Cervical cancer campaign wanted

Press, 23 June 1986, Page 30

Cervical cancer campaign wanted

PA Wellington The Women’s National Abortion Action Campaign has called for an advertising campaign to educate women about cervical cancer detection.

The campaign feels particularly strongly that not enough is being done about a disease that is killing more than 100 women a year — a disease that is easily detected and treated, provided it is caught early enough, says an article in the organisation’s latest newsletter. “This disease needs to be treated as seriously as A.1.D.5.” The method of cervical cancer detection was by smear test, but though some women were routinely tested others were missing out. “Your G.P. may never offer smear tests. We suggest you don’t wait for him or her to ask but ask yourself,” the campaign said.

The Health Department principal medical officer for community health, Dr Murray Laugesen, said plans for promoting cervical cancer screening were under way. Various systems for a screening programme were being investigated, but it was expected to take three years to develop a suitable programme. Dr Laugesen said pilot projects to determine the best system were not a form of delaying tactics by the department, but came from a meeting among experts in November.

Cervical cancer could be prevented by use of condoms or barrier methods of contraception, and by a reduction in the number of sexual partners, he said.

Promotion of condoms in relation to A.I.D.S. protection was expected to have a follow-on effect in reducing the incidence of

sexually transmitted disease, including cervical cancer.

It was better to prevent a disease than detect and treat it, Dr Laugesen said. The department recommended that women have smear tests as soon as possible after they became sexually active, and to have a repeat six months later, followed by a test at least every three years until the age of 65. However, the campaign has called for annual smear tests. Cervical cancer has been linked with smoking, but Dr Laugesen warned that lung cancer was a far greater risk for smokers. While about 100 women died from cervical cancer in New Zealand each year, about 300 died from lung cancer. “We are concentrating on lung cancer this year because it is the leading preventable cause of death from cancer in all women,” he said.