News Feature                                                          For Immediate Release

                                                                                                              October 23, 2006

“This Is My Story… Pass It On”

Owen Sound, ON – Eight public health units have joined together to encourage women across Southwestern Ontario to get screened for cervical cancer by having a Pap test. “This is My Story” radio campaign offers listeners a personal glimpse of how cervical cancer has affected the lives of four different people and encourages women to seek routine Pap testing. The National Cancer Institute of Canada reports that in Ontario in 2006, 10 women will be diagnosed and 3 women will die every week from cervical cancer. The good news is that a regular Pap test can show changes that can be treated before they become cancer.

“The Pap test is the best tool to detect cervical cancer at its earliest state” states Dr. Rosanna Pellizzari, Medical Officer of Health for Perth District Health Unit and member of the Regional Cancer Services Alliance Executive. “It is a simple procedure that collects cells from a woman’s cervix to be examined. The test detects cervical cancer as well as any changes in the cells of the cervix that suggest cancer might develop in the future.” The first Pap test is recommended within three years of the onset of vaginal sexual activity. If tests are normal for three years in a row, a Pap test every two years is recommended.

The radio campaign consists of brief glimpses into the lives of people affected by cervical cancer. One is a student in her early 20s, another is a busy mom, the third is a woman over 50 and the fourth is a man. An email message “This is My Story… Pass It On” will also be available for people to share with others.

The campaign will be broadcast from radio stations targeting Lambton, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Middlesex, Perth, Oxford, Huron and Grey-Bruce Counties for two weeks starting October 23^rd, the beginning of Cervical Cancer Awareness Week, October 23 – 26, 2006. The stories can also be found at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/Cancer/Cervical-This-is-My-Story.htm.

The health promotion project was funded by Cancer Care Ontario, Preventive Oncology through the Regional Cancer Services Alliance, a partnership of hospitals, the Canadian Cancer Society, the London Regional Cancer Program, Community Care Access Centres, Local Health Integration Networks and local Public Health Units. For more information about the RCSA, please visit www.lrcc.on.ca/rcsa/default.asp

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For more information:

Karen Croker

Public Health Nurse

Prevention and Early Detection of Cancer Program 

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 413