PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pap smears have been used for decades, and the DNA gained by samples can be studied to look for cervical cancer. Deaths from cervical cancer have dropped dramatically thanks to the pap smear, as well as the HPV vaccine.
However, ovarian cancer remains a leading killer because early symptoms are often quite vague and there is a need for a reliable screening test.
Scientists found during a small study of 75 women that samples from pap smears can be used to detect ovarian cancer as much as nine years before diagnosis.
The researchers call it the EVA test (early ovarian cancer test). Clearly, more work needs to be done with larger studies, but the initial work is promising.
Get more medical reports from Dr. Brian McDonough.
KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
