Cancer of the cervix is relatively common in females and fortunately can be detected and treated. A Papanicolaou (Pap), named for the Greek-American physician, George Papanicolaou, (1883-1962) smear is a diagnostic test used to determine if a woman is suffering from cancer of the uterine cervix. A smear of epithelial cells is taken from the area of the cervix by inserting a swab through the vagina. Cells from the wall of the vagina are also included in the smear. The smear is placed on a glass slide and stained. The cells are then examined microscopically to determine whether some of them show signs of being cancerous. Early development of cervical cancer, the cells of the cervix change in a characteristic way. Cells that are cancerous appear to be less mature than the characteristic epithelial cells of the cervix or vaginal wall. Cervix is a lower part of the uterus extending to the vagina and Cancer a malignant neoplasm, or tumor.