title: Cervical cancer prevention in the 21st century: cost is not the only issue.
abstract: The wide publicity related to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines has led to a sense that HPV vaccine programs are inevitable in both developed and developing countries, whereas 2 existing methods of screening-visual inspection with ascetic acid (VIA) and DNA testing-have received much less attention. These screening methods detect cervical lesions better than does the Papanicolaou test and allow immediate treatment, minimizing loss to follow-up. These advantages may outweigh the strengths of HPV vaccines. Priority should be given to improving screening coverage with VIA and DNA tests, focusing on women older than 30 years and underserved populations in all countries. This approach will save the lives of millions of women who have already been exposed to HPV and will develop cervical cancer during the next 20 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, Boston University School of Public Health, MA 02118, USA. dpm1@bu.edu
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maine
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hurlburt
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Greeson
mesh_terms: D003906:Developing Countries; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D013997:Time Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines