Don't to shy to have Pap smear test : Health ministry

"In fact this disease could be prevented if detected in the early stage before cervical cancer spreads to the rest of the body," Vicharn Meenchaiyanant, deputy health minister, said yesterday.

The Public Health Ministry estimates that new cases will jump from 6,228 in 2006 to 8,000 this year, with about 90 per cent of patients aged between 35 and 50 years.

During the past few years, about 3,000 women have succumbed to this leading cause of death for Thai women.

Recent research confirms that the screening test offers the best opportunity to detect cervical cancer at an early stage. Mortality would be reduced to 61 per cent if 80 per cent of women across country received the screening test.

The ministry expects that the incidence of the disease would be cut in half in five years.

Only 2 million women across country receive the pap smear test to identify cervical cell changes and early malignancies before they cause symptoms.

The ministry provides the pap smear screening test at all hospitals across country. If any cervix cell abnormalities are found, then doctors will provide treatment to patients without charge.