Dr. William Whaley is back again to answer your health questions. This week, the question is about cervical cancer.

This week’s question:

I’m confused. My mother has locally advanced cervix cancer that is causing her to have obstructed kidney and she has one lymph node. She is going to be treated by radiation with some chemo. She stopped having PAP smears at 65 and she is 82 now. She was told that “you don’t need a pap smear” when she turned 65. She also has not had a colonoscopy. Her parents all lived into their 90’s and her oldest sister is 93. I know cancer deaths are falling and more people are diagnosed with cancer with screenings as you have stated many times on your program. Is it proper to deny my mother a test that might have detected the cancer sooner?

See what Doc says!