Around 1,200 women are saved from a developing cervical cancer in Australia each year through cervical screening.

Chief executive of The Cancer Council, Associate Professor Brenda Wilson said Pap Smear Awareness Week was the perfect time to remind women aged 18 – 70 of the importance of having a Pap smear every two years to prevent cervical cancer.

“The incidence of cervical cancer has halved in Australia in the last 20 years due to women having regular Pap smears,” Associate Professor Wilson said.

The Cancer Council SA is also reminding women who may have had the new HPV vaccine against cervical cancer, that they still need to continue having two-yearly Pap smears.

“The HPV vaccine and Pap smear testing work together to reduce the risk of women developing cervical cancer,” Professor Wilson said. 

Pap Smear Awareness Week 2007 saw a significant increase in women visiting their doctor for a Pap smear, many of them well overdue.

Associate Professor Wilson said women of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent are at a significantly higher risk of cervical cancer because of lower participation in screening.

“It is really important for this group of women to visit their doctor or community health service for regular Pap smears, as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are about four times more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer than non-Aboriginal women,” she said.

For more information on Pap smear tests and cervical screening visit your doctor or call The Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20.