On Wednesday, during Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, Rep. Terry Sewell (D-Ala.) and Rep. Chuck Fleischman (R-Tenn.) launched a bipartisan public service announcement (PSA) about the importance of cervical cancer screening. )announced.
by American Cancer Society, approximately 13,960 Americans are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer each year, and approximately 4,310 of them lose their battle. Detecting and identifying cervical cancer at an early stage is critical for effective prevention and treatment.
SEER data It shows that the incidence of cervical cancer is significantly increasing in women under 50 years of age. Stage IV cervical cancer rates are highest among black and Hispanic women, but the highest increases are among white women and young women.
Recent studies have shown that the number of overdue cervical cancer screenings is increasing.For experienced black and hispanic women Cervical cancer mortality rate is high than white women the study A lack of information about cervical cancer screening, as well as challenges such as transportation, child care, and language barriers, may reduce screening rates among historically underserved populations. suggests.
Cervical cancer is preventable and highly treatable if detected early. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that screening for cervical disease include:
- For women between the ages of 21 and 29, only a Pap test is performed every three years.
- For women ages 30 to 65, Pap and HPV testing every 5 years (also known as simultaneous testing), or Pap testing alone every 3 years, or HPV testing alone every 5 years.
The Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (ABCCEDP) provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings to eligible women. For more information, including eligibility and location, please call toll-free 1-877-252-3324.
The PSA is available on YouTube here.
