The one health test you shouldn't avoid

When the Federal Government revealed in April that they would move to a new screening method that would involve pap tests only once every five years, you could practically hear the collective sighs of relief across the country.

However, a recent survey by the Cancer Institute NSW has found that nearly 130,000 women are putting their health at risk by delaying their biannual pap test until the new five-yearly test comes into full effect in 2016.

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And it’s a cause for concern for experts. Sarah McGill, Cancer Institute NSW director of Cancer Screening and Prevention, says “10 per cent of women who were made aware of the proposed changes and are due for a pap test in the next 12 months said they would probably delay their next test until these changes are implemented. This equates to potentially up to 130,000 women in NSW alone putting themselves at risk, which is very concerning.”

According to current figures, 734 Australian women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, and it is the second most common form of cancer worldwide.

Until the 2016 changes come in, McGill says it’s business as usual. “Most women who develop cervical cancer have not had regular pap tests,” she explains. “It’s important to have a test every two years, so that any abnormal cells are detected early prior to them developing into cervical cancer. A pap test can reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer by 96 per cent.”

More: Eight ways to prevent cancer

For Kathy Sheeran, 44, early detection was key to surviving her cervical cancer diagnosis in 2007. “It came as a massive shock as I was young, fit and healthy,” she says. “I was one of the lucky ones to have it discovered in time... had I waited another six months for my pap test, it could have been another story. ”

After a minor procedure, the Sydney businesswoman is now cancer-free and healthy, and has regular checks to make sure it hasn’t returned.

Since the Cervical Cancer Screening Program was introduced in 1991, the number of deaths from cervical cancer has halved. Regular screening “saves up to 1200 lives a year across Australia,” says McGill.

"There's no excuse for not keeping up with your appointments," says Sheeran. "It could save your life, just as it saved mine."

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