Fortunately, there are effective treatments for this disease. In fact, cervical cancer can be one of the first signs of HIV infection in women. I found out I had cancer and HIV at the same time. I'm a recovering addict, and for about a month, I went right back on drugs. I'm OK now, but it was a shock.
Some women mistakenly think of cancer as a death sentence.
Finding out that they have cervical cancer can be even more frightening than learning they have HIV infection. Fortunately, there are effective treatments for this type of cancer. A very simple test called a PAP smear is used to examine the cells in the uterus. The test is painless and takes only a few minutes. The PAP test has saved many lives.