Gynecologist Dr Kanak Tiwari has revealed that a simple Pap smear test can detect cervical cancer up to 10 years before it becomes life-threatening. She shared the crucial health advice on Instagram after treating a 52-year-old woman who had a guava-sized cancerous growth in her vagina. Breast cancer and cervical cancer remain the most common cancers among Indian women, making early detection a vital necessity.
The Patient's Case And The Shocking Discovery
A 52-year-old woman visited Dr Tiwari with complaints of frequent urine leakage, needing to urinate six to seven times at night, and constantly wet underwear. She had consulted several doctors in her village but none were trained gynecologists, so a proper internal examination was never done. When Dr Tiwari inserted the instrument for examination, she found a guava-sized growth in the patient's vagina that bled heavily on touch. Large sores were also present around the area.
99 Percent Likely Cancerous And Inoperable
Dr Tiwari stated that looking at the nature of the growth, it was 99 percent likely to be a cancerous tumor. The cancer had spread completely, making it impossible to remove even through surgery. The doctor emphasized that such a large tumor does not develop overnight. It takes years to grow, which is why regular screening is so important for early detection and successful treatment.
What Is The Pap Smear Test And Who Needs It
The Pap smear test is a simple screening procedure that can detect cervical cancer ten years before it develops. Dr Tiwari advised that every woman between the ages of 26 and 65 should get this test done once every three years. She stressed that women should undergo the test even if they have no complaints, no discharge, no spotting, and even if they have already received the HPV vaccine. This simple test can save lives by catching cancer a decade early.
