There is a disturbing report out of the centers for disease control tonight. It says the most common reason women say they do not get regular pap tests to screen for cervical cancer is because their doctors never recommend the test.

When you talk about public health efforts, it’s a great disappointment when you do have an effective screening strategy, and people don’t take advantage of it. It’s even worse when it’s because doctors aren’t using the strategy.

But it’s an important lesson: everyone needs to be their own, best health advocate. Una says, fear is no reason not to get the pap and pelvic done. “It does create some anxiety I certainly know that the early you find something wrong, the easier it is to treat and the more likely you have a chance for cure. You find something late because you didn’t go, you’re kickin’ yourself.”

All women should begin cervical cancer screening within three years of having vaginal intercourse, but no later than when they are 21 years old. Screening should be done at least every two years depending on the type of test used. After age 30, a woman can get screened every two to three years if they have had normal pap smears before that.

The bottom line is, a woman needs an annual pelvic exam, to look for other GYN cancers and abnormalities. The pap, which only screens for cervical cancer, can be one to three years depending upon the woman and type of test used. But you should go to the gynecologist every year.

For more information on this study, on cervical cancer screening, and on how to get low cost or free screenings, go to:

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2x.asp?sitearea=CRI&dt=33

http://www.acog.org/from_home/publications/press_releases/nr07-31-03-1.cfm

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