January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

(January 22, 2010)—Despite the fact cervical cancer is nearly 100 percent curable if detected in the early stages, an estimated one-third of the more than 10,000 women diagnosed with the disease each year will die from it. In an effort to raise cervical health awareness, VeteransToday Staff Writer PB Rose and cervical cancer survivor, is educating local women about the importance of annual Pap testing as their best defense against the disease.

 I was diagnosed with cervical cancer in (1992) through a routine Pap test. Now she has RECOVERED, “It’s important to remember that cervical cancer is a preventable disease – as long as it’s caught early enough.”  I encourage other women to contact their health care provider to schedule a Pap test and get screened for cervical cancer.

 Since most women who develop cervical cancer either did not have a Pap test within five years of diagnosis or had never been screened, early detection and diagnostic accuracy remain paramount in reducing the number of women who are affected by the disease. The Pap test is the only way to detect whether cervical cancer or a precancerous lesion is present. New technologies have improved Pap testing, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA detection and Chlamydia and gonorrhea testing. A vaccine preventing certain types of HPV, a common sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, has also been developed that has the potential to reduce the incidence of the disease.

 “Since its introduction over 50 years ago, the Pap test has been the single, greatest contributor to the decline in cervical cancer, reducing deaths to the disease by more than 70 percent,” says the National Cervical Cancer Coalition. “We encourage women of all ages to practice routine Pap test screening to protect themselves against the disease.

 About the National Cervical Cancer Coalition

The National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC), founded in 1997, is a grassroots nonprofit organization serving women with, or at risk for, cervical cancer and HPV. The NCCC is the only organization dedicated exclusively to helping women address concerns about cervical health and disease. The group executes its mission to improve women’s cervical health outcomes through education, support and advocacy for women and health care providers. 

 About Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer affects approximately 10,000 women in the United States each year. Cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer for women worldwide, but because it develops over time, it is also one of the most preventable types of cancer. Deaths from cervical cancer in the United States continue to decline by approximately 2 percent a year. This decline is primarily due to the widespread use of the Pap test to detect cervical abnormalities and allow for early treatment. Most women who have abnormal cervical cell changes that progress to cervical cancer have never had a Pap test or have not had one in the previous three to five years. To learn more about cervical cancer, please visit the National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) website at http://www.nccc-online.org. 

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