Vinegar Friday reposting: In lieu of a pap smear

In light of the attention this is getting in the news lately, I thought I'd run this Vinegar Friday post (first posted on 9/21/12) again. 

TGIVF!

Quite honestly, this is one Vinegar Friday I'm not particularly looking forward to. Why? Because at 10:00, I'll be getting comfy (or not so comfy) on the table for my gynecological exam. Yuck. 

I wonder if this doctor is using a vinegar swab?!

I always go to these exams with a bit of trepidation because back in 1982, the results of my pap smear were not good. Cervical cancer, diagnosed during my pregnancy. My doctor recommended terminating the pregnancy so the cancer could be treated. I immediately switched doctors. And, of course, I scheduled an appointment with an oncologist, who determined that the lesion was so small that we could wait until after I delivered the baby to deal with it. 

"Besides," he said, "it's just possible, that it could dislodge during delivery and we won't have to do anything with it at all." 

And that's exactly what happened. And other than having to go for paps ever 3 months for 2 years, it was as if the cancer never existed. I was lucky.

So, like I said, I approach these check ups with some trepidation.

How does this all tie in with vinegar? Well... have you heard about how vinegar is saving women's lives in Africa and other impoverished areas? As it turns out, these women do not need pap smears to determine if they have cancerous or pre-cancerous lesions growing on their cervixes. They simply need vinegar. Seriously. Doctors have discovered that with a simple swabbing of vinegar, they can determine if the patient has abnormal cells that need to be frozen off. 

Rather than my trying to explain all of this to you, I'm going to provide you with a couple of links so you can see for yourself just one more reason for me to tout the virtues of vinegar week after week. And, of course, based on what I've read, this might be the best reason of all!

Botswana Doctors Stop Cervical Cancer with a Vinegar Swab 

Using Vinegar to Thwart Cervical Cancer in the Developing World

Vinegar May Easily Detect Cervical Cancer

Of course, after reading these articles, I can't help wondering why this cost-effective method isn't being employed here in the U.S. But before the words escape my lips, the answer weighs heavily on my mind... $$$. After all, how would the pharmaceutical companies make any money on a simple vinegar test? I'll scratch that thought as I lay down on my back and slip my feet into the stirrups...


Keeping it green with vinegar,

Hana