"The new guidelines will have a major impact on the number of women who are overscreened and overtreated," said Mary A. Simmonds, MD, FACP, national volunteer president of the American Cancer Society. "Because most cervical precancers grow slowly, having a test every 2-3 years will find almost all cervical precancers and cancers while they can be removed or treated successfully, she wrote in the November/December issue of CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

"However," Simmonds added, "it is important to emphasize that the biggest gain in reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality would be achieved by increasing screening rates among women who have not been screened or who have not been screened regularly."

The American Cancer Society estimates that 13,000 women will develop invasive cervical cancer this year, and 4100 women will die of it.

In summary, the new guidelines recommend: