Age matters when it comes to screening for cervical cancer
(WorldNews Politics)

WASHINGTON (AP) - Getting checked for cervical cancer isn`t one-size-fits-all: Millions of women may soon have to decide between a routine Pap or a newer test that detects if they have a cancer-causing virus. Draft national guidelines released Tuesday for the first time say either option is reasonable for certain women - those ages 30 to 65. Paps, a mainstay for women`s health for decades, can spot pre-cancerous abnormalities in time to prevent cancer. Newer HPV tests detect the virus that causes nearly all of that cancer, and while they`re widely used to confirm Pap results, most U.S. medical groups haven`t yet pushed them as a stand-alone alternative for screening. Tuesday`s proposal...