In Victoria, Canada, cervical cancer survivor Christine Evely is urging women to have pap tests twice a year. I have to admit that I haven't heard before that two pap tests per year are recommended. But as part of a Mother's Day initiative called Don't Just Sit There. Last year, the radio and ad campaign was a terrific success, with over 8000 extra pap tests completed. The ad campaign is being re-run this year with similar high hopes. Cervical cancer can not only render women infertile, but it can also kill. A friend of mine from high school survived cervical cancer, and another friend of mine is currently dealing with an abnormal pap test. I had an abnormal pap test thirteen years ago, before I got pregnant with my first child. Since that time, I have only missed my pap test one year. It's a simple test, that can make a huge difference.
1. In actual fact, I live in Victoria, Australia.
A correction to the mesage attributed to me - I was suggesting, given my experience in surviving cervical cancer, that women might find it easier to remember to have their Pap tests if they had them annually.
Twice in one year would be excessive.
Posted at 12:55AM on Jul 20th 2006 by Christine Evely