Dropping the yearly Pap smear recommendation puts millions of women at risk

Safety first

It’s sheer madness to me that people argue in favor of yearly mammograms, then argue against yearly pap smears. It’s completely upside down. It’s insane.

Recently, I debunked the “lifesaver” reputation of mammograms. If you crunch the numbers, there’s no way they add up to a nation of women who owe their lives to mammography.

With Pap smears it’s exactly the opposite. This is a simple test with no side effects. And it does save lives.

I know, because mine is one of them.

Lost mothers, daughters, friends

Years ago, the pap smear was an annual test. That was a given. And I thank my lucky stars for that every day. Without an annual screening, I wouldn’t be here. In fact, when my doctor told me my test was positive, he made it clear that we had to start treatment immediately.

It was that close.

Obviously, if my doctor had been following the 2013 recommendations, he would have told me to put off my next test for a couple of years. But for me, those years would never have arrived.

It’s heartbreaking to imagine the losses the new recommendation will bring. Somewhere out there is a young mother who’s skipping the Pap smear this year. There’s a talented athlete. A brilliant musician. A wonderful friend.

They will all be lost. And the fact that they could so easily be saved is beyond tragic.

Cervical cancer is highly treatable when it’s caught early. And a Pap smear detects it easily. And yet, absurdly, this idea to test women between ages 30 and 65 just once every three years is gaining acceptance in the medical establishment.

As I mentioned last year, the United States Preventive Services Task Force has endorsed this new guideline. And now, the guideline is being promoted by an initiative called Choosing Wisely.

This program is designed to cut down on unnecessary medical tests and therapies. Most of the Choosing Wisely recommendations are good. They’re designed to protect patients and reduce costs. And I’m all for that.

But not this one. Not the Pap smear. Not by a mile.

Why would you avoid a proven lifesaving test that’s easy, quick, painless, and inexpensive? It produces no side effects. There’s no downside to yearly Pap screening.

It’s preposterous! In fact, it’s so preposterous, I’m suspicious.

I have a strong hunch that doctors are quietly being encouraged to promote the Gardasil vaccine to women who are concerned about skipping the Pap test.

In theory, doctors don’t give Gardasil to women who are sexually active. But that won’t stop them from using it off-label. You know, just to be on the “safe” side.

And of course, most insurers cover this vaccine, even though it’s been associated with potentially grave side effects.

I can’t help but think the fix is in. Every other explanation defies logic.

Sources:
“Choosing Wisely” ABIM Foundation, Updated February 2013, ABIMFoundation.org

“Medical Waste: 90 More Don’ts For Your Doctor” Richard Knox, NPR, 2/21/13, npr.org