Pap Test Phenomenon
The Pap Test & Its Economic Impact ▶ The Pap test is one of the greatest medical inventions of the twentieth century. It was developed by the Greek physician Georgios Papanikolaou after many years of research. His wife, Andromachi Papanikolaou, played a remarkable role in this work. ▶ For 21 years, she volunteered to undergo frequent cervical cell sampling so that her husband could study normal and abnormal changes in cervical cells. She also worked as his laboratory assistant and helped recruit other volunteers. Her contribution helped make the Pap test possible. ▶ The Pap test allows doctors to detect abnormal cells in the cervix before they become cancer. Early detection gives patients a much better chance of successful treatment. Since its introduction, regular cervical screening has greatly reduced both the number of cervical cancer cases and the number of deaths in countries with organized screening programs. ▶ Millions of lives have been saved...
