The importance of pap smears

CERVICAL cancer remains a major health concern worldwide, especially in low income countries. In the developing world it is the most common gynaecological cancer associated with high mortality.

Aimed at creating awareness and debunking the stigma and anxiety attached to pap smears, local Specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Jayeshnee Moodley, together with Life Empangeni Garden Clinic and Lancet Laboratories, hosted a pap smear drive on Tuesday.

According to Dr Moodley, HIV positive women are in a higher risk group as they are associated with a quicker progression of the disease and, while education and awareness is a key component, it is often difficult to encourage women to go for regular tests.

‘The availability of the HPV DNA vaccine, targeting females in the age range nine to 26 years, is a landmark development in primary prevention.

Large trials have shown an almost 100% effectiveness in preventing the precursors of cancer in the HPV-naïve girl,’ said Moodley.

‘The benefit of the vaccination regimen will only be seen in the next two decades and, until such time, routine cervical cytology will remain the backbone of screening for the foreseeable future.’

‘The pap smear and other cytological methods have been used for many years as an option in the secondary prevention of cervical cancer. The dismal reality, however, is that women do not participate in this vital screening programme.

‘A stringent screening policy (two-three yearly tests in low risk women), coupled with individualised HPV DNA testing, could reduce the country’s incidence of cervical cancer by 91%- 94%.

The Millennium Development Goals for 2015 make women’s health a priority and cervical cancer prevention fits into this paradigm.

‘Women must empower themselves in the fight against this scourge,’ said Moodley.