[khnyny]

[Metmom, it's well established that particular strains of the virus are implicated in cervical cancer.]

IIRC, aren't regular pap smears, which nowadays almost always include a test for HPV, almost 100% effective for detecting cervical cancer and also pre-cancerous cells?

The majority of deaths from cervical cancer occur in third world countries where women do not receive regular pap smears. Perhaps the drug companies should try to help the disadvantaged in the third world countries, they would certainly save more lives....oh, that's right, there aren't insurance and tax-payer funds available to shell out to drug companies in third world countries are there?? Oh yes, it's all about saving lives./s

[bigred41]

my cervical cancer was never detected by pap smears. I was finally diagnosed when I was 4 mos. pregnant. The pap smears were never conclusive, and I couldn't have any samples taken until I was 8 mos. pregnant due to the risk to my baby. It was to late by then, it was very advanced. My baby is fine, me, not so much. But if my obgyn hadn't been very old and very experienced, she wouldn't have realized anything was amiss.