The Lancet medical journal published a study that showcased a cheap method of detecting cervical cancer by using vinegar and gauze. Using this visual screening test reduced the number of cases by a quarter according to the story. This method will really help women who live in poor countries where medical care is scarce and the thought of checking for cervical cancer is usually overlooked.
The visual screening test is done by a trained health care worker. The worker will wash the woman’s cervix with vinegar and gauze while a speculum is used to hold it open. Within a minute, any pre-cancerous lesions turn a very white color and can be seen with the naked eye under a halogen lamp.
Research has shown that visual screening is almost as effective in catching cancer as Pap smears which is a lot more expensive.
The test isn’t without it’s faults though. It does produce a fair share of false positives so the health care workers have to be trained to learn to determine the difference.
It’s good to know that a test like this exists and will help women in all countries determine if cervical cancer is threatening them.
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