Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Six months ago I lost a close family member to ovarian cancer. Today I’d like to acknowledge another form of cancer. This week is dedicated to the national awareness of cervical cancer. The Northwest Territories health system has an excellent screening and prevention program. Even so, cervical cancer is among the top five cancers suffered by women in our territory.
Cervical cancer develops from the human papilloma virus, or HPV. There are more than 100 different types of HPV. These viruses infect the skin and are spread by close sexual contact, not bodily fluids. You can get these viruses without having intercourse. Both women and men can carry HPV. Most of the time the body’s immune system clears these viruses from the body, but when they are not cleared, the person usually does not know he or she has HPV. It can show no symptoms and remain dormant, only to be spread later. When cancer does develop in the cervix, it can take 10 to 20 years from the initial infection.
The good news is cervical cancer is preventable, with a bit of common sense and vigilance. Here in the Territories we have an HPV vaccine program for school-aged girls that prevents cervical cancer and 70 percent of the HPV viruses that affect the cervix.
It is also important for young women to begin getting PAP smears within three years of starting sexual activity or by the age of 21 at the latest. This simple procedure detects abnormal cells. Early detection and treatment saves thousands of women’s lives every year all over the world. The Northwest Territories has the highest PAP smear coverage, 83 percent in Canada. That also means there are less than 17 percent of women who should be tested approximately every two years. All it takes is a visit to your nurse or doctor, who is your primary health care provider. I understand that the screening rate is lower among Aboriginal women and lower in regional centres and small communities than in Yellowknife. This is yet another sign of where our health system can improve.
Awareness of the HPV and cervical cancer can be a life and death matter. I’m pretty sure that most young people know very little about the human papilloma virus. For that matter, I would bet that most adults’ knowledge of this topic can be improved.
