January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about a highly preventable form of cancer that continues to impact women across the country.
Officials at St. Dominic Hospital note that nearly all cervical cancers in the U.S. are caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV). With routine Pap screenings and the availability of the HPV vaccine, more than 90% of cases can be prevented.
“Early detection makes cervical cancer highly treatable and is associated with long survival and good quality of life,” officials at the hospital in Jackson said in a news release.
In Mississippi, cervical cancer remains a significant public health concern. Data from the Mississippi State Department of Heath shows hundreds of new cervical cancer cases and deaths are reported each year, with Mississippi ranking among the worst states in the nation for cervical cancer mortality.
MSDH, along with hospitals like St. Dominic and advocacy groups like the American Cancer Society, are working to spread the word on early screenings – specifically for women who live in medically underserved areas and may not have health insurance.
“Typically, these are the uninsured, the medically underserved, minority, and elderly women,” the MSDH explains on its website. “These women are more likely to have advanced disease when symptoms appear, reflecting differences in access to screening and care.”
To combat the built-in challenges, the MSDH offers free Pap smears for uninsured, underinsured, medically underserved, and minority women older than 40 at select county health departments statewide through its Breast and Cervical Cancer Program.
The American Cancer Society recommends any woman over the age of 25 should get screened every three to five years. ACS offers other guidelines and information on screenings on its website.