1. CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, JANUARY 2012
By Major Cassandra Campbell, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Approximately 11,000 American women will learn they have cervical cancer this year, and nearly 4,000 will die from
an advanced form of the disease. This January, during Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, the 23rd Medical Group is
focused on educating women about the importance of the Pap test as a screening tool for cervical cancer/HPV and
about the Gardasil vaccine that can further reduce the burden of this devastating disease.
It’s the new start of a new year- a time many reflect on their health. To start the year right, we encourage women to
contact the Medical Group to schedule a Pap test to check for cervical cancer. This screening is a crucial part of a
woman’s health care regimen, yet one that many overlook. It’s important to remember that cervical cancer is a
preventable disease, as long as it’s caught early enough.
While routine Pap tests is the best means of detecting cervical cancer at an early stage, the Gardasil vaccine has the
potential to protect men and women from the disease by targeting cancer-causing types of the human papilloma virus
(HPV). HPV, a virus transmitted through sexual contact, is the single known cause of cervical cancer. Two forms of the
virus, HPV 16 and HPV 18, account for about 75% of all cervical cancer cases.
The current screening recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is to start
routine Pap tests at age 21 regardless of age at onset of intercourse. Women ages 21-29 will need a Pap test every 2
years, and women 30 and over will need a Pap and HPV test every 3 years. Routine Pap tests are no longer needed for
women who have had a hysterectomy with the removal of her cervix, if the hysterectomy was done for non-cancerous
reasons. There are some women who will still need to have a Pap test every year.
The Gardasil vaccine is available at the Immunization clinic to males and females ages 9 to 26 as series of 3 injections
given over 6 months. Gardasil may not fully protect everyone, nor will it protect against diseases caused by other types
of HPV. Gardasil does not prevent all types of cervical cancer, so it’s important for women to continue Pap tests.
Gardasil doesn’t treat cervical cancer.
For more information about cervical cancer screening and Gardasil vaccine, please call the Women’s Health clinic at
257-7269.