Those who know they're at risk can get special tests to detect cancer early, tests proven to increase life expectancy by about seven years. But Georgetown University's study of 208 members of four cancer-prone families found more than half refused genetic testing. By highlighting the causes of refusal, the researchers hope doctors can better target genetic testing. 58 percent of those tested learned they were free of the dangerous genes. DNA tests to detect a common viral infection are highly effective at uncovering early cervical cancer in women whose Pap smears are unclear.
Pap smears can detect the first signs of cervical cancer, often in time to cure.
But some 2 million women annually have abnormal Pap results in which doctors can't tell whether cancer is present. Those women usually get repeat Paps. But human papillomavirus, or HPV, causes most cervical cancer, so Kaiser Permanente researchers studied 995 women with abnormal Paps. Pap tests were 76 percent accurate. A regular Pap smear won't yield enough cells for laboratories to do HPV testing without the woman returning to her doctor.