PPIN Health Centers Celebrate National Women's Health Week with Free Pap Days
Planned Parenthood of Indiana (PPIN) will celebrate the 11th annual National Women's Health Week, May 9-15, with Free Pap Days at health centers around the state. The organization is beginning to take appointments for the days. Free Pap Days will be held in Avon, Bloomington, Columbus, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Hammond, Indianapolis, Lafayette, Madison, Merrillville, Mishawaka, Muncie, Richmond, Terre Haute, Valparaiso and Warsaw.
PPIN holds Free Pap Days annually to highlight the importance of regular Pap tests, which are part of gynecological exams. The Free Pap Days help ensure that cost is not a barrier for women to receive the lifesaving screenings. Pap tests can detect the presence of abnormal cells in the cervix that may become cancer. PPIN is also urging women to become familiar with the new Pap test guidelines recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' (ACOG).
ACOG now recommends that women delay their first Pap test until age 21, rather than the previous recommendation that young women get their first test within three years of becoming sexually active, but no later than 21. The group also says women between the ages of 21-29 should be screened every two years and women 30 and older who have had three consecutive, normal Pap tests and no history of seriously abnormal findings should be screened every three years.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), there were an estimated 220 new cervical cancer cases in Indiana in 2009. ACS says about 11,270 new cases of invasive cervical cancer were estimated in the U.S. in 2009 and more than 4,000 women were estimated to die from the disease.
The good news is that when cervical cancer is found and treated early, it can often be cured.
"Of the women diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer each year, between 60 and 80 percent have not had a Pap test in the last five years," said PPIN President and CEO Betty Cockrum. "PPIN's Free Pap Days are an effort to change that statistic and help with early detection."
During the Free Pap Days at PPIN's Eastside-Indianapolis, Castleton and Avon health centers; patients will also receive information about breast health. Representatives of
Little Red Door will be on hand to discuss the risk factors for breast cancer and the importance of early detection. They will also be able to assist patients in scheduling mammograms.
There are a limited number of appointments available during Free Pap Days. The following PPIN health centers are offering free Pap tests on select days throughout May.
Free Pap Day Calendar
Sunday, May 9
- ALL HEALTH CENTERS CLOSED
Monday, May 10
- Indianapolis
- Evansville
- Madison
Tuesday, May 11
- Indianapolis
- Columbus
- Hammond
- Merrillville
- Valparaiso
Wednesday, May 12
Thursday, May 13
- Fort Wayne
- Lafayette
- Mishawaka
- Muncie
- Warsaw
Friday, May 14
Saturday, May 15
Thursday, May 27
