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The Papanicolaou test (also called Pap smear, Pap test, cervical smear, or smear test) is a screening test used to detect pre-cancerous and cancerous processes in the endocervical canal (transformation zone) of the female reproductive system. Changes can be treated, thus preventing cervical cancer.

Malignant is a clinical word used to describe a cancerous tumour that has the tendency to worsen and spread by invading adjacent tissue and tissue further away from the initial disease site.

Benign is used to describe an abnormal growth that is neither cancerous nor malignant.

Metastasis means more than one cancerous tumour and describes when a tumour spreads to non adjacent tissue. For instance, colon cancer may spread to the liver. When this happens, it is not referred to as liver cancer, but as metastic liver cancer.      

Clinical trials are important for cancer research and important for individual cancer patients. There are different Phases of clinical trials. The most common is Phase 3 when a new agent is added to the gold standard therapy. Patients are rarely disadvantaged by participating in a Phase 3 clinical trial because they receive the gold standard therapy plus the new added agent.  For some patients earlier clinical trials maybe more appropriate, but because Phase 1 trials do not include standard therapy it is important for patients to have detailed discussions with their consultant before deciding to participate in early clinical trials. Here are 10 questions you might consider asking your consultant:

1. What phase is the trial in?
2. Will I be able to continue any other treatment?
3. What have been the results of the earlier phases of the trial?
4. Have there been any fatalities?
5. Who is sponsoring this trial?
6. Will I know what I'm getting?
7. If my cancer progresses, will I have the option of getting the other treatment?
8. How do you evaluate whether the trial is working or not?
9. How many participants do you need before you move on to the next phase?
10. How long will you follow the participants?