(Saint John) October 17, 2016 - The Women's Health Centre at the St. Joseph's Hospital in Saint John will be hosting a free public Pap test clinic on Thursday, October 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Joseph's Hospital.

The clinic is part of a larger Pap testing campaign by the Federation of Medical Women of Canada to raise awareness for cervical cancer. The Pap test is the only way to detect abnormal cells in the cervix which, if left untreated, could develop into cancer.

Each year in Canada, 400,000 women receive an abnormal Pap test result, about 1,500 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and almost 400 women die of this disease. The good news is that since 1996, the incidence of cervical cancer has declined and, since 1995, mortality rates have also decreased. The main reasons for these reductions are improved knowledge, the widespread regular use of Pap test screening, and the availability of HPV vaccination.

The clinic is free and no appointment is necessary. Simply drop in and register with your Medicare card in the main lobby.

-30-

For more information contact:

Stephanie Neilson-Levesque
Senior Media Relations Advisor
1-877-499-1899
Media@HorizonNB.ca
www.HorizonNB.ca