India, Jan. 12 -- The World Health Organization says cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable cancers. Yet, it affects a large number of women who can go undiagnosed as it does not show many symptoms in early stages. This makes routine screenings, including the Pap Smear Test, an important tool for early detection of cervical cancer. Although cervical cancer develops slowly, if left untreated, it can progress aggressively and spread to other parts of the body. A Pap smear test is a quick screening, which is often mired in myths. For Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, observed every January, we asked a gynaecologist some of the most common questions about Pap Smear.

Dr Alka Chaudhary, an obstetrician and gynecologist at ...