A Pap smear is a simple way to prevent one of the most common forms of cancer that affect women in the United States. Having regular Pap smear tests can help women and their doctors determine if they are at risk for cervical cancer.

A normal Pap smear should usually tell a woman and her doctor that no abnormal cells are developing on the cervix. But some women are finding that even a normal Pap smear may not accurately show developing cancer cells.

The Pap smear test has been around for about 60 years. Since then, many fewer women have died from cervical cancer. Women are encouraged to get regular Pap smear tests to determine if a virus known as the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is living on the cervix and subsequently, causing cancerous cells to grow.

The cervix is located at the base of the uterus. Even though HPV is a common sexually transmitted disease, affecting about 80 million people in America, it may not develop into cervical cancer.

A normal Pap smear test result is meant tell a woman and her doctor that there are no abnormal or cancerous cells growing on the cervix. Usually women get Pap smear tests yearly or every two or three years depending on their age and if they have had normal Pap smear results in the past.

There are two types of HPV infections. The first type is from a low-risk strain that causes genital warts. The second type of HPV infection comes from a high-risk strain that can cause cancer of the cervix. About 90 percent of HPV infections will go away on their own within 2 years. If it does not go away, it can lead to cervical cancer.

Human Papilloma Virus can be spread by sexual contact with those who have HPV. It can cause other cancers as well including vaginal cancers and cancers of the penis, throat, vulva, tongue and tonsils.

A normal Pap smear test should give a woman peace of mind that she does not have cervical cancer. Cervical cancer rarely occurs in women who have regular Pap smear tests with normal Pap smear results.

However, some women, even with a normal Pap smear test result, have discovered that they have cervical cancer already at a late stage. It’s possible that medical labs and technicians are to blame. Even with the prevalence of new developments in the fight against HPV and cervical cancer, women who receive regular Pap smear tests are still developing cervical cancer.

In the U.S. alone, over 17 million Pap smear test are performed annually. Unfortunately, there have been cases of technicians and medical labs failing to notice abnormal cancer cells on a Pap smear test. In these cases, women who believe they are safe from cervical cancer, are in fact not, and may unknowingly develop late stage cervical cancer.

If you or someone you love has received a normal Pap smear test, yet still developed cervical cancer, you may benefit from speaking with an experienced attorney.