Some women risk cervical cancer 25 years on

clipped from www.abc.net.au Michael Kahn Women treated for precancerous lesions are at increased risk of developing cervical or vaginal cancer for at least another 25 years, according to a study suggesting that follow-up tests fall dangerously short. Using data from Sweden's national cancer registry, the researchers say that women who have had severe lesions in the cervix are more than twice as likely to develop one of the two cancers than women in the general population. The findings underscore the need for follow-up tests to continue for at least 25 years after treatment, far longer than the current five or 10 years standard in most European countries, says Dr Björn Strander, a gynaecologist at Sahlgren University Hospital in Sweden. Strander led the study, which is published online today by the British Medical Journal. "This is a warning to the healthcare system to keep track of these women," he says "It has not been known these women remain at risk for such a very long time." cervical cancer kills 300,000 each year

The studies show treated for precancerous lesions of the cervix, should continue to get checkups for at least 25 years, instead of the current 5-10 year standard