“So here is your reminder to go see your primary care doctor and get those routine screenings checked off your to do list. Prevention is always the best option. Two screening tests can help identify cervical cancer early: The Pap test looks for precancerous and cancerous cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately. The HPV test looks for the virus (human papillomavirus) that can cause these cell changes. Both tests can be done in combination in a doctor’s office. The Pap test and the combined Pap + HPV co-test are recognized as the most successful methods for early detection. Studies and statistics show that the Pap + HPV co-test in particular has caught 94.1% of cervical cancers and 99.7% of cervical pre-cancers.”