What is ultimately preventing? Prevention is a word that sounds a lot nowadays. Looking back in etymological dictionaries concludes that prevention is to take measures to prevent incidents and situations that cause negative consequences. In the health sector the negative consequences most directly related to the life and quality.

Who wants to be healthy? The answer is easy. We all want to enjoy our health. But sometimes we forget that unfortunately we are mortal and vulnerable. We learn about diseases around us, regret, and most do not think that we are people. So here at this point is to give us a significant prevention of help!

As an Obstetrician-Gynecologist and as a woman I feel lucky that I have in my hands the Pap-test (or test-Pap such internationally known), a weapon for prevention and life. We are honored to say that C. Papanikolaou, father of test-Papanikolaou was a Greek born in Kymi, and gave us the possibility with a simple test of the ten minutes, we can identify quite early cancer of the cervix so that be in a treatable stage.

O cervical cancer is the second most frequent malignant disease of women worldwide (after breast cancer). In Greece, according to the estimate of the 90s, the incidence of the disease was 9,29 / 100.000 (eudan Database, 1998). During this decade, in Greece, some 100 women aged over 25 lose their lives each year from the disease (Data National Statistical Service). In general, the incidence of cervical cancer in recent years shows a downward trend and this is due to widespread cytology Pap. The significance of the Pap-test examination because given the ability to diagnose the cervical cancer at a very early stage, but also in that it can detect cells tend later become cancerous. Therefore, the diagnosis of pre-cancerous lesions, achieved the prevention of disease.

Each woman then, after the onset of sexual relations, should be checked yearly pap-smear where the annual audit of shows no pathological findings. And most important of all is repeatability. Changes will be made within a year, rarely a problem without solution. You need educated women from an early age in order to acquire this habit of screening that will give them health and peace of mind.

It is regrettable not dedicate 10 minutes per year from our lives, about our life? Negligence, fear the idea of ​​a pathological effect, the “awkward” position for screening should step aside! Why all those women who, for the reasons above did screening with test-Pap and eventually became ill from cancer of the cervix would like definitely a magic button to turn back time and restart from the beginning the formal checks! And do not forget that the smear test-check the cervix. Ovaries and body uterus is controlled by ultrasound, without being covered at 100%, while the breast by mammography (the first is at 35 years, then after 40 years, annually) and ultrasound breast (<35 years ).

Prevention is NIK. Prevention is the gift that we can do ourselves. Our goal of all is to get across the message that life is intoxicating and therefore deserves to be careful with whatever means available.