Following up from theresalighton’s PSA for Ireland, here’s one of my own. For more information about cervical cancer and pap smears: Cervical Cancer Fact Sheet Pap Smear FAQ There’s some general information in there, and also some info specific to the Australian healthcare system. If that’s all tl;dr for you, here’s a summary: Cervical Cancer is bad. Whether or not you have a history of cancer in your family, you need to make yourself aware of these things. Make time to read those links, and talk to your GP or contact the Cancer Council if you have questions. If you are female and 26 or below, you ought to be eligible for the free HPV vaccination (Gardasil), check with your GP. If you are older than 26, the vaccination will cost around AUD$460. If you can’t afford the vaccine, that’s okay, just make sure you get regular pap smears. Get regular pap smears (even if you’re vaccinated). These are covered under Medicare and you don’t have to pay a cent if your GP bulk bills. If your GP doesn’t bulk bill you’ll have to pay the difference between the Medicare rebate and the original fee. But seriously, your health is worth more than the cost of the gap. Once you get a pap smear, you’ll get a reminder to get another one every two years. If you’re not comfortable with your GP administering the pap smear, you have options. This information has been pulled mainly from the two FAQs I linked above.  And also from the experience doing it myself. And remember, your health is a priority. theresalighton: If you’ll allow me a serious moment…in case you didn’t know, ladies between 25-60 living in Ireland are entitled to free smear tests. If you’ve had one since 2008 when the national screening programme was introduced, you should get a letter like mine - otherwise, visit www.cervicalcheck.ie for details. A friend of mine recently had one; abnormal cells were detected. She will be monitored regularly, and treated if further changes occur. These cell changes would not have been detected had she not gone for the test, and if ignored, these could eventually lead to cancer. So ladies, go get yourselves checked!

Following up from theresalighton’s PSA for Ireland, here’s one of my own.

For more information about cervical cancer and pap smears:

There’s some general information in there, and also some info specific to the Australian healthcare system.

If that’s all tl;dr for you, here’s a summary:

  • Cervical Cancer is bad.
  • Whether or not you have a history of cancer in your family, you need to make yourself aware of these things.
  • Make time to read those links, and talk to your GP or contact the Cancer Council if you have questions.
  • If you are female and 26 or below, you ought to be eligible for the free HPV vaccination (Gardasil), check with your GP.
  • If you are older than 26, the vaccination will cost around AUD$460. If you can’t afford the vaccine, that’s okay, just make sure you get regular pap smears.
  • Get regular pap smears (even if you’re vaccinated). These are covered under Medicare and you don’t have to pay a cent if your GP bulk bills.
  • If your GP doesn’t bulk bill you’ll have to pay the difference between the Medicare rebate and the original fee. But seriously, your health is worth more than the cost of the gap.
  • Once you get a pap smear, you’ll get a reminder to get another one every two years.
  • If you’re not comfortable with your GP administering the pap smear, you have options.

This information has been pulled mainly from the two FAQs I linked above.  And also from the experience doing it myself.

And remember, your health is a priority.

theresalighton:

If you’ll allow me a serious moment…in case you didn’t know, ladies between 25-60 living in Ireland are entitled to free smear tests. If you’ve had one since 2008 when the national screening programme was introduced, you should get a letter like mine - otherwise, visit www.cervicalcheck.ie for details.

A friend of mine recently had one; abnormal cells were detected. She will be monitored regularly, and treated if further changes occur. These cell changes would not have been detected had she not gone for the test, and if ignored, these could eventually lead to cancer.

So ladies, go get yourselves checked!