Women Urged to Have Their Annual Pap Test

Health Minister Jamie Muir and cancer survivor Beth Robinson will help launch Pap Test Awareness Week at a news conference on Tuesday, Oct. 26, in the Red Room of Province House at 11 a.m. Mr. Muir and Mrs. Robinson will urge women to have a yearly Pap test.

"On becoming the new health minister for this province, I was disturbed to learn that Nova Scotia has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in Canada," said Mr. Muir. "Prevention is the key to reducing the incidence of this disease, but unfortunately only four out of 10 women in this province are screened regularly. A screening rate this low is not satisfactory for this province."

Pap Test Awareness Week, Oct. 25-31, is one of the many initiatives underway to encourage women to be tested. With early detection, deaths from cervical cancer can be reduced. An annual Pap test could save a life.

Mrs. Robinson, who lives in Lawrencetown with her husband and five children, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1995 after she received abnormal test results from her Pap smear.

"My family and I were on an emotional roller coaster for a while. Fortunately, because of my Pap test my physician caught the cancer early and I'm fine," said Mrs. Robinson.

"It's difficult to know why so few women are screened," said Dr. Rob Grimshaw, executive director of the Nova Scotia Gynaecological Cancer Screening Programme. "Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that we can easily prevent with a simple test -- an annual Pap smear."

Dr. Grimshaw said he believes one of the major barriers for women to have their annual Pap test is embarrassment. "Many women, both young and old, find Pap tests embarrassing for many reasons."

There has been a great deal of progress made in encouraging women to get a Pap test since the first Pap Test Awareness Week in 1997. As part of an agreement signed between the Medical Society of Nova Scotia and the Department of Health, women no longer incur a cost for their test.

"It is essential that we do as much as possible to educate Nova Scotians on the alarming statistics in this province," said Dr. Michael Riding, president of the Medical Society of Nova Scotia. "People who are well-informed are better able to take responsibility for their own health."

"Women are encouraged to make themselves a priority," said Mr. Muir. "Medical research indicates cervical cancer is a disease of women who do not have regular Pap tests. Women should book an annual Pap test to help prevent cervical cancer."

Pap Test Awareness Week is organized by the Nova Scotia Gynaecological Cancer Screening Programme in association with its many partners including: the Nova Scotia Division of the Canadian Cancer Society, Medical Society of Nova Scotia, IWK Grace Health Centre Well Woman's Clinic and the Department of Health.

The screening programme is working with a network of volunteers, including physicians. The network is working with communities to generate widespread awareness of yearly Pap tests.

At the news conference on Tuesday, a proclamation will be signed to mark the official launch of Pap Test Awareness Week. In addition to Mr. Muir and Mrs. Robinson, attending the event will be Dr. Michael Riding, president of the Medical Society of Nova Scotia; Dr. Rob Grimshaw and Dr. Doug Henshaw of the Nova Scotia Gynaecological Cancer Screening Programme; and Maureen Summers of the Canadian Cancer Society, Nova Scotia Division.

To become involved in your community during Pap Test Awareness Week, contact the Nova Scotia Gynaecological Cancer Screening Programme at 902-473-7438.