Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers today. If caught early, the 5-year survival rate is almost 100%. Regular Pap testing is the best method to protect against invasive cervical cancer. It is most important to remember that cervical cancer takes many years to develop. Regular Pap tests will help detect any precancerous or abnormal cells early enough so that cervical cancer can be prevented.
In addition to routine Pap testing, you may want to consider minimizing risk factors that could contribute to cervical cancer. Those factors include:
- Multiple sexual partners
- Multiple full-term pregnancies
- Sexual intercourse at an early age
- Chlamydia infection
- Cigarette smoking
- Use of oral contraceptives
- Weakened immune system or HIV infection
