Category: CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

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Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer, and women can be screened for it with routine Pap tests.thCAGFH0KZ

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is now recommending women begin cervical cancer screening at age 21, instead of 3 years after the onset of sexual activity, as was previously recommended by the group.  

The American Cancer Society recommends that all women should begin cervical cancer screening within three years after they start having sex and no later than age 21, and screening should be done every year with a regular Pap test.

The Pap test (or Pap smear) looks for pre-cancers, cell changes on the cervix that may become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately.

The American Cancer Society recommends:

  • Beginning at age 30, women who have had 3 normal Pap test results in a row may get screened every 2 to 3 years. Women older than 30 may also get screened every 3 years with either the conventional or liquid-based Pap test, plus the human papilloma virus (HPV) test.

The human papillomavirus (*HPV) test looks for the virus that can cause these cell changes.

  • Women 70 years of age or older who have had 3 or more normal Pap tests in a row and no abnormal Pap test results in the last 10 years may choose to stop having cervical cancer testing.
  • Women who have had a total hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and cervix) may also choose to stop having cervical cancer testing, unless the surgery was done as a treatment for cervical cancer or precancer.
  • Women who have had a hysterectomy without removal of the cervix (a supra-cervical hysterectomy) need to continue cervical cancer screening and follow the guidelines above.

The CDC Recommends the following steps to help prevent Cervical Cancer –

  1. Use condoms during sex
  2. Limit your number of sexual partners

*HPV infection can occur in both male and female genital areas that are covered or protected by a latex condom, as well as in areas that are not covered. While the effect of condoms in preventing HPV infection is unknown, condom use has been associated with a lower rate of cervical cancer.

Sources: CDC, Black Women's Health Imperative

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IMPERATIVE WEBINAR:

Myths and Misunderstanding About the HPV Vaccine

Date: January 22, 2014Time: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Location:  Online

On January 22nd, in observance of Cervical Health Awareness Month, the Black Women’s Health Imperative will host a webinar “Myths, Misunderstandings and the Truth About the HPV Vaccine.”  This webinar will address several issues that have recently surfaced, including topics such as:

  • Low rates of HPV vaccination among young Black women and fewer Black women completing the vaccine series
  • Sexual health context of cervical cancer and HPV
  • Changes in cervical cancer prevention
  • Concerns about the proper dosage of the vaccine and its long term efficacy

Webinar Guests Include:

  • Deborah Arrindell, Vice President of Health Policy, American Sexual Health Association
  • Jennifer Smith, PhD, MPH, Director, Cervical Cancer Free Coalition
  • Tamika Felder, Founder and President, Tamika and Friends

This webinar will be an opportunity for listeners to interact with experts to gain clarity around the vaccine.

To register for the webinar, please visit this link: http://ow.ly/s1dpn

Source of this information:

http://www.blackwomenshealth.org/events/2014/01/22/imperative-event/imperative-webinar-myths-and-misunderstanding-about-the-hpv-vaccine/

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Let's win this fight together
Let’s win this fight together
 MOORE ON HEALTH
is asking all of our friends, family and fellow community leaders to support the cycling team, Pink Ladies. They will be taking part in a very special goal—to improve the lives of every person affected by cancer by raising funds.
Almost everyone in America has been touched by some form of Cancer, our family members, our friends or possibly ourselves. The Pink Ladies will be participating in the national Cycle for Survival 4 hour high-energy indoor cycling challenge to help raise money for rare cancer treatment research. Help our lovely cyclist raise money for this great cause. Every dollar raised goes directly to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to fund lifesaving research on rare cancers. Click on the link to make a donation and thank you in advance for your support.