I got cervical cancer which spread to my vagina when I was 74. Because the common practice is to stop doing PAP smears when you reach 65, by the time I was diagnosed , it was Stage 3. Apparently, a different technique is necessary when doing PAP smears on older women as the cuff of the cervix rolls under and a regular PAP smear misses the cancer. At least this is how I understood it. Anyway, older women seem to be getting cervical cancer at a higher rate and so PAP smears should not be cut off so early. I was perfectly healthy when I was diagnosed and now after being NED for 4 years, I have metastatic cervical cancer which my doctor says will give me 3 more years max. I hope she is wrong.

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