Two fourth year nursing students at UNBC are conducting a cervical screening project to create awareness about cervical cancer and the importance of regular pap tests.
Sarah Smaha and Laura Dyble's campaign called Lace encourages women to "live aware" and "create empowerment" to defeat this second leading cancer in women."
Their clinics are scheduled for March 20 and 29th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the nursing lab located on the first floor of the Teaching and Learning Building on the UNBC campus.
To sign up visit their information booths March 1 and 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Winter Garden at the university or on March 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and March 4 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at CNC Atrium.
The students say women should have routine pap tests to protect themselves from cervical cancer, a silent killer of women.
During pap tests, which involve a quick scraping of the cervix, professionals look for abnormal cells, and if any are found, further testing is done.
Abnormal cells are caused by Human Papilloma Virus, commonly called HPV, which affects 80 per cent of women by age 59, and is known to be the main cause of cervical cancer.
"Women die needlessly of cervical cancer that could have been detected with routine screening," said Sarah.
"The scariest thing about HPV is that there are no related signs or symptoms when you contract it. "The only way to tell is by a pap test. By the time HPV has changed normal cells to abnormal cells, in the cervix, it may be at a cancerous state," added Laura.
Those who sign up and bring along another to sign up will be eligible for prizes of spa gift baskets values at more than $100.
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