It’s Pap Smear Week – go get tested!
MINISTER of Health & Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton has declared the week of April 24-30 as Pap Smear Week, as the ministry continues to recognise Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in April. With cervical cancer being the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Jamaican women, and given that no woman should die from cervical cancer, Pap Smear Week is one of the initiatives aimed at reducing Jamaica’s high cervical cancer incidence. The hope is that every woman over the age of 20 years is inspired to do a Pap smear.
According to Dr Tufton, “through its Non-Communicable Disease and Injury Prevention Unit, the Ministry of Health & Wellness views the month’s observance as an opportunity to place a special focus on screening. Screening is about early detection and early detection saves lives. Screening for cervical cancer usually starts at age 21 and goes up to 64 years and women at high risk for cervical cancer should have screening done every year. Women at average risk for cervical cancer should have screening done every three years (once each test is normal). Abnormal results warrant more frequent testing and further treatment.”
Director of the Non-Communicable Disease and Injury Prevention Unit, Dr Nicola Skyers also noted, “this year’s communication campaign is a call for action. We really would like our women to be driven, despite any fears, to go and have their Pap smears done.”
A Pap smear is a screening test which is an easy way to check the cervix for abnormal cell changes. It detects early changes in the cells of the cervix.
The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb), which opens into the vagina (birth canal).
If you have regular Pap smears these cell changes can be detected and treated early.
Doing a Pap smear can save your life. It can detect abnormal cervical cells before they turn into cancer cells, and with treatment, cervical cancer can be prevented. It can also detect the early stages of cervical cancer, and if treated, has a better chance of cure.
All women 18 years and older who have ever had sex should have a Pap smear.
If you are 25-54 years old and have had two normal Pap smear results in a row you should continue to do a Pap smear every three years up to age 65 years.
If you are over 65 years old, ask your doctor if you can stop having Pap smears.
To make the Pap smear as accurate as possible, it is recommended that for two days before the Pap smear you avoid:
•Douching
•Using tampons
•Using vaginal creams, suppositories, medicines, vaginal deodorant sprays or powders
•Having sex.
A doctor or nurse can do a Pap smear during a pelvic examination. It is a simple and quick test. While you lie on the examination table the doctor or nurse puts an instrument called a speculum into your vagina, opening it to see the cervix. Cells are gently wiped with a soft brush or spatula from around the tiny opening in the cervix. The sample is sent to a lab where it is examined under a microscope to see if any abnormal cells are present.
It may be a little uncomfortable but it should not be painful.
When you have the test done, you will be told how, where and approximately when you will get the results.
An abnormal Pap smear result means that changes were found on your cervix. This usually does not mean you have cervical cancer.
Some abnormal cells will turn into cancer. But sometimes these unhealthy (abnormal) cells will go away on their own. If you have an abnormal result, talk with your doctor or nurse.
You can go to:
•A general practitioner
•Hospitals or health centres
•A specialised doctor such as a gynaecologist
•Family planning clinics
•Any branch of the Jamaica Cancer Society.
