Fear of Medicine

A year ago I was working in a chemical company in Mexico. Each year, all the girls were entitled to take a free medical test. One day the doctor in charge called us to schedule an appointment. It was a PAP smear  which is a procedure to test for cervical cancer in women.

That was my first time hearing this acronym, PAP. I had to ask a lot of questions that day, like what it was, and how it happened. After everything was explained to me I decided to schedule an appointment to do it. When the day came I didn't go. I was so scared because of the way this test is carried out and the pain that follows after.

At work everybody was asking me if I did the test. I said yes. I lied to them. But when all the results came, the doctor didn’t see my name on the list. He called me to ask what happened to me? Why didn't I go to the appointment? I told him the truth, that I was scared of doing it. He talked to me for a long time, telling me how important this test is. So I asked him to reschedule another one for me. I put my fear aside and I took the test.

This type of test is important for us girls. It is important to know that we are in good health and everything is working perfectly. The girls who have already done this know the steps. I almost lost a good opportunity because of fear. Don’t let fear ruin your life.

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Farah Rejouis - Haiti