Health professionals encourage women to get a Pap test

Bathurst, Thursday, October 13, 2016 – As part of the Pap test campaign organized during National Cervical Cancer Awareness Week (October 17-21, 2016), Vitalité Health Network professionals invite all women throughout the Network to get a Pap test at clinics that are available in a number of points of service in our communities.

Feeling well does not necessarily mean that everything is fine…

A Pap test is an excellent defence against cervical cancer for women. It is the only way to detect abnormal cervical cells that, without treatment, could lead to cancer. Every year in Canada, 400,000 women get abnormal results following a Pap test, 1,500 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and almost 400 women die from the disease. It is reassuring to know that since 1996 the incidence of cervical cancer has declined and since 1995 the death rates have also declined. The main reasons for these declines are broader knowledge, a regular and wide use of Pap test screening, and vaccination against HPV (human papilloma virus). With Pap test clinics, the Network wants women in various communities to benefit from a service that is essential to their health, a service that could prevent cervical cancer.  There is no reason for women to suffer from this often preventable cancer. 

According to New Brunswick Health Council (cf. Population Health Snapshot 2016), 67.9% of women within Vitalité Health Network, aged 18 to 69, have had a Pap test over the past 3 years compared to the provincial average of 74.1%. According to provincial clinical guidelines, cervical cancer screening should begin at age 21 or 3 years after the first sexual contact, whichever occurs LATER.  For women under 21 years of age, interactions with health care providers are still required for STI (sexually transmitted infection) screening and HPV vaccination. Annual screening should continue until 3 consecutive negative Pap test results are obtained, and then every 2 to 3 years.

Screening can be discontinued after 69 years of age in women with an adequate history of negative results in the previous 10 years.  Screening can be discontinued in women who have undergone total hysterectomy for benign reasons and have no history of cervical dysplasia or HPV.

It’s easy for women to make an appointment

Women can ask their physician for a Pap test or call one of the many points of service of Vitalité Health Network for an appointment.