Improving women’s access to cervical cancer screening at their local clinics

To improve women’s access to cervical cancer screening, the BC Cancer Agency, in partnership with local clinics, is expanding its Pap Awareness Week campaign across the province for the first time. From June 1 to 6, women living in communities in B.C.’s Interior can walk into a participating clinic to get a Pap test without making an appointment.

“We understand that a number of factors – from not having a family physician to challenges scheduling medical appointments around various commitments – could influence a woman’s decision to get regular Pap tests,” says Dr. Kathy Ceballos, acting Medical Leader for the BC Cancer Agency’s Cervical Cancer Screening Program (CCSP). “Our goal with Pap Awareness Week is to make it easy for women to access cervical cancer screening by simply dropping in at participating local clinics.”

The BC Cancer Agency, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, piloted Pap Awareness Week last year in the Lower Mainland, where more than 100 women had a Pap test at 12 partner clinics. Seventy-two percent of the women were either overdue for a Pap test or had never had one in the province. Building on last year’s success, Pap Awareness Week will be offered at almost 100 clinics across the province this year, including 25 clinics in B.C. Interior.

“All sexually active women should get screened regularly with a Pap test. It is a simple procedure that can help prevent cervical cancer,” says Julie MacInnes, site manager, Kamloops Downtown Health Centre. “We’re happy to take part in Pap Awareness Week and give back to the community. We encourage women to drop in at our clinic to get a Pap test and other participating clinics across the Interior.”

“Getting into the habit of having regular Pap tests, like getting our blood pressure checked and going to the dentist, helps make sure that any problems can be found and treated as early as possible,” says Jane Wilde, Regional Education Consultant, Options for Sexual Health in Grand Forks. “Making Pap tests part of our health maintenance routine reassures us that we are doing all we can to maintain our health.”

As part of Pap Awareness Week, the BC Cancer Agency is launching an advertising campaign targeted at young women in their 20s, an age group with a participation rate in the CCSP around 10 per cent below the overall rate for B.C.

“We’re using thought-provoking, yet humourous images to remind young women that Pap tests save lives,” says Dr. Ceballos. “Our campaign’s message is ‘the world needs women.’ We’re telling young women that they’re important, we need them, and they should get a Pap test.”

The campaign includes:

• posters in washrooms and change rooms frequented by young B.C. women
• online ads on websites popular among young B.C. women
• ads in various locations, including movie theatres, transit buses, women’s fitness facilities and drug stores

Regular Pap tests can find changes in the cells of the cervix before they become cancerous. Treatment of abnormal cells can prevent cancer from developing. Women who have been sexually active (touching or intercourse) should be screened regularly to prevent cervical cancer.

To find a nearby clinic, visit the BC Cancer Agency website at www.bccancer.bc.ca/paps or call 604.8787.6192 or toll-free 1.877.979.7727.

Cervical cancer screening with a Pap test is available all year round at doctors’ offices and clinics throughout B.C. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. can help women find a family physician. Women can also visit the BC Cancer Agency’s website at www.bccancer.bc.ca/cervicalscreening to find a nearby clinic.

Established in 1949, the BC Cancer Agency’s Cervical Cancer Screening Program was the first organized population-based program in the world to screen for cervical cancer. Over time, the CCSP has succeeded in reducing incidence rates from cervical cancer by more than 70 per cent.

The BC Cancer Agency, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer, and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. It provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia by working with community partners to deliver a range of oncology services, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. The BC Cancer Foundation raises funds to support research and enhancements to patient care at the BC Cancer Agency.

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For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Jinny Wu
Communications Specialist
BC Cancer Agency

Tel: 604.877.6272
Pgr: 604.806.2338
Toll-free: 1.800.663.3333, ex 6272
jwu2@bccancer.bc.ca

Clinics in B.C’s Interior participating in Pap Awareness Week from June 1 - 6, 2009:

Castlegar

Castlegar Options for Sexual Health
Castlegar & District Services
1007 - 2nd Avenue
June 2
5 - 7:30 pm

Cranbrook

Cranbrook Options for Sexual Health
46 - 17th Avenue S
June 3
6:30 - 8:30 pm

Edgewood

Edgewood Health Centre
322 Monashee Avenue
June 1
8:30 am - 4 pm

Fernie

Fernie Options for Sexual Health
Interior Health Unit
1501 - 5th Avenue
June 2
6:30 - 8:30 pm

Grand Forks

Grand Forks Options for Sexual Health
Boundary Medical Clinic
7486 - 2nd Street
June 4
5 - 7:30 pm

Invermere

Invermere Medical Clinic
737 - 7th Avenue
June 1 & 3
9:30 am - noon, 1 - 4 pm

Invermere Options for Sexual Health
Invermere Health Centre
850 - 10th Avenue
June 1
6:30 - 8:30 pm

Kamloops

Kamloops Downtown Health Centre
36 - 450 Lansdowne Street
June 5
9 am - 2 pm

Kelowna

Kelowna Options for Sexual Health
Okanagan Health & Performance
104 - 1100 Lawrence Avenue
June 1 & 4
6:30 - 9 pm

Lakeland Medical Clinic
6 - 515 Harvey Avenue
June 1, 1 - 5 pm
June 3, 10 am - 5 pm

Medi-Kel Clinic
105 - 330 Highway 33 W
June 1 - 6
8:30 am - 8 pm

Lumby

Lumby Options for Sexual Health
Public Health Unit
2135 Norris Avenue
June 3
11 am - 2 pm

Midway

Midway Health Centre
540 - 7th Avenue
June 2 & 3
11:45 am - 1:30 pm

Nelson

Community First Clinic
105 - 518 Lake Street
June 3 & 5
9 am - 5 pm

Nelson Options for Sexual Health
333 Victoria Street, 2nd Floor
June 3
5:30 - 8 pm

Penticton

Doctor's Office
465 Ellis Street
June 1 - 6
9:30 am - 5 pm

Revelstoke

Revelstoke Options for Sexual Health
S.A.F.E.R Clinic, Community Connections Society
314 - 2nd Street E
June 3
7 - 9 pm

Salmon Arm

Mount Ida Medical Centre
200 Trans-Canada Hwy W
June 1 - 6
10 am - 7 pm

Salmon Arm Options for Sexual Health
Family Planning Clinic, North Okanagan Health Unit
851 - 16th Street NE
June 2
7 - 9 pm

Trail

Trail Options for Sexual Health
2 - 1500 Columbia Avenue
June 3
4:30 - 6:30 pm

Waneta Primary Care Clinic
242 - 8100 Highway 3B
June 3 & 5
9 am - 4 pm

Valemount

Valemount Health Centre
1445 - 5th Avenue
June 5
8:40 am - 4:30 pm

Vernon

Downtown Primary Care Centre
2902 - 29th Avenue
June 1, 9 am - noon, 1 - 3 pm
June 3, 3 - 9 pm

Vernon Options for Sexual Health
North Okanagan Health Unit
1440 - 14th Avenue
June 2 & 4
7 pm - 10 pm

Williams Lake

Atwood Medical Clinic
101 - 143 4th Avenue S
June 3
9 am - 4 pm

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