Dr. Monk on the Importance of Early Pap Testing in Cervical Cancer

Bradley J. Monk, MD, FACS, FACOG, US oncology medical director of Gynecologic Oncology Research and a professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, discusses the importance of Pap testing early on in cervical cancer.

When caught early with Pap testing, cervical cancer is almost always curable, says Monk.

By collecting cells from the cervix, this test can also detect other conditions such as human papillomavirus.

Notably, when cervical cancer is caught early, patients can undergo fertility-sparing surgery. In other cases, a hysterectomy may be necessary. In cervical cancer, an open approach is preferred to a minimally invasive procedure which can potentially enhance the spread of disease, Monk concludes.