The Indiana State Department of Health issued a press release Thursday encouraging women to get regular screenings for cervical cancer as part of a New Year’s resolution to be healthier. January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and highlights the importance for women to get regular screenings like the Pap test and more.
Approximately 12,000 women each year in the U.S. get cervical cancer. In Indiana, 1,290 Hoosier women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and 425 women died of cervical cancer from 2004 to 2008.
“A Pap test can diagnose cervical cancer in its early, most treatable stages,” said State Health Commissioner Gregory Larkin, M.D. “It’s important to get this screening as the majority of cases of cervical cancers are beatable if found early.”
The American Cancer Society recommends that all women have regular Pap tests, starting at age 21. Some women may need to have a different screening schedule for cervical cancer due to their history, so it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor to find out which screening schedule is best for you.
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 70 percent of all cervical cancer is caused by exposure to two high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) strains (HPV 16 and HPV 18). HPV is spread through sexual contact, but two vaccines – Gardasil and Cervari – have been shown to protect against most cervical cancers in women. Moreover, Gardasil has been shown to protect against other cancers and genital warts and is approved for use in males as well as females. Both genders are recommended to get vaccination between the ages of 11 through 26, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It’s estimated that 28 percent of adolescent girls in Indiana, ages 13 to 17, have received the complete series of the HPV vaccine, which is administered in three doses, according to the 2011 National Immunization Survey-Teen.
“Getting the HPV vaccine is the most effective way to protect against cervical cancer,” said Dr. Larkin. “Cervical cancer is almost 100 percent preventable through regular routine screenings and vaccination.”
Smoking is another high risk factor for cervical cancer, as women who smoke are about twice as likely to get cervical cancer as non-smokers. If you want to quit smoking, contact the Indiana Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669).
For more information on cervical cancer, visit the Indiana State Department of Health website at www.StateHealth.in.gov.