News

Pamper and Paps Day to tackle cervical cancer

Tue, 08 Nov 2016 08:48:00

It’s hoped the chance for a little bit of pampering will help lift screening rates for cervical cancer among Koori women in the Mallee.

A “Pamper and Paps” women’s health day at Mallee District Aboriginal Services next Thursday is offering Koori women the opportunity for a yarn about women’s health, a bite to eat with friends as well as a booking for a pap screen.  All women who make a booking receive a free pamper pack.
“We know that regular screening can prevent around 90 percent of cervical cancer cases and detect the disease early, which has better health outcomes for women” said MDAS Prevention and Health Promotion Officer Jade Klaebe.
“Cervical cancer is largely preventable through pap test screening, which is available to all Australian women aged 20 to 69,” she said.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are four times more likely to die of cervical cancer than non-Indigenous women, but the rate of pap smear screening in the Indigenous community is low.
A pap smear every two years is recommended as the best way of preventing cervical cancer, but there has been no improvement in screening rates for Indigenous women in the 25-year history of the Australian National Cervical Cancer Screen Program.
Research has also shown Indigenous women are twice as likely to develop cervical cancer and four times more likely to die from the cancer than other Australian women.
MDAS Registered Nurse Jane Smith said providing culturally-appropriate options for Koori women to discuss health concerns and access screening were vital in improving testing rates.
It’s just so important for all women who have been sexually active to have a pap test every two years but it’s often something they put off,” Ms Smith said.
“This is a chance for women to get together, have a bit of fun and to take some of that fear and embarrassment away,” she said.
The MDAS Pamper and Paps Day will be held at the MDAS Community Centre in 10th Street from 10.30 am on Thursday November 10.