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Halton woman promotes importance of Pap test By Tina Depko-Denver METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP Shannon Pethick is a woman with a zest for life. She is warm and bubbly with a sharp wit, which comes out while talking about everything from celebrity gossip to crocheting. Her sense of humour is unwavering when asked about her victory over cervical cancer, and its devastating effects. Pethick, 34, has become a vocal advocate for cervical cancer screening and does not shy away from sharing her story. "From the moment I was diagnosed, I would tell anyone who would listen to go get their Pap test," she said. Cancer Care Ontario, an Ontario government agency, recently announced updated cervical cancer screening with Pap test guidelines that outline at what age women should start being tested and how often. In Ontario, cervical cancer screening is now recommended starting at age 21 and every three years until age 70 for all women who are or have ever been sexually active. Screening is not recommended for women under the age of 21. "There is no reason you can't make an appointment for half an hour once every three years," Pethick said. "No one is that busy." Cancer Care Ontario says it is important to screen up to the age of 70 years, as the risk of cervical cancer does not decrease with age. Women aged 70 or older who have had three or more normal test results in the previous 10 years can stop cervical cancer screening. The Canadian Cancer Society strongly supports the new provincial screening guidelines. "In 2012, it is projected that about 550 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in Ontario and about 160 women will die from this disease," said Rowena Pinto, vice-president of public affairs and strategic initiatives for the Ontario division of the Canadian Cancer Society. "Most cervical cancers are diagnosed in women who have not been screened at all or have not been screened regularly." Pethick was diagnosed with cervical cancer at age 32 in fall 2010. The Burlington woman said that looking back, she had symptoms for about a year and a half before the diagnosis. A month after seeing her doctor and getting a Pap test, Pethick got the call every woman fears. Pethick went to a gynecologist less than a week later, where she was told she had a mass, about five centimetres in size, to the right of her cervix. A week later she had her first appointment with an oncologist at Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton, where she underwent a CT scan, MRI and biopsy. "My only option was radiation and chemotherapy," she said. It meant Pethick would not be able to have 25 · Thursday, September 13, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com of radiation each week. Pethick said her husband was also a source of support. Pethick said after getting over the shock of the initial diagnosis, she decided to stay upbeat and set her mind to kicking cancer. Six weeks after her treatment was complete, she went in for another CT scan and MRI. The results showed the mass was gone -- she was cancer-free. Her family surprised her by taking her directly from Juravinski to a Louis Vuitton store in Toronto following the appointment, and letting her choose any bag in the store. "When you go to Juravinski, the very first day they give you a bag with all your information in it, and I called it the, `Congratulations, you have a cancer bag,'" she said. "The running joke was when I was done, would I get a `Congratulations you beat cancer Louis Vuitton (bag).' It is the Shannon Pethick only Louis Vuitton I own and maybe the only children. She and her husband, Dan Zahodnik, Louis Vuitton I'll ever own." Pethick admits that when she was diagnosed had only been married for two and half years. with cervical cancer, she had not gone for a Pap "Of course, I'm at the age that all my friends test for at least seven years. are having babies, so that doesn't make it easy, Pethick is one of the Canadian Cancer but I'm a very happy aunt." Society's faces of cervical cancer survivors. Her She and her husband decided to focus on story can be found on brochures and websites, eradicating the cancer and thinking about other where she encourages women to get regular Pap options to have a family later. Slug Information: Lastman's Bad Boy tests. Women who want to learn more about Pethick's hero throughout her six-weeks Ad of Size : 5.145 in x 3.062 in Project : Sept WK2 Teaser Ad cervical cancer screening are encouraged to treatment wasBad her mom, Brenda Pethick, who Client : Lastman's Boy Publication : Community speak with their doctor or nurse, or visit www. took her: BB_Community_Teaser_Got to all of her appointments, File Name It All_Sept 13 which Insertion Date : September 13, 2012 ontario.ca/screenforlife. included four days of chemotherapy and one day WE'VE Comfort is...an afternoon without interruptions STRESSLESS ® PRODUCT WHEN YOU BUY ANY STRESSLESS ® HOME SEATING! THE INNOVATORS OF COMFORTTM GET UP TO $1,500 OFF * $ 50% OFF FIRM OR PLUSH 498 #077343 #077339 · Titanium Coil · Pro Gel · Unicase AT THE LOWEST PRICES IN CANADA! 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