Hi Mrs D
I don't have pap tests, an informed decision made decades ago, I was content with my near zero risk of cc, rather than a 77% lifetime risk of colposcopy and biopsy (or a "treatment"
with the Australian program. Now I understand I'm HPV- and cannot benefit from pap testing, like MOST women. I didn't get the information I needed from my doctor or the Govt, I had to do my own research.
Many women feel as you do, but until sufficient numbers demand something better, population pap testing will continue. In my opinion, population pap testing means HUGE profits for vested interests, so they'll fight to keep population pap testing in place and better options OUT.
The shameful thing is smarter testing would save more lives from this rare cancer and spare huge numbers from unnecessary biopsies and over-treatment. (which can damage the cervix and lead to miscarriages, premature babies, c-sections, infertility etc.)
Why confine testing to the 5% actually at risk when you can drag almost all women into testing and then many of them into excess biopsies and over-treatment?
I read on a health forum a couple of years ago that the blood test (CSA) was blocked, that wouldn't surprise me at all. Tampap (the HPV self-test) was locked behind a doctor's script in this country while our GPs are paid to reach pap testing targets, needless to say, few women got their hands on Tampap. It now seems to have disappeared completely. GPs do not disclose this potential conflict of interest to women, (target payments) I consider this unethical conduct.
In my opinion, women have always been denied informed consent, our legal right, we're just expected to screen with no/little real information or misleading information, and some women are coerced or pressured into testing. (no consent at all) The emphasis has been coverage, not informed consent. This should be a scandal.
When you screen for a rare cancer with an unreliable test you must get about 80% of women to screen, that's why we see the most pressure to screen for a rare cancer, to justify the huge expense of this program.
There are far greater risks to our health that are neglected while this rare cancer gets most of the attention and funding. (heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, 0.65% is the lifetime risk of cc)
Some countries have managed to put women and the evidence first, you may be interested to hear about the new program recommended by the Dutch Health Council. Now they'll scrap population pap testing and offer instead, 5 HPV primary tests (OR HPV self-testing with the Delphi Screener) at ages 30,35,40,50 and 60 and ONLY the roughly 5% who are HPV+ will be offered a 5 yearly pap test. MOST women are HPV- and having unnecessary pap testing, this carries the risk of a false positive, excess biopsy or being over-treated.
The new Dutch program will save more lives and takes most women out of pap testing and harms way.
I know some Australian women are now ordering HPV self-testing devices online. The significance of HPV has also, been kept from women, HPV- and you cannot benefit from pap testing, HPV+ and aged 30 to 60 and you have a small chance of benefiting from a pap test. Those women HPV- and no longer sexually active or confidently monogamous might choose to stop all further testing.
You're quite right, men rejected the routine rectal exam and the PSA test appeared fairly quickly. (it's an unreliable test too, many believe the risks of testing exceed the benefit) Too many dismiss the feelings of women, we're TOLD how we should feel and are often ridiculed if we feel differently. (find the test painful, embrrassing) That's disrespectful and unacceptable.
I'd urge you to do some reading and make an informed decision about screening. It's also, important to find a decent doctor, one who'll respect your right to choose, put YOU first.
Be careful with breast screening as well, I've also, declined breast screening. The Nordic Cochrane Institute has an excellent summary of all of the evidence on their website. Over-diagnosis is a serious concern and it seems any benefit of screening is wiped away by those who die from heart attacks and lung cancer after treatments. Your Prof Michael Baum, UK breast cancer surgeon, has written some informative articles on the topic.
_____ is a community of like-minded women concerned about women's "healthcare", which is often anything but...please join us if you'd like more information or support.
Kind regards
Elizabeth
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