It's no wonder, then, that Greek immigrant doctor George Papanicolaou was given the nickname “Dr. Papanicolaou.” Pap” discovered a way to detect changes in cervical cells, but his breakthrough was largely ignored by the scientific community.
Requires extensive public relations efforts The indescribable fight against cancer to make Pap smears a routine part of cervical cancer screening. This war was waged by black obstetrician-gynecologist Helen Dickens, Japanese-American illustrator Hashime Murayama, and some of the women's groups working to prevent cancer.
The film explores everything from Murayama's arrest as an “enemy alien” during World War II to the racism Dickens faced when practicing medicine and trying to spread the news about cervical cancer screening. It chronicles the sometimes maddening hurdles they faced, from sexism to sexism.
Spoiler alert: They succeeded. Thanks in part to pap smears, the incidence of cervical cancer in the United States has fallen by more than 70% since the 1950s.
Fortunately, knowing how the story ends doesn't detract from a fascinating story filled with historical injustice. Progress in society and science may be slow, but the “Cancer Detectives” recognizes the tireless efforts of a group of people whose achievements deserve to be remembered.
“American Experience: Cancer Detectives” It will premiere on March 26 at 9pm ET on PBS stations and be streamed on PBS.org.
