January: Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
Thursday, January 21st, 2010• Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide.
• About 473,000 cases of cervical cancer occur worldwide yearly.
• About 253,500 women worldwide die each year from cervical cancer.
1. For women age 21 or older, have an annual pap test (smear) which detects abnormal cells that can lead to cervical cancer.
2. For women age 30 or older, have the pap test and the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) test together annually. The HPV test detects the virus that causes cervical cancer.
3. Ask your doctor for the HPV vaccination for two of the types of HPV which is available for girls 11-12 years old and for girls and young women up to age 26.
4. Even with the HPV vaccination, women still need to go for annual screening.
5. Take the pledge to prevent cervical cancer sponsored by the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation at http://www.cervicalcancercampagin.org/
6. Sign up for a free annual reminder for your pap test and HPV test at the above Web site.
7. At www.thepearlofwisdom.us/ purchase the “Pearl of Wisdom” pin, the symbol of cervical cancer prevention.
8. At the site mentioned in #7, choose a free “Pearl of Wisdom” banner for your Web site, blog, Facebook, or MySpace page to raise cervical cancer awareness.
9. If you have cervical cancer or HPV, call The National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) at 1-800-685-5531 and ask about the phone/e-mail pals program which will match you with a woman going through the same thing you are.
10. If you have questions or concerns about cervical cancer, HPV, or the HPV vaccination, submit them to “Ask a Doc at the same Web site already cited.
Copyright © January 2010 by Yvonne Ortega