Pap-A-Palooza Campaign Back to Promote Cervical Screening

This April, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) and 30 health care organizations from across Northwestern Ontario are highlighting the importance of cervical screening by hosting the seventh annual Pap-A-Palooza.

Pap-A-Palooza increases awareness about cervical screening and encourages eligible individuals to book a Pap test. A Pap test is a screening test that can detect cell changes in the cervix that may lead to cervical cancer before people feel any symptoms.

“Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable with regular screening, follow-up of abnormal results, and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine,” explained Dr. Naana Jumah, Ontario Health – Cancer Care Ontario Regional Colposcopy and Cervical Screening Lead for the North West region. “However, only around 50% of eligible individuals in Northwestern Ontario have participated in cervical screening.”

Who should have a Pap test? The Ontario Cervical Screening Program recommends having a Pap test every three years for anyone:

• With a cervix (women, transmasculine and non-binary people)
• Aged 25 to 69, and
• Who is or ever has been sexually active.

“Most cervical cancers are found in individuals who have never been screened or have been screened less often than recommended by Ontario’s cervical screening guidelines,” stated Dr. Jumah. “Regular cervical screening is important because it can find early changes that could lead to cervical cancer. Treating these changes can prevent cervical cancer from developing.”

The goal of this year’s campaign is for the 30 participating organizations to complete 800 Pap tests.

“Participating in Pap-A-Palooza is easy,” shares Tarja Heiskanen, Manager, Screening and Assessment Services at TBRHSC. “Locate a participating site near you by visiting the Pap-A-Palooza website, and call to book your appointment. You can participate even if you do not have a health care provider and no referral is necessary.”

To find a participating clinic near you or to learn more about Pap-A-Palooza, visit tbrhsc.net/pap-a-palooza or call the Pap-A-Palooza Hotline at (807) 684-7787.