Controversial change to pap smear screenings has prompted more than 70,000 people to sign a petition

PAP smears will be replaced with a more accurate cervical screening test later this year, but one change is proving controversial.

Amber Lowther, 22, recently had surgery for cervical cancer after a pap smear gave her early detection. Pic: Renae Droop.

THE detested pap smear will be replaced with a more accurate cervical screening test later this year, but the increase in the minimum age for testing is proving controversial.

More than 70,000 people have signed a change.org petition protesting against the age increase from 18 to 25 years.

They included 22-year-old Wishart resident Amber Lowther, who recently had surgery after a pap smear found she had high-grade abnormal cells.

“I had my first pap smear one year ago and found I had low-grade abnormal cells, and in 12 months they turned into high-grade abnormal cells,” she said.

“The fact my cells went from low grade to high grade in just 12 months makes me wonder what could have happened in just a few years.

“I think it’s way too ridi­culous to have the minimum age at 25.

“Cancer doesn’t ­discriminate by age and I feel with the government doing this I’m being treated as a statistic.”

A pap smear can detect if a woman has cervical cancer or suspicious cells that may develop into cervical cancer.

Cancer Council Queensland spokeswoman Katie Clift said there were about 200 women diagnosed with cervical cancer in Queensland each year, and about 60 died from it.

The median age of women diagnosed with the cancer is 45 years.

Ms Clift said it was “very rare” for women under the age of 25 to have early detection or cervical cancer.

“Screening women under the age of 25 over the past 20 years has found no change in the number of cancer cases diagnosed in this age group,” she said.

Fast facts:

– Pap smears will be replaced with a more accurate cervical screening test later this year

– The minimum age at which screenings will starts will increase from 18 to 25 years

– The period between tests will change from two to five years

– Women aged 70–74 will be invited to have an exit test