From ABC News:
High rates of cervical cancer among Indigenous women should be combated with increased services, a gynaecologist who used to work in remote Northern Territory communities says.
Aboriginal women in the Territory are 10 times more likely to contract cervical cancer compared with women in the rest of the country, Dr Margaret Davy says.
The death rate is also much higher because the disease is often caught too late.
"The Indigenous women are no different from any other Australian," she said.
"But what is different is awareness of the disease, awareness of pap testing, awareness of reporting symptoms early and the ability of being able to access medical care."
The Northern Territory Health Department says the death rate from cervical cancer in the Territory has been reduced by more than 90 per cent in the past 15 years.
Cervical cancer is developed in the cervix area. It happens when cells grow at an abnormal rate. It is very important to know the different symptoms of cervical cancer. PAP smears is the test for detecting cervical cancer. Symptoms include vaginal bleeding, painful urination due to a possible kidney
ReplyDeleteblockage, bleeding after sexual contact and pain in the pelvis area.