Dora’s mom and doctor played a supportive and caring role in her first Pap test, and she learned early how important it is to talk openly about women’s reproductive health. Now she’s an advocate for unrestricted access to the Pap, and a great example for anyone who has ever felt a little nervous about their first time.
At the age of fifteen, I started to learn about what I needed to do to take care of my health when it came to birth control. And that’s when I learned about the importance of having access to cancer screenings that include the Pap and HPV tests as they could save your life. I know in my family that we didn’t hold any conversations about going to get cancer health screenings, so I think it is essential to speak about our experiences. When I had my first Pap, I was so nervous, but I had my mom with me to support me and the doctor answered all my questions and explained to me the process. Since then, I have constituted it a priority to schedule my appointment every three years. So remember to schedule your health screening appointment as it could save your life.
