A better way than dreaded smear: Change in primary cervical cancer screen welcome news

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A better way than dreaded smear: Change in primary cervical cancer screen welcome news

Jane O’Hallahan
Woman sculpture by Paul Dibble
Te Whatu Ora is introducing the HPV test for cervical cancer, aiming to ensure more people are checked and more cancers caught early. Sculpture by Paul Dibble [Image: NZD]

On 12 September New Zealand’s National Cervical Screening Programme will switch to human papillomavirus testing, used in both the UK and Australia. The new screening method, with the option to self-test, will be a game changer in the fight against cervical cancer, writes Jane O’Hallahan

Apart perhaps from a trip to the dentist, the personal health test that can make many women anxious is a cervical screening test. Although we know