Cervical Cancer is Preventable

So Let's Take Action!

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, and the California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation has joined forces with CMA and other health advocates to raise awareness about cervical cancer prevention. Cervical cancer is preventable through regular screenings and the availability of the HPV vaccines, and curable, if detected early.

Cervical cancer is still the second most common form of cancer worldwide and causes over 4,000 deaths in the United States annually. Each year, roughly 1,400 California women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, with between $300 to $400 million spent annually to treat cervical cancer. According to the American Cancer Society’s California Cancer Facts and Figures 2012 report, it is expected that California will have 1,455 new cases of cervical cancer in 2012, and 435 deaths from the disease. The rate for cervical cancer nationally is 8.1 per 100,000 women, with California slightly higher at 8.3. San Diego County’s cervical cancer rate is similar to the national rate at 7.9. Cervical cancer is found at higher rates among Latinas and African American women at 13.8 and 11.4 respectively. 

The CMA Foundation is part of the national Cervical Cancer-Free Campaign, engaged in efforts to increase screening and vaccination and reduce the occurrence of this preventable disease. “Cervical cancer is one of the few preventable cancers that can easily be detected through an inexpensive screening and prevented through vaccination. Studies show the vaccine has the potential to prevent up to 70 percent of cervical cancer cases annually” stated Dexter Louie, MD, chair, CMA Foundation board of directors. The CMA Foundation has developed resources for physicians and their patients focusing on cervical cancer prevention, including the HPV vaccination. For more information on cervical cancer and HPV, visit the CMA Foundation website.

SAMPLE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Below are sample letters to the editor for submission in news outlets highlighting the importance of education and awareness around the disease. Please feel free to edit accordingly, especially if you have personal stories to share.

Letter to the Editor #1:

We’re all touched by women in our lives. Whether it is a mother, a daughter, a wife, a sister or a friend- each of us can call to mind a woman that has had a profound impact on who we are today. January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, a time when we should all be thinking about what we can do to protect those women that we hold dear. What many don’t know is that all women are susceptible to cervical cancer. In fact, it’s the 12th most common cancer diagnosed among all women in California. The good news is that cervical cancer is treatable- mortality rates are directly associated with later stages of diagnosis. What that means is that early detection and prevention are crucial to survival. Millions of American women are infected with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which is the leading cause of cervical cancer. However, with HPV vaccine now available and regular pap smear tests, women can overcome this dangerous killer. As January comes to an end, that doesn’t mean that our education and awareness around cervical health should. Make sure to tell the women in your life the importance of preventative treatments today.

Letter to the Editor #2:

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to educating women around the country about the disease that claims millions each year. However, in recent years, the cancer has become not only treatable, but highly preventable. Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Millions of American women are infected with HPV, but due to its often symptomless nature, a woman can be unaware of her risk of developing cervical cancer. Regular pap smear tests and annual checkup exams can catch the cancer before it becomes fatal. In recent years, two HPV vaccines, administered in three doses, have also proven to lower rates of cervical cancer. Just getting the word out about how to prevent the disease isn’t enough- we’ve got to do more to show women where to go to take these life saving steps. For those that can’t afford the tests or vaccines, screenings are available California’s federally funded “Every Woman Counts” program. For more information about the program, please visit www.cdph.ca.gov or call the hotline at 1-800-511-2300.

Letter to the Editor #3:

This month, the California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation has partnered with local organizations around the state to promote and raise awareness around “Cervical Health Awareness Month.” The genesis of the Cervical Cancer/HPV Project is to educate patients about the connection between the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer with the ultimate goal of promoting strategies that can prevent both cervical cancer AND HPV. Too often today, women are diagnosed with this potential life threatening disease because they weren’t aware that it was preventable. With regular physician checkups and the HPV vaccine, cervical cancer can be avoided. In fact, according to the American Cancer Society’s California Cancer Facts and Figures 2012 report, the vaccine has the potential to prevent up to 70 percent of cervical cancer cases and deaths in California each year. We should all take a moment and share this life saving information with the women in our lives. Together, we can prevent millions of deaths a year.

Letter to the Editor #4:

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, but that certainly doesn’t mean we should stop educating and empowering women with the information that could potentially save their lives. While cervical cancer affects all races, in California, Latinas have the highest risk of developing the disease. In fact, it is the 7th most common cancer in California Latinas. What many don’t know is that cervical cancer is one of the few preventable cancers and can easily be detected through an inexpensive pap tests. These tests find abnormal cells that may turn into cervical cancer, as well as detect the disease early on, when rates of survival are still very high. For success rates with cervical cancer to rise in the Latina population, we as health care professionals must strive to address the language and cultural needs of all women, ensuring the proper information is available to the communities who need them most.

Letter to the Editor #5:

As a physician, there is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing a patient with a disease that could have been treated, or in the case of cervical cancer, prevented. Too many women are unaware of the simple steps that can save their lives- annual pap tests and HPV vaccinations. Cancer screenings may seem scary and unaffordable, but with programs like Every Woman Counts, these tests are readily available for those that can’t afford them. The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause in cervical cancer and with vaccines widely available today- the opportunity to reduce the prevalence of the cancer is something to seize. While January has been deemed “Cervical Health Awareness Month” we can’t stop there. Educating women throughout the year about the resources available to them will continue to reduce cervical cancer and HPV rates, ensuring the health of the women we all love.