PapScreen Victoria's 18th birthday
PapScreen Manager, Kate Broun said the program had significantly improved the lives of many Victorian women over its 18 year history.
"We know from research that without a cervical screening program, three times as many women would die from cervical cancer every year in Victoria.
"The program has also increased the lifespan of women with the disease. The median age of those dying from cervical cancer has jumped dramatically from 51 years in 1990 to 62 in 2006.
"There are many highlights from the past 18 years. We currently have close to 400 nurses in Victoria who are trained to take Pap tests; we fund a highly successful training program for medical students; and have developed successful educational and awareness campaigns motivating women to have Pap tests. And now we have witnessed the development and introduction of the world's first cancer vaccine, the human papilloma virus vaccine," said Ms Broun.
Cervical cancer survivor and co-founder of the Cervical Cancer Support Group, Pennie Stoyles, believes a Pap test saved her life.
"A routine Pap test detected cancerous cells, and luckily, as the cancer was detected at an early stage, my treatment was effective and I have been cancer free ever since," said Ms Stoyles.
"It is as true today as it was 18 years ago; a Pap test every two years can save your life," added Ms Broun.
Find out more about PapScreen Victoria's 18th birthday.
